- A
Configure 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF configuration and then 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under the BGP process.
The VRF address-family ipv4 unicast imports routes into the VRF, and the VPNv4 address-family enables VPNv4 BGP to carry these routes.
- B
Configure 'address-family ipv4 vrf CUSTOMER' under the BGP process and activate the neighbor.
Why wrong: This is part of the configuration, but does not alone cause redistribution into VPNv4.
- C
Enter 'vrf CUSTOMER' in the BGP process and then 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF.
Why wrong: This configures the VRF in BGP but does not automatically import routes into VPNv4.
- D
Enter 'redistribute bgp 100' under the VRF's OSPF or static route configuration.
Why wrong: Redistribution is not needed; BGP routes are learned directly via BGP peering.
Quick Answer
The correct command sequence requires configuring 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF and then 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under the BGP process. This two-step process is necessary because the PE must first import the eBGP-learned customer routes into the VRF's IPv4 unicast table, which associates them with the correct route distinguisher and VRF context; then, the VPNv4 address-family under BGP redistributes those VRF routes into the MP-BGP VPNv4 table, enabling the route to carry extended community attributes and be advertised to remote PEs. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how MPLS L3VPN separates customer routing from the provider backbone—a common trap is assuming a single command like 'redistribute bgp into vpnv4' exists, but Cisco IOS XR requires explicit VRF and VPNv4 address-family activation. A helpful memory tip is "VRF first, VPNv4 second"—think of the VRF as the local customer container and VPNv4 as the global MP-BGP transport layer.
350-501 Networking Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of networking. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network administrator is configuring a Cisco ASR 9000 router for MPLS L3VPN. The PE receives customer routes via eBGP from the CE. Which command is required to redistribute these routes into the VPNv4 BGP table on the PE?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Configure 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF configuration and then 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under the BGP process.
Option A is correct because in MPLS L3VPN, customer routes learned via eBGP from the CE must be placed into the VRF's IPv4 unicast table first, and then the 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under BGP is required to redistribute those VRF routes into the VPNv4 BGP table, which carries the route with its route distinguisher (RD) and extended community. This two-step process ensures the PE can advertise the route as a VPNv4 prefix to other PEs via MP-BGP.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF configuration and then 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under the BGP process.
Why this is correct
The VRF address-family ipv4 unicast imports routes into the VRF, and the VPNv4 address-family enables VPNv4 BGP to carry these routes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure 'address-family ipv4 vrf CUSTOMER' under the BGP process and activate the neighbor.
Why it's wrong here
This is part of the configuration, but does not alone cause redistribution into VPNv4.
- ✗
Enter 'vrf CUSTOMER' in the BGP process and then 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF.
Why it's wrong here
This configures the VRF in BGP but does not automatically import routes into VPNv4.
- ✗
Enter 'redistribute bgp 100' under the VRF's OSPF or static route configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Redistribution is not needed; BGP routes are learned directly via BGP peering.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between configuring BGP within a VRF (for CE-PE eBGP) and enabling the VPNv4 address family to propagate those routes across the MPLS core, leading candidates to mistakenly think that simply configuring 'address-family ipv4 vrf CUSTOMER' is sufficient for VPNv4 redistribution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when a PE receives an eBGP route from a CE, it installs the route in the VRF's IPv4 RIB with the associated route target (RT). The command 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under BGP enables the PE to advertise these VRF routes as VPNv4 prefixes, which include the RD (to make the route unique) and RT (for VPN membership). In real-world deployments, forgetting to configure the VPNv4 address family is a common misconfiguration that prevents inter-PE route propagation, even if VRF and eBGP peering are correctly set up.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-501 question test?
Networking — This question tests Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure 'address-family ipv4 unicast' under the VRF configuration and then 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under the BGP process. — Option A is correct because in MPLS L3VPN, customer routes learned via eBGP from the CE must be placed into the VRF's IPv4 unicast table first, and then the 'address-family vpnv4 unicast' under BGP is required to redistribute those VRF routes into the VPNv4 BGP table, which carries the route with its route distinguisher (RD) and extended community. This two-step process ensures the PE can advertise the route as a VPNv4 prefix to other PEs via MP-BGP.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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