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300-410 Practice Question: Which TWO commands would a network engineer use…
Which TWO commands would a network engineer use to verify OSPFv2 neighbor state and adjacency issues on a Cisco IOS router? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
show ip ospf neighbor
Option A, 'show ip ospf neighbor', is correct because it directly displays each OSPFv2 neighbor's router ID, state (e.g., FULL, 2-WAY, EXSTART, INIT), and dead timer, which is the primary way to verify neighbor state and spot adjacency problems. Option B, 'debug ip ospf adj', is correct because it logs real-time adjacency events such as Hello receipt, DR/BDR election, and state transitions, making it the go-to tool for diagnosing why an adjacency is stuck or flapping. Option C, 'show ip route ospf', only shows OSPF-learned routes in the routing table and does not reveal neighbor state or adjacency negotiation. Option D, 'show ip ospf interface', shows interface-level OSPF parameters (area, timers, network type, DR/BDR) but not the neighbor state table itself. Option E, 'show ip protocols', summarizes routing protocol configuration and timers but does not provide per-neighbor adjacency detail.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
show ip ospf neighbor
Why this is correct
`show ip ospf neighbour` lists each OSPFv2 neighbour with its router ID, state (FULL, EXSTART, INIT), dead timer and interface, directly satisfying the stem's requirement to verify neighbour state and adjacency issues on a Cisco IOS router.
- ✓
debug ip ospf adj
Why this is correct
`debug ip ospf adj` streams real-time adjacency events—Hello exchange, DR/BDR election, and state transitions through Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading and Full—directly satisfying the stem's requirement to verify OSPFv2 neighbour state and adjacency issues on Cisco IOS. It pinpoints exactly where two routers stall, which `show` commands alone cannot reveal.
- ✗
show ip route ospf
Why it's wrong here
Lists OSPF-learned routes in the routing table, not neighbour states, so it cannot reveal adjacency failures such as ExStart or Init. It is tempting because it confirms whether OSPF routes were installed, which is useful for verifying reachability after adjacencies are already known to be healthy.
- ✗
show ip ospf interface
Why it's wrong here
Displays per-interface OSPF parameters such as area, timers, network type and DR/BDR roles, but not the neighbour table itself, so mismatched hello or dead intervals appear only indirectly. It is tempting because interface-level mismatches are a common cause of adjacency failure, making it a valid diagnostic once neighbours are listed.
- ✗
show ip protocols
Why it's wrong here
Shows which routing protocols are running and their administrative distances, not OSPF neighbour adjacency states, so it cannot expose stuck ExStart or two-way conditions. It is tempting because it confirms OSPF is enabled and identifies the router ID, which is useful when verifying protocol configuration before troubleshooting neighbours.
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
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