300-410 Layer 3 Technologies Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring OSPF on a router that connects to a service provider via a WAN link. The provider requires that the link be treated as a point-to-point connection without DR/BDR election, and the OSPF network type must be explicitly set to achieve this. Which command should be applied to the interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any network type without DR/BDR election (like point-to-multipoint) is suitable, but only point-to-point matches the provider's requirement for a single point-to-point link.
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
✓
ip ospf network point-to-point
The requirement is to treat the WAN link as a point-to-point connection without DR/BDR election. The ip ospf network point-to-point command achieves this by setting the OSPF network type to point-to-point, which disables DR/BDR election and allows direct adjacency formation. This is the standard configuration for point-to-point WAN links in OSPF.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ip ospf network broadcast
Why it's wrong here
Broadcast network type is the default on Ethernet interfaces and requires DR/BDR election. On a point-to-point WAN link, this would cause unnecessary DR/BDR election and could lead to adjacency issues if the provider does not support multicast. It does not meet the requirement of treating the link as point-to-point.
- ✗
ip ospf network point-to-multipoint
Why it's wrong here
Point-to-multipoint treats the interface as a collection of point-to-point links, which is useful in hub-and-spoke topologies but not for a single point-to-point link. It does not elect a DR/BDR, but it generates multiple host routes and may not align with the provider's expectation of a simple point-to-point connection.
- ✓
ip ospf network point-to-point
Why this is correct
This command sets the OSPF network type to point-to-point, which eliminates DR/BDR election and allows immediate adjacency formation. It is appropriate for a WAN link where the provider expects point-to-point behavior. By default, point-to-point networks send Hellos every 10 seconds and have no DR/BDR, reducing overhead and speeding convergence.
- ✗
ip ospf network non-broadcast
Why it's wrong here
Non-broadcast network type is used on NBMA networks like Frame Relay and requires manual neighbor configuration. It still elects a DR/BDR, which is not desired here. Additionally, it does not support multicast Hellos, making it unsuitable for a point-to-point WAN link that should dynamically form an adjacency.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
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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.