Question 215 of 2,015

IP Multicast →mediumMatchingObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that PIM Bootstrap messages elect the RP in PIM Sparse Mode, while Hello discovers neighbors, Join requests membership, Prune leaves a group, and Assert resolves duplicate forwarding on a multi-access network. This is correct because each PIM message type serves a distinct function in building and maintaining multicast distribution trees: Hello establishes neighbor adjacencies, Join and Prune signal interest or disinterest in a multicast group, Assert breaks ties when multiple upstream routers forward the same traffic onto a shared segment, and Bootstrap carries RP-set information to all routers. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this topic often appears as a drag-and-drop question testing your ability to match each message to its role, with a common trap being confusion between Bootstrap and Assert—remember that Bootstrap is about RP election, not forwarding conflict. A useful memory tip: “Hello finds friends, Join says yes, Prune says no, Assert fights duplicates, Bootstrap picks the RP.”

350-401 IP Multicast Practice Question

This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ip multicast. 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.

Drag and drop each PIM message type on the left to its matching function on the right.

Question 1mediummatching

Study the full multicast explanation →

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

✓

PIM Hello: Discovers and maintains PIM neighbors

PIM Hello discovers neighbors; Join requests to join a group; Prune requests to leave a group; Assert resolves duplicate forwarding on a multi-access network.

Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct

OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.

KKey Concepts to Remember

OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.

TExam Day Tips

Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.

Key takeaway

OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

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.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 350-401 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 350-401 question test?

IP Multicast — This question tests IP Multicast — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: PIM Hello: Discovers and maintains PIM neighbors — PIM Hello discovers neighbors; Join requests to join a group; Prune requests to leave a group; Assert resolves duplicate forwarding on a multi-access network.

What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 350-401

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. Drag and drop each PIM message type on the left to its matching function on the right.

medium

✓ P1.PIM Hello: Discovers PIM neighbors and maintains adjacency
✓ P2.PIM Join: Requests to receive multicast traffic for a specific group (or S,G)
✓ P3.PIM Prune: Requests to stop receiving multicast traffic for a specific group (or S,G)
✓ P4.PIM Assert: Resolves which PIM router forwards multicast traffic on a multi-access network
✓ P5.PIM Bootstrap: Distributes RP information in PIM Sparse Mode

Why P1: PIM Hello discovers neighbors and maintains adjacency; Join is used to join a multicast tree; Prune is used to leave a tree; Assert resolves duplicate forwarding on a multi-access network; Bootstrap messages are used in PIM SM to distribute RP information.

Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026

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