easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: Which EIGRP metric component is disabled by…
Which EIGRP metric component is disabled by default?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that MTU is a metric component because it appears in the 'show interface' output alongside delay and reliability, but MTU is never used in the EIGRP metric calculation.
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
✓
Reliability
C is correct because EIGRP uses a composite metric based on bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load, but reliability and load are disabled by default. Reliability is a dynamic metric that reflects the link's error rate; it is not used in the default metric calculation to ensure stability and avoid route flapping. Only bandwidth and delay are enabled by default, as configured via the 'metric weights' command (default: 0 1 0 1 0 0).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
Bandwidth is enabled by default (K1=1).
- ✗
Delay
Why it's wrong here
Delay is enabled by default (K3=1).
- ✓
Reliability
Why this is correct
Reliability is disabled by default (K2=0).
- ✗
MTU
Why it's wrong here
MTU is not used in the metric calculation; it is only used for feasibility checks. The K values for MTU are always 0.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 300-410 question from scratch — 1,966 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.