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300-410 Practice Question: Is a mandatory condition for a route to be…
Which of the following is a mandatory condition for a route to be considered a feasible successor in EIGRP?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a feasible successor must have a metric equal to or better than the successor, but the actual condition is that the reported distance must be strictly less than the feasible distance.
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 reported distance must be less than the feasible distance.
In EIGRP, a feasible successor is a backup route that can be used immediately if the successor fails. The mandatory condition for a route to be considered a feasible successor is that its reported distance (RD) must be less than the feasible distance (FD) of the current successor. This ensures the backup route is loop-free, as per the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL).
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 reported distance must be less than the feasible distance.
Why this is correct
This is the feasibility condition defined by EIGRP.
- ✗
The metric must be equal to the successor's metric.
Why it's wrong here
Equal metrics are not required; the condition is based on reported distance.
- ✗
The next-hop router must be directly connected.
Why it's wrong here
The next hop must be reachable, but not necessarily directly connected.
- ✗
The route must be learned from the same AS.
Why it's wrong here
Routes from different ASes are not considered in EIGRP.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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