This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ospf. 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.
In OSPF, which LSA type is used to describe routes to networks within the same area and is generated by the router that owns the network?
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Type 1 LSAs advertise the router's links and are the most basic LSA type.
Type 2 (Network LSA)
Why wrong: Type 2 LSAs are generated by the DR to describe the segment's routers.
Type 3 (Summary LSA)
Why wrong: Type 3 LSAs are generated by ABRs to advertise routes from one area to another.
Type 5 (External LSA)
Why wrong: Type 5 LSAs are generated by ASBRs to advertise external routes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Type 1 (Router LSA) is correct because each OSPF router generates a Type 1 LSA to describe its directly connected links and networks within the same area. This LSA is flooded only within the originating area and is the fundamental building block for intra-area route calculation using the SPF algorithm.
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.
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Why this is correct
Type 1 LSAs advertise the router's links and are the most basic LSA type.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Type 2 (Network LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 2 LSAs are generated by the DR to describe the segment's routers.
Type 3 (Summary LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 3 LSAs are generated by ABRs to advertise routes from one area to another.
Type 5 (External LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 5 LSAs are generated by ASBRs to advertise external routes.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the router that originates the LSA (Type 1) versus the DR that generates the LSA for the network segment (Type 2), causing candidates to confuse the 'owner' of the network with the DR's role.
Detailed technical explanation
The Type 1 LSA (Router LSA) contains a list of all directly connected links, each identified by a link type (e.g., point-to-point, transit, stub) and associated metric. The link-state ID is the originating router's Router ID. In multi-access networks, the DR generates a Type 2 LSA to supplement the Type 1 LSAs, ensuring all routers have a complete topology map for loop-free SPF computation.
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
OSPF — This question tests OSPF — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Type 1 (Router LSA) — Type 1 (Router LSA) is correct because each OSPF router generates a Type 1 LSA to describe its directly connected links and networks within the same area. This LSA is flooded only within the originating area and is the fundamental building block for intra-area route calculation using the SPF algorithm.
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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