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 to troubleshoot an OSPF adjacency issue:
R1# debug ip ospf adj
OSPF: Interface GigabitEthernet0/0 going Up
OSPF: Send with youngest orig age 0
OSPF: Rcv DBD from 2.2.2.2 seq 0x1A opt 0x52 flag 0x7 len 32 mtu 1500 state INIT
OSPF: First DBD and we are not SLAVE
OSPF: Rcv DBD from 2.2.2.2 seq 0x1A opt 0x52 flag 0x7 len 32 mtu 1500 state EXSTART
OSPF: Nbr 2.2.2.2 has larger interface MTU
What does this output indicate?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
OSPF adjacency is stuck due to MTU mismatch; the neighbor has a larger MTU.
The debug shows that the OSPF neighbor has a larger interface MTU, which prevents the adjacency from forming. OSPF requires matching MTU values on the link.
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.
✗
OSPF adjacency is forming correctly, moving to FULL state.
OSPF adjacency is stuck because the router is not the DR/BDR.
Why it's wrong here
No DR/BDR election issue is indicated.
✗
OSPF adjacency is stuck due to authentication mismatch.
Why it's wrong here
No authentication errors are shown.
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
No authentication errors are shown.
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: OSPF adjacency is stuck due to MTU mismatch; the neighbor has a larger MTU. — The debug shows that the OSPF neighbor has a larger interface MTU, which prevents the adjacency from forming. OSPF requires matching MTU values on the link.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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