hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: An engineer configures PBR with a route-map that…
An engineer configures PBR with a route-map that sets the next-hop to 10.0.0.2 for traffic matching ACL 100. The route-map is applied inbound on interface GigabitEthernet0/1. Traffic from a host on that interface is forwarded via 10.0.0.2, but the engineer notices that packets with destination IP 10.0.0.2 itself are also being redirected, causing a loop. Why does this happen?
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 set ip next-hop command does not check if the next-hop is the router itself, so packets destined to the router are forwarded instead of being processed locally.
PBR processes all incoming packets, including those destined to the router itself. If the set next-hop points to the router's own IP, packets to that IP are forwarded back out, creating a loop. The route-map should include a match clause to exclude traffic destined to the router.
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 ACL 100 inadvertently matches the router's own IP address as source.
Why it's wrong here
The issue is destination, not source.
- ✗
PBR is applied outbound, causing packets to the router to be re-routed.
Why it's wrong here
PBR is applied inbound on GigabitEthernet0/1, not outbound; outbound application would affect traffic leaving an interface, but the loop occurs because inbound PBR on the receiving interface intercepts packets destined for the router’s own IP (10.0.0.2) before the local delivery decision, redirecting them back out. This option is tempting because outbound PBR is commonly used to influence forwarding of transit traffic, and an engineer might misattribute the loop to a misapplied direction rather than recognising that PBR overrides the router’s local route for its own IP address.
- ✓
The set ip next-hop command does not check if the next-hop is the router itself, so packets destined to the router are forwarded instead of being processed locally.
Why this is correct
PBR overrides local delivery; packets to the router's own IP are forwarded per the policy.
- ✗
The route-map has a default route that sends all traffic to 10.0.0.2.
Why it's wrong here
Default routes are not part of PBR; the issue is specific to the set next-hop command.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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