This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. 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.
Which THREE are characteristics of OSPF? (Choose three.)
It is a distance-vector routing protocol
Why wrong: OSPF is link-state.
It uses cost as the metric
Cost is derived from bandwidth.
It uses hop count as the metric
Why wrong: OSPF uses cost based on bandwidth.
It is a link-state routing protocol
OSPF is link-state.
It supports Variable-Length Subnet Mask (VLSM)
OSPF includes subnet mask in LSAs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
It uses cost as the metric
OSPF uses cost as its metric, which is derived from the bandwidth of the interface (calculated as 10^8 / bandwidth in bps by default). This allows OSPF to select the most efficient path based on link speed rather than a simple hop count, making it suitable for larger, more complex networks.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
It is a distance-vector routing protocol
Why it's wrong here
OSPF is link-state.
It uses cost as the metric
Why this is correct
Cost is derived from bandwidth.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
It uses hop count as the metric
Why it's wrong here
OSPF uses cost based on bandwidth.
It is a link-state routing protocol
Why this is correct
OSPF is link-state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
It supports Variable-Length Subnet Mask (VLSM)
Why this is correct
OSPF includes subnet mask in LSAs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between OSPF (link-state, cost metric) and RIP (distance-vector, hop count metric), so the trap here is confusing OSPF's cost with RIP's hop count or assuming OSPF is distance-vector due to its routing behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
OSPF's cost metric is calculated using the formula cost = reference bandwidth / interface bandwidth, where the default reference bandwidth is 100 Mbps. This means a FastEthernet interface (100 Mbps) has a cost of 1, while a T1 link (1.544 Mbps) has a cost of 64, ensuring OSPF prefers higher-bandwidth paths. In real-world scenarios with Gigabit or 10-Gigabit Ethernet, engineers often adjust the reference bandwidth (e.g., using 'auto-cost reference-bandwidth 10000') to maintain accurate cost differentiation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: It uses cost as the metric — OSPF uses cost as its metric, which is derived from the bandwidth of the interface (calculated as 10^8 / bandwidth in bps by default). This allows OSPF to select the most efficient path based on link speed rather than a simple hop count, making it suitable for larger, more complex networks.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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