- A
The default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5.
Correct. EIGRP summary routes have a default AD of 5, which is lower than the AD of any dynamic routing protocol, ensuring they are preferred.
- B
The default administrative distance for OSPF is 90.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default AD for OSPF is 110, not 90. 90 is the default AD for EIGRP (internal).
- C
The distance command applied under a routing protocol can modify the AD for all routes, including connected and static routes, learned via that protocol.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The distance command only affects routes learned via the routing protocol it is configured under. Connected and static routes have their own AD values and are not modified by this command.
- D
The show ip route command displays the administrative distance of each route in the routing table.
Correct. The show ip route output includes the AD value as the first number in the route entry (e.g., 'O 10.0.0.0/8 [110/2]').
- E
When two different routing protocols provide routes to the same destination, the route with the higher administrative distance is installed in the routing table.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The route with the lower administrative distance is preferred and installed in the routing table. A higher AD indicates less trustworthiness.
300-410 Administrative Distance Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of administrative distance. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 TWO statements about the behavior of administrative distance in Cisco IOS are correct? (Choose TWO.)
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 default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5.
Administrative distance (AD) is a trustworthiness metric used to select the best route among multiple routing protocols. A lower AD is preferred. The default AD for EIGRP summary routes is 5, which is lower than the default AD for OSPF (110). The distance command can be applied to a routing process to change the AD for all routes learned via that protocol, but it does not affect connected or static routes unless explicitly configured. The show ip route command displays the AD of each route, and the AD value is used to break ties when multiple protocols provide routes to the same destination.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5.
- ✗
The default administrative distance for OSPF is 90.
- ✗
The distance command applied under a routing protocol can modify the AD for all routes, including connected and static routes, learned via that protocol.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The distance command only affects routes learned via the routing protocol it is configured under. Connected and static routes have their own AD values and are not modified by this command.
- ✓
The show ip route command displays the administrative distance of each route in the routing table.
- ✗
When two different routing protocols provide routes to the same destination, the route with the higher administrative distance is installed in the routing table.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The route with the lower administrative distance is preferred and installed in the routing table. A higher AD indicates less trustworthiness.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. The distance command only affects routes learned via the routing protocol it is configured under. Connected and static routes have their own AD values and are not modified by this command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
- OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
- A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
- Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
- Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
- Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 300-410 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Administrative Distance — This question tests Administrative Distance — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5. — Administrative distance (AD) is a trustworthiness metric used to select the best route among multiple routing protocols. A lower AD is preferred. The default AD for EIGRP summary routes is 5, which is lower than the default AD for OSPF (110). The distance command can be applied to a routing process to change the AD for all routes learned via that protocol, but it does not affect connected or static routes unless explicitly configured. The show ip route command displays the AD of each route, and the AD value is used to break ties when multiple protocols provide routes to the same destination.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 300-410 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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