mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Examine the following OSPF configuration on a…
Examine the following OSPF configuration on a Cisco IOS-XE router:
router ospf 1
router-id 1.1.1.1
network 10.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 0 network 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 1
default-information originate always metric 10 metric-type 1
What is the effect of the 'default-information originate always' command?
⚠ Common exam trap
350-401 often tests the 'always' keyword's effect, causing candidates to think it requires a default route in the routing table or that it redistributes static routes.
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
✓
A default route is unconditionally advertised into OSPF with metric 10 and type E1.
The 'default-information originate always' command unconditionally injects a default route (0.0.0.0/0) into OSPF, regardless of whether the router itself has a default route. The metric 10 and metric-type 1 set the cost and external type to E1, meaning the cost is the sum of external and internal costs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A default route is advertised into OSPF only if the router has a default route in its routing table.
Why it's wrong here
The always keyword makes origination unconditional, so a default route is advertised even without one present in the routing table. It is tempting because that describes the command without always, which would be correct where the default route must already exist before advertisement.
- ✓
A default route is unconditionally advertised into OSPF with metric 10 and type E1.
Why this is correct
The always keyword removes the dependency on a local default route, so the router advertises 0.0.0.0/0 into OSPF regardless of its own routing table. The metric 10 and metric-type 1 arguments set the advertised cost and mark it as an E1 external route.
- ✗
The router will redistribute static default routes into OSPF.
Why it's wrong here
The 'always' keyword makes the router originate a default route into OSPF unconditionally, even with no default route present in its own routing table; it does not redistribute existing static defaults. Redistribution of static routes requires the 'redistribute static' command, which is what this option describes.
- ✗
The router will generate a default route only for area 1.
Why it's wrong here
The command injects the default route into the OSPF domain as an external LSA, reaching all areas, not area 1 alone. It is tempting because area 1 appears in the network statements, but area scoping applies to stub or NSSA configuration, not to default-information originate.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 350-401 question from scratch — 1,923 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 350-401 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 350-401 exam.