300-410 Infrastructure Services Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring a Cisco IOS router to support MPLS Layer 3 VPN. The administrator needs to enable the provider edge (PE) router to exchange VPNv4 routes with other PE routers. Which two configurations are required on the PE router to enable MP-BGP for VPNv4? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the steps to enable MP-BGP with the overall MPLS VPN configuration, such as RD, RT, or LDP, which are not part of the MP-BGP enabling process.
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
✓
Activate the VPNv4 address family with 'address-family vpnv4' and activate the neighbor.
To enable MP-BGP for VPNv4 on a PE router, you must first configure a BGP session with the remote PE using 'router bgp' and 'neighbor' commands. Then, you must activate the VPNv4 address family with 'address-family vpnv4' and activate the neighbor. These two steps allow the exchange of VPNv4 routes. Other configurations like RD, RT, and LDP are important for MPLS VPN but not for enabling MP-BGP itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable MPLS LDP on the core-facing interfaces.
Why it's wrong here
MPLS LDP is used to distribute labels for the transport network, allowing MPLS forwarding. While LDP is essential for the data plane of an MPLS VPN, it is not directly part of enabling MP-BGP for VPNv4 route exchange. The question focuses on the control plane for VPNv4, which requires BGP configuration.
- ✗
Configure a route target (RT) under the VRF definition.
Why it's wrong here
Route targets are extended BGP communities used to control import and export of VPN routes between VRFs. They are configured under the VRF definition and are crucial for proper VPN route propagation, but they are not part of the MP-BGP configuration itself. The question asks for the MP-BGP enabling steps, not the VRF parameters.
- ✗
Configure a route distinguisher (RD) under the VRF definition.
Why it's wrong here
A route distinguisher is configured under the VRF definition to make VPNv4 routes unique, but it is not part of enabling MP-BGP for VPNv4. The RD is necessary for the VPN to function, but the question specifically asks for configurations to enable MP-BGP to exchange VPNv4 routes. The RD is applied when redistributing routes into BGP.
- ✓
Activate the VPNv4 address family with 'address-family vpnv4' and activate the neighbor.
Why this is correct
In Cisco IOS, to exchange VPNv4 routes, you must enter the VPNv4 address family configuration mode using 'address-family vpnv4' and then activate the neighbor with 'neighbor <ip> activate'. This enables the BGP session to carry VPNv4 routes, which include the route distinguisher and extended communities.
- ✓
Enable BGP with the 'router bgp' command and configure the remote PE as a neighbor.
Why this is correct
MP-BGP for VPNv4 requires a standard BGP session between PE routers. The 'router bgp' command starts the BGP process, and the neighbor command establishes the peering. Without this base BGP configuration, VPNv4 routes cannot be exchanged, even if other parameters are set.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPF Neighbor Adjacency and Basics
Key term
MPLS Layer 2 VPN
An MPLS Layer 2 VPN is a virtual private network technology that connects two or more customer sites at the data link layer, allowing them to communicate as if they were on the same local Ethernet segment, while using a service provider’s MPLS backbone.
Key term
MP-BGP for VPN
MP-BGP for VPN is an extension of the Border Gateway Protocol that carries multiple types of network layer information to enable scalable, isolated virtual private networks over a shared provider infrastructure.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.