easyMultiple Choice
300-410 The maximum hop count for a route in RIP? Practice Question
What is the maximum hop count for a route in RIP?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between the maximum hop count (15) and the unreachable metric (16), tricking candidates who think 16 is a valid route metric rather than a poison value.
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
✓
15
RIP (Routing Information Protocol) uses a maximum hop count of 15 to prevent routing loops. A route with a hop count of 16 is considered unreachable (infinite metric). This limit is defined in RFC 1058 for RIPv1 and RFC 2453 for RIPv2, ensuring that the network diameter remains small and loop-free.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
15
Why this is correct
RIP defines infinity as 16 hops, so a destination becomes unreachable once its metric reaches that value. This caps valid routes at 15 hops, satisfying the question's constraint by preventing routing loops from counting indefinitely. The 15-hop limit therefore represents the maximum usable hop count.
- ✗
16
Why it's wrong here
RIP treats 16 as infinity, so a route reaching 16 hops is unreachable and removed from the routing table; the usable maximum is 15. It is tempting because 16 is the first value that triggers the unreachable condition, which is the metric limit rather than the maximum valid hop count.
- ✗
255
Why it's wrong here
RIP's hop count field is limited to 4 bits, capping values at 15, with 16 denoting infinity; 255 exceeds that field entirely. It is tempting because 255 is the maximum of an 8-bit value, but RIP does not use an 8-bit metric field.
- ✗
32
Why it's wrong here
RIP's maximum hop count is 15, so 32 exceeds the protocol's own limit and would be unreachable. The value 32 is tempting because it is a power of two and resembles the administrative distance of EIGRP internal routes, but RIP specifically treats 16 as infinity and discards such routes.
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 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.