hardMultiple Select
350-401 Rendezvous Point (RP) Practice Question
Which two statements about multicast RP (Rendezvous Point) are true? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
This is a straight forward question that asks for two true statements; options C, D, and E are incorrect. Candidates should carefully read the number of correct options required.
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 RP is used only in PIM sparse mode and is the root of the shared distribution tree.
Option A is correct because the Rendezvous Point is a PIM-SM (sparse mode) concept: sources register with the RP and receivers join the shared tree (*, G) rooted at the RP, which forwards traffic until an SPT switchover occurs. Option B is correct because a single RP can service many groups, and Cisco IOS supports multiple RPs mapped to different group ranges via Anycast RP or MSDP, or by configuring separate RPs for different multicast group address ranges. Option C is incorrect because the RP does not need to be the first-hop router for sources; sources simply unicast-register their traffic to the RP through their DR. Option D is incorrect because receivers join the shared tree via their local DR and IGMP, not through direct connection to the RP. Option E is incorrect because PIM dense mode uses flood-and-prune with no RP; the RP is specific to sparse mode.
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 RP is used only in PIM sparse mode and is the root of the shared distribution tree.
Why this is correct
PIM sparse mode builds a shared tree rooted at the RP, so all sources and receivers initially meet there; dense mode floods instead and uses no RP. This directly satisfies the question's requirement that the RP anchors the shared distribution tree.
- ✓
A single RP can serve multiple multicast groups, and multiple RPs can be configured for different group ranges.
Why this is correct
A single RP maps to many groups, while distinct RPs can be scoped to separate group ranges, satisfying the stem's requirement for two true statements. This reflects PIM-SM's group-to-RP mapping, where RP load and redundancy are managed by splitting group address space across multiple rendezvous points.
- ✗
The RP must be the first-hop router for all multicast sources in the network.
Why it's wrong here
The RP is a rendezvous point, not a topology requirement; sources can register with an RP that is not their first-hop router, including via MSDP or anycast. It is tempting because the RP must be reachable and consistently configured, but that reachability does not mandate first-hop placement.
- ✗
The RP must be directly connected to all multicast receivers.
Why it's wrong here
The RP is a control-plane node that sources the shared distribution tree; receivers join via PIM to their last-hop router, which need not connect to the RP directly. It is tempting because the RP does need IP reachability from all PIM routers, which people conflate with direct receiver attachment.
- ✗
In PIM dense mode, the RP is used to limit multicast flooding.
Why it's wrong here
PIM dense mode floods via source-based shortest-path trees and does not use an RP at all; RPs exist in sparse mode. It is tempting because dense mode does flood, but an RP would be the correct answer only for sparse-mode scenarios such as shared-tree join and source registration.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.