- A
Both paths are feasible successors and will be used for load balancing.
Both paths have the same metric and meet the feasibility condition (reported distance less than FD), so they are successors and will be used for load balancing.
- B
Only the first path is used because it has a lower administrative distance.
Why wrong: Administrative distance is not shown in EIGRP topology; both paths are from the same protocol, so AD is the same.
- C
The second path is a feasible successor but not used because the first path has a better metric.
Why wrong: Both have the same metric, so both are successors.
- D
The output indicates a routing loop because there are two paths with the same metric.
Why wrong: Equal-cost paths are normal and do not indicate a loop.
Quick Answer
The answer is that both paths are feasible successors and will be used for EIGRP load balancing. This is correct because the output from the `show ip eigrp topology` command displays two Routing Descriptor Blocks with identical composite metrics of 30720/28160, and the topology entry shows a single successor with a feasible distance (FD) of 30720. Since both paths have the same reported distance (28160) and meet the feasibility condition (RD < FD), they are both feasible successors, allowing EIGRP to perform equal-cost load balancing across the two GigabitEthernet interfaces. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret the EIGRP topology table and distinguish between successors, feasible successors, and non-feasible routes—a common trap is confusing the `all-links` keyword with showing all routes, when it actually reveals all feasible successors. Remember the memory tip: “Same metric, same FD—feasible successors for load balancing, not just backup.”
300-410 Administrative Distance Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of administrative distance. 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 Administrative Distance issue:
R1# show ip eigrp topology 192.168.3.0/24 all-links
IP-EIGRP (AS 100): Topology entry for 192.168.3.0/24 State is Passive, Query origin flag is 1, 1 Successor(s), FD is 30720 Routing Descriptor Blocks:
10.1.1.2 (GigabitEthernet0/0), from 10.1.1.2, Send flag is 0x0
Composite metric is (30720/28160), Route is Internal Vector metric: Minimum bandwidth is 100000 Kbit Total delay is 2000 microseconds Reliability is 255/255 Load is 1/255 Minimum MTU is 1500 Hop count is 1
10.1.2.2 (GigabitEthernet0/1), from 10.1.2.2, Send flag is 0x0
Composite metric is (30720/28160), Route is Internal Vector metric: Minimum bandwidth is 100000 Kbit Total delay is 2000 microseconds Reliability is 255/255 Load is 1/255 Minimum MTU is 1500 Hop count is 1
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:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Both paths are feasible successors and will be used for load balancing.
The output shows two equal-cost paths to the same network, both with the same composite metric and FD. This indicates that EIGRP is load balancing across these two links, but the administrative distance is not directly shown here; it's about the topology table.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Both paths are feasible successors and will be used for load balancing.
Why this is correct
Both paths have the same metric and meet the feasibility condition (reported distance less than FD), so they are successors and will be used for load balancing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Only the first path is used because it has a lower administrative distance.
Why it's wrong here
Administrative distance is not shown in EIGRP topology; both paths are from the same protocol, so AD is the same.
- ✗
The second path is a feasible successor but not used because the first path has a better metric.
Why it's wrong here
Both have the same metric, so both are successors.
- ✗
The output indicates a routing loop because there are two paths with the same metric.
Why it's wrong here
Equal-cost paths are normal and do not indicate a loop.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Administrative distance is not shown in EIGRP topology; both paths are from the same protocol, so AD is the same.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 300-410 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Administrative Distance — This question tests Administrative Distance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Both paths are feasible successors and will be used for load balancing. — The output shows two equal-cost paths to the same network, both with the same composite metric and FD. This indicates that EIGRP is load balancing across these two links, but the administrative distance is not directly shown here; it's about the topology table.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 300-410 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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