mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: Runs the following command on Router R1: R1# show…
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show bgp ipv4 unicast summary
BGP router identifier 192.168.1.1, local AS number 65001 BGP table version is 10, main routing table version 10
Neighbor V AS MsgRcvd MsgSent TblVer InQ OutQ Up/Down State/PfxRcd 10.1.1.2 4 65002 1200 1200 10 0 0 01:00:00 5 10.2.2.2 4 65003 0 0 0 0 0 never Active
Based on this output, what is the problem with the neighbor 10.2.2.2?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'Idle' and 'Active' states, where candidates mistakenly assume 'Active' means the session is up or that prefixes are being exchanged, when in fact it indicates a failed or pending TCP connection attempt.
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 neighbor is not reachable or is not configured to accept BGP connections.
The 'Active' state in BGP indicates that the router is actively trying to establish a TCP connection to the neighbor but has not yet succeeded. This typically occurs because the neighbor is unreachable (no route to the destination IP), the neighbor is not configured to accept BGP connections (e.g., no BGP process or incorrect ACL), or a firewall is blocking TCP port 179. The output shows 0 messages sent/received and 'never' uptime, confirming no session has ever been established.
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 not reachable or is not configured to accept BGP connections.
Why this is correct
State 'Active' with zero messages received or sent means R1 is repeatedly attempting the TCP session on port 179 but receiving no response. Either the neighbour address is unreachable, or the peer lacks a matching neighbour statement or is not listening for BGP connections.
- ✗
The neighbor is in Idle state because of a hold timer expiry.
Why it's wrong here
The State/PfxRcd column shows Active, meaning R1 is repeatedly attempting TCP port 179 without completing the handshake; Idle would display as Idle, and a hold-timer expiry would reset an established session, not leave it Active. Active points to unreachable transport or a misconfigured neighbour address.
- ✗
The neighbor has received 5 prefixes, indicating a successful session.
Why it's wrong here
The 5 under State/PfxRcd belongs to neighbour 10.1.1.2, not 10.2.2.2, whose counters are zero and whose state reads Active. Reading the column across the wrong row is the trap; 10.2.2.2 has received no prefixes because its TCP session never established.
- ✗
The BGP table version is 10, meaning there is a routing loop.
Why it's wrong here
The table version counter increments with each BGP update and carries no loop meaning; the real fault is that 10.2.2.2 sits in Active state with zero messages received, indicating no TCP session to port 179. A routing loop would instead show repeated AS_PATH entries.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.