The answer is that neighbor 10.10.10.2 is stuck in the Idle state because the BGP session has not been established, likely due to a misconfiguration or a reachability issue. In BGP, the Idle state is the initial state of the neighbor finite state machine, and a router enters this state when it lacks a valid TCP connection to the peer; the zero message counts and the brief uptime of only five seconds confirm that no TCP handshake or BGP OPEN messages have been exchanged. This scenario directly tests your ability to interpret the `show bgp ipv4 unicast summary` output for the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, where a common trap is confusing Idle with Active—remember that Idle means the router is not even attempting to connect, often pointing to a missing `neighbor` statement, an incorrect remote AS number, or an IP address that is unreachable. A quick memory tip: “Idle means idle—no TCP, no try.”
300-410 Device Management Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show bgp ipv4 unicast summary
BGP router identifier 192.168.0.1, local AS number 65001
BGP table version is 10, main routing table version 10
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The BGP session is not established; possible misconfiguration or reachability issue.
Neighbor 10.10.10.2 is in Idle state, with very few messages exchanged (0 MsgRcvd, 0 MsgSent) and a short uptime (5 seconds). This indicates the BGP session is not established, likely due to a configuration issue or connectivity problem.
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 neighbor is administratively shut down.
Why it's wrong here
Idle state can result from many issues, but not specifically admin shutdown without further evidence.
✓
The BGP session is not established; possible misconfiguration or reachability issue.
Why this is correct
Idle state with no messages indicates the session is down.
The neighbor is in the process of establishing the session.
Why it's wrong here
Idle is not a transitional state; it indicates a failure.
✗
The neighbor has sent all its prefixes and is waiting for updates.
Why it's wrong here
Idle state means no session exists.
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.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 300-410 question in full detail.
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.
Device Management — This question tests Device Management — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The BGP session is not established; possible misconfiguration or reachability issue. — Neighbor 10.10.10.2 is in Idle state, with very few messages exchanged (0 MsgRcvd, 0 MsgSent) and a short uptime (5 seconds). This indicates the BGP session is not established, likely due to a configuration issue or connectivity problem.
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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