hardMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: An engineer redistributes OSPF routes into EIGRP
An engineer redistributes OSPF routes into EIGRP. The OSPF routes have a metric of 20. After redistribution, the EIGRP topology table shows the routes but they are not installed in the routing table. The 'show ip eigrp topology' shows the route in active state. Which is the most likely explanation?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the distinction between 'route not redistributed' (missing default-metric or route-map filter) and 'route redistributed but stuck active' — candidates who see 'not in routing table' and jump to redistribution configuration miss the active-state clue that points to a query/reply failure.
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 EIGRP neighbor is stuck-in-active because a query was sent but no reply was received due to a unidirectional link.
A route stuck in EIGRP active state means the router sent a query for that destination and is waiting for a reply; if a reply never arrives (often due to a unidirectional link or broken neighbor adjacency), the route remains active and is never installed in the routing table. The redistribution itself succeeded — the route is in the topology table — so the problem is with query/reply propagation, not with metrics or route-maps.
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 'default-metric' command was not configured, so the routes are redistributed with an infinite metric.
Why it's wrong here
An infinite metric from a missing default-metric leaves routes present but unusable, yet such routes are not placed into active state; they simply fail to satisfy feasibility. The command is genuinely required for redistributed routes lacking a seed metric, so it tempts engineers, but active state indicates a query, not a metric fault.
- ✓
The EIGRP neighbor is stuck-in-active because a query was sent but no reply was received due to a unidirectional link.
Why this is correct
A route stuck in active state means EIGRP sent queries but received no reply within the active timer. A unidirectional link prevents replies from returning, so the neighbour never responds, leaving the route unresolved and excluded from the routing table.
- ✗
The OSPF routes are external type 2, which are not redistributed by default.
Why it's wrong here
EIGRP redistributes OSPF external type 2 routes without special handling, so this does not explain the failure. The claim tempts because OSPF external metrics and forwarding addresses do complicate redistribution, but the active state points to a stuck query, not a route-type exclusion.
- ✗
The 'route-map' used for redistribution has a 'match ip address' that does not match the OSPF routes.
Why it's wrong here
A route-map that matches nothing would prevent the routes entering the EIGRP topology table at all, yet they appear there. Route-maps are a genuine redistribution control, which makes this tempting, but their presence in topology plus active state indicates a query problem instead.
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 and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.