hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
200-901 Practice Question: A network administrator is troubleshooting BGP…
A network administrator is troubleshooting BGP path selection for a route received from two different ISPs. The routes have the same local preference and AS-path length, but one route has a shorter MED value. Which route will be preferred?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the order of BGP path selection steps, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse MED with local preference or AS-path length, or incorrectly think that prefix length or bandwidth plays a role in BGP best-path selection.
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
✓
The route with the lower MED
In BGP path selection, when routes have the same local preference and AS-path length, the next tiebreaker is the Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) value. A lower MED value is preferred because it indicates a more desirable entry point into the neighboring AS. Therefore, the route with the shorter MED will be selected.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The route with the most specific prefix length
Why it's wrong here
Prefix length is considered later, but for same prefix, other attributes first.
- ✗
The route from the ISP with the higher bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
Bandwidth is not a BGP attribute.
- ✓
The route with the lower MED
Why this is correct
Lower MED is preferred.
- ✗
The route with the higher local preference
Why it's wrong here
Local preference is equal, so not decisive.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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