Quick Answer
The answer is the Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED), as BGP prefers the path with the lowest MED value when selecting between multiple routes received from the same neighboring Autonomous System (AS). This attribute is used to influence inbound traffic by suggesting to an external AS which entry point is more optimal; a lower MED indicates a more preferred path because it signals a lower metric or cost for reaching the destination network. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of BGP path selection and how MED differs from local preference—a common trap is confusing MED (lowest wins, exchanged between ASes) with local preference (highest wins, used within an AS). You might see a scenario where two paths from the same neighbor AS have different MED values, and you must identify the preferred route. Remember the mnemonic: "MED is the metric that makes the neighbor come to you—lower is better, like a lower price."
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of virtual machines and hypervisors. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which BGP attribute is preferred when it has the lowest value?
Weight
Why wrong: Incorrect. Weight prefers higher values.
Local Preference
Why wrong: Incorrect. Local preference prefers higher values.
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Correct. A lower MED is preferred.
AS Path Length
Why wrong: Incorrect. Shorter AS path is preferred, but that is not a 'lowest value' attribute in the same sense; it's a count.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
The Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from neighboring ASes. A lower MED value is preferred when multiple paths are received from the same neighboring AS, making it the correct answer for an attribute preferred with the lowest value.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Weight
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Weight prefers higher values.
Local Preference
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Local preference prefers higher values.
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why this is correct
Correct. A lower MED is preferred.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AS Path Length
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Shorter AS path is preferred, but that is not a 'lowest value' attribute in the same sense; it's a count.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that all BGP attributes follow a 'higher is better' rule, but MED is a key exception where lower is better, and candidates may confuse it with Local Preference or Weight which are higher-is-better.
Detailed technical explanation
MED is an optional non-transitive attribute exchanged between eBGP peers, typically set to reflect the IGP metric of the exit path. In a multi-homed scenario, a lower MED value can be used to prefer one link over another for inbound traffic, but it is only compared between paths from the same neighboring AS unless the 'bgp always-compare-med' command is configured. This attribute is defined in RFC 4271 and is often used in conjunction with route maps to manipulate traffic engineering.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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FAQ
Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — This question tests Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) — The Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from neighboring ASes. A lower MED value is preferred when multiple paths are received from the same neighboring AS, making it the correct answer for an attribute preferred with the lowest value.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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