hardMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: In OSPF, what is the default behavior for…
In OSPF, what is the default behavior for auto-summary on Cisco IOS-XE?
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
✓
Auto-summary is disabled by default
Cisco IOS-XE has auto-summary disabled by default for OSPF, meaning that redistributed routes are not summarized to their classful boundaries unless explicitly configured.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Auto-summary is enabled by default
Why it's wrong here
OSPF auto-summary is disabled by default on Cisco IOS-XE, so no summarisation of redistributed routes occurs unless configured. It tempts because RIP and EIGRP historically enabled auto-summary by default, leading engineers to assume the same classful behaviour applies to OSPF.
- ✓
Auto-summary is disabled by default
Why this is correct
Cisco IOS-XE disables OSPF auto-summary by default, so no automatic summarisation of redistributed subnets occurs at classful boundaries. Summarisation only happens when explicitly configured with the 'summary-address' command under the OSPF routing process, or via 'auto-summary' where supported.
- ✗
Auto-summary is only enabled for external routes
Why it's wrong here
Auto-summary is disabled by default for all OSPF routes, external included, so no automatic classful summarisation happens unless explicitly configured. It tempts because external routes redistributed into OSPF are the ones summarisation typically targets, but the default remains off regardless of route type.
- ✗
Auto-summary is enabled only for inter-area routes
Why it's wrong here
OSPF auto-summary applies only to redistributed routes on an ASBR, not to inter-area routes, which are summarised manually with area range. The option is tempting because area range does summarise inter-area prefixes, but that is a separate command, and auto-summary defaults to disabled on IOS-XE.
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.