- A
The route-target import and export values are mismatched between the VRFs, preventing route exchange.
Correct: R1 exports RT 100:1, but R2 imports RT 200:1; R2 exports RT 200:2, but R1 imports RT 100:2. No common RT exists.
- B
The RD values must match for VRF-Lite to work on a direct link.
Why wrong: Incorrect: RD values do not need to match; they are used for route distinguishment, not for route exchange.
- C
The VRFs must have the same name on both routers for direct connectivity.
Why wrong: Incorrect: VRF names are local and can differ; connectivity depends on route-target matching.
- D
The interface must be in the same VRF on both ends; route-targets are irrelevant for VRF-Lite.
Why wrong: Incorrect: In VRF-Lite, route-targets are used for route leaking; if VRFs differ, route-targets must be configured correctly.
Quick Answer
The answer is a route-target mismatch between the two VRFs, which prevents route exchange and causes the intermittent reachability. In VRF-Lite, route-target import and export values must align for routes to be leaked across the link; R1 exports RT 100:1 but R2 imports RT 200:1, while R2 exports RT 200:2 but R1 imports RT 100:2, creating a complete mismatch where neither side accepts the other’s routes. This scenario tests your understanding of VRF-Lite route-target mismatch root cause analysis for the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, where a common trap is assuming that directly connected VRFs automatically share routes without proper RT alignment. A reliable memory tip is to think of route-targets as a lock-and-key pair—the export value must match the import value on the peer VRF for successful route exchange.
300-410 VRF-Lite Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of vrf-lite. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A large enterprise network is experiencing intermittent reachability between VRF-A on Router R1 and VRF-B on Router R2. R1 has the following relevant configuration: ip vrf VRF-A, rd 100:1, route-target export 100:1, route-target import 100:2. R2 shows: ip vrf VRF-B, rd 200:2, route-target export 200:2, route-target import 200:1. The link between R1 and R2 is configured with VRF forwarding VRF-A on R1 and VRF forwarding VRF-B on R2. What is the root cause?
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 route-target import and export values are mismatched between the VRFs, preventing route exchange.
The route-target import/export values are mismatched for the VRF-Lite scenario. In VRF-Lite, route-targets are used for route leaking, but on a direct link, the VRFs must match or route leaking must be configured properly. Here, R1 imports routes with RT 100:2, which R2 exports as 200:2, not 100:2. R2 imports RT 200:1, but R1 exports 100:1. Thus, no routes are exchanged, causing unreachability.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 route-target import and export values are mismatched between the VRFs, preventing route exchange.
Why this is correct
Correct: R1 exports RT 100:1, but R2 imports RT 200:1; R2 exports RT 200:2, but R1 imports RT 100:2. No common RT exists.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The RD values must match for VRF-Lite to work on a direct link.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: RD values do not need to match; they are used for route distinguishment, not for route exchange.
- ✗
The VRFs must have the same name on both routers for direct connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: VRF names are local and can differ; connectivity depends on route-target matching.
- ✗
The interface must be in the same VRF on both ends; route-targets are irrelevant for VRF-Lite.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: In VRF-Lite, route-targets are used for route leaking; if VRFs differ, route-targets must be configured correctly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
VRF-Lite — This question tests VRF-Lite — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The route-target import and export values are mismatched between the VRFs, preventing route exchange. — The route-target import/export values are mismatched for the VRF-Lite scenario. In VRF-Lite, route-targets are used for route leaking, but on a direct link, the VRFs must match or route leaking must be configured properly. Here, R1 imports routes with RT 100:2, which R2 exports as 200:2, not 100:2. R2 imports RT 200:1, but R1 exports 100:1. Thus, no routes are exchanged, causing unreachability.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 300-410
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer is troubleshooting a VRF-Lite configuration on a Cisco router. The router has two VRFs (VRF_CUSTOMER_A and VRF_CUSTOMER_B). The engineer notices that traffic from VRF_CUSTOMER_A is being routed to the wrong next-hop, causing connectivity issues. The 'show ip route vrf VRF_CUSTOMER_A' shows a route to the destination via a next-hop that belongs to VRF_CUSTOMER_B. What is the most likely cause?
hard- ✓ A.The 'route-target import' command in VRF_CUSTOMER_A is importing routes from VRF_CUSTOMER_B.
- B.The router has a default route that points to the next-hop in VRF_CUSTOMER_B.
- C.The 'ip cef' command is disabled globally.
- D.The 'ip vrf forwarding' command is applied to the same physical interface for both VRFs.
Why A: This issue is typically caused by route leaking between VRFs, which can happen if the route-target import/export commands are misconfigured or if there is a shared interface with incorrect VRF assignment.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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