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300-410 Practice Question: The default maximum hop count for RIP routes in…
What is the default maximum hop count for RIP routes in Cisco IOS?
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
✓
15
RIP uses a hop count metric with a maximum of 15 hops; 16 indicates an unreachable route. This is a fundamental loop prevention mechanism.
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 this is correct
Correct. 15 is the maximum hop count; 16 is considered infinity.
- ✗
16
Why it's wrong here
16 is used to denote an unreachable route, not a valid hop count.
- ✗
255
Why it's wrong here
255 is the maximum TTL, not related to RIP hop count.
- ✗
10
Why it's wrong here
10 is not the RIP maximum; it allows up to 15 hops.
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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JA
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.