350-501 Services Practice Question
Which multicast RP model is recommended for large-scale networks to provide redundancy and load sharing?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that BSR or Auto-RP provide load sharing, but the trap here is that only Anycast-RP explicitly supports both redundancy and load sharing by allowing multiple RPs to actively serve different groups or sources simultaneously.
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
✓
Anycast-RP
Anycast-RP is recommended for large-scale networks because it allows multiple RPs to share the same IP address, providing redundancy and load sharing without requiring dynamic RP discovery protocols. This model uses MSDP (Multicast Source Discovery Protocol) or PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast) to synchronize multicast state between RPs, ensuring that sources and receivers can register with the nearest RP for optimal path selection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Auto-RP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Auto-RP uses a multicast address and may have scalability issues.
- ✗
BSR
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. BSR uses a bootstrap router and can be complex to manage in large networks.
- ✓
Anycast-RP
Why this is correct
Correct. Anycast-RP uses the same IP address for multiple RPs, enabling load sharing and redundancy.
- ✗
Static RP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Static RP provides no automatic failover or load sharing.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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