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300-410 The maximum hop count for an EIGRP route? Practice Question
What is the maximum hop count for an EIGRP route?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the specific EIGRP hop count of 224 to trap candidates who confuse it with the more common RIP hop count of 15 or the RIPv2/EIGRP default of 255, or who assume EIGRP has no hop count limit due to its advanced metric system.
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
✓
224
EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 224, not 255 like RIPv2 or other distance-vector protocols. This limit is hard-coded in the EIGRP protocol to prevent routing loops and excessive path lengths, and it is enforced by the EIGRP update process. Routes with a hop count exceeding 224 are considered unreachable and are not installed in the routing table.
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 it's wrong here
Incorrect. 15 is the maximum hop count for RIP, not EIGRP.
- ✗
255
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While some implementations allow 255, the standard maximum is 224.
- ✓
224
Why this is correct
Correct. EIGRP limits hop count to 224 by default.
- ✗
Unlimited
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. EIGRP has a hop count limit of 224.
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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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.