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350-401 The maximum hop count for EIGRP? Practice Question
What is the maximum hop count for EIGRP?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between the default hop count (100) and the maximum hop count (255), leading candidates to mistakenly select 128 or 15 due to confusion with other protocols or default values.
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
✓
255
EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 255 to prevent routing loops, which is a hard limit enforced by the protocol. This value is configurable via the 'metric maximum-hops' command under the EIGRP process, but the absolute maximum is 255. Unlike distance-vector protocols like RIP, EIGRP is an advanced distance-vector protocol that uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) for loop avoidance, but the hop count serves as a final safety 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.
- ✓
255
Why this is correct
EIGRP uses a 1-byte hop count field, allowing a maximum of 255 hops.
- ✗
15
Why it's wrong here
15 is the maximum hop count for RIP, not EIGRP.
- ✗
128
Why it's wrong here
128 is not the maximum hop count for EIGRP.
- ✗
Unlimited
Why it's wrong here
EIGRP has a finite hop count limit of 255.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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