mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Router R1 has the following OSPF configuration:…
Router R1 has the following OSPF configuration: interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0 ip ospf 1 area 0 ip ospf network point-to-point
!
router ospf 1
router-id 1.1.1.1
network 10.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 0
What is the effect of the 'ip ospf network point-to-point' command on this interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that 'ip ospf network point-to-point' disables OSPF or changes timers to 30 seconds, when in fact it eliminates DR/BDR and sets hello to 10 seconds.
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
✓
It changes the OSPF network type to point-to-point, eliminating DR/BDR election and reducing hello timer to 10 seconds.
The 'ip ospf network point-to-point' command changes the OSPF network type on the interface from the default (broadcast for Ethernet) to point-to-point. This eliminates the need for a Designated Router (DR) and Backup Designated Router (BDR) election, as point-to-point links have only two neighbors. Additionally, the OSPF hello timer on a point-to-point network defaults to 10 seconds (versus 30 seconds for non-broadcast), and the dead timer is 40 seconds.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It disables OSPF on the interface.
Why it's wrong here
The `ip ospf network point-to-point` command does not remove OSPF from the interface; OSPF remains operational and continues forming adjacencies. Disabling OSPF entirely would require removing the interface from the OSPF process with a `no network` statement under `router ospf` or using a different interface-level OSPF command. This command only overrides the default OSPF network type, leaving routing protocol participation intact.
- ✓
It changes the OSPF network type to point-to-point, eliminating DR/BDR election and reducing hello timer to 10 seconds.
Why this is correct
The `ip ospf network point-to-point` command changes the interface's OSPF network type to point-to-point, which suppresses DR/BDR election and treats the link as a direct point-to-point connection. On NBMA media this also lowers the hello interval from 30 seconds to 10 seconds and the dead interval from 120 seconds to 40 seconds, allowing faster neighbor detection and convergence while eliminating type-2 network LSA generation.
- ✗
It enables OSPF authentication on the interface.
Why it's wrong here
OSPF authentication is a separate security feature enabled with interface-level commands such as `ip ospf authentication`, `ip ospf authentication-key`, and `ip ospf message-digest-key`, or through area-level `area X authentication`. The `ip ospf network point-to-point` command alters only the network-type operational model and has no interaction with authentication configuration; it neither enables nor disables any authentication mechanism.
- ✗
It sets the OSPF cost to 1.
Why it's wrong here
Interface cost in OSPF is not modified by changing the network type; it is either manually assigned with `ip ospf cost` or automatically derived from the interface bandwidth divided by the reference bandwidth configured with `auto-cost reference-bandwidth`. The point-to-point network type changes adjacency behavior and LSA flooding but leaves the cost value and the OSPF metric calculation completely unaffected.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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