Match each service provider architecture term to its description.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Provider Edge router connecting to customer equipment
Provider core router forwarding traffic without VPN awareness
Customer Edge router connecting to the provider network
Route Reflector to scale BGP in a service provider backbone
Autonomous System Boundary Router connecting to other ASes
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Provider Edge (PE) router: Connects to customer edge routers and provides MPLS VPN services.
The correct matches are: PE connects to customer edge, P is MPLS core, ASBR connects to other ASes. Common confusions: mistaking P for CE or confusing Route Reflector with ASBR.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Provider Edge (PE) router: Connects to customer edge routers and provides MPLS VPN services.
Why this is correct
Correct: PE routers are the edge of the provider network facing customers, handling MPLS VPN encapsulation.
Customer Edge (CE) router: Core router that forwards packets based on MPLS labels without customer awareness.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This describes the Provider (P) router, not the CE router. CE routers are customer-owned and connect to PE.
Provider (P) router: Core router that forwards packets based on MPLS labels without customer awareness.
Why this is correct
Correct: P routers are core routers that switch MPLS packets without needing per-customer state.
Route Reflector: Router that exchanges routing information with another autonomous system.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This describes an ASBR. Route Reflectors are used within an AS to reduce BGP peering.
Autonomous System Boundary Router (ASBR): Router that exchanges routing information with another autonomous system.
Why this is correct
Correct: ASBRs sit at the border of an AS and exchange routes with other ASes via BGP.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-501 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-501 exam.