The answer is that OSPF will advertise a default route into all OSPF areas even if no default route is present in the routing table. This behavior is dictated by the `always` keyword, which forces the router to generate a Type 5 External LSA for 0.0.0.0/0 regardless of whether a default route exists locally. Without the `always` option, OSPF only originates the default route if one is already in the routing table, making this a critical distinction for the ENCOR 350-401 exam. The exam frequently tests this as a trap: candidates often forget that `always` overrides the prerequisite of a pre-existing default, so the router becomes a gateway of last resort even if it has no default path itself. For a quick memory tip, think “always advertises, even if absent”—the keyword `always` guarantees unconditional propagation, ensuring every OSPF router in every area receives the default route.
350-401 SD-Access Architecture Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of sd-access architecture. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Given this OSPF configuration:
router ospf 1
router-id 1.1.1.1
network 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
network 10.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 1
default-information originate always
What is the effect of the 'default-information originate always' command?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
OSPF will advertise a default route into all OSPF areas even if no default route is present in the routing table.
The 'default-information originate always' command instructs OSPF to generate and advertise a default route (0.0.0.0/0) into the OSPF domain as a Type 5 External LSA, regardless of whether a default route exists in the router's own routing table. This ensures that all OSPF routers in every area receive the default route, making the advertising router a gateway of last resort.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
OSPF will advertise a default route into all OSPF areas even if no default route is present in the routing table.
Why this is correct
The 'always' keyword forces injection of a default route into OSPF regardless of existence in the RIB.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
OSPF will only advertise a default route if a default route is already in the routing table.
Why it's wrong here
Without 'always', OSPF would require a default route in the RIB; with 'always', it is unconditional.
✗
OSPF will redistribute all connected routes as type 5 LSAs.
Why it's wrong here
The command specifically injects a default route, not all connected routes.
✗
OSPF will generate a default route only for area 0.
Why it's wrong here
The default route is injected into OSPF and advertised to all areas, not just area 0.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'default-information originate' (which requires a default route in the routing table) and 'default-information originate always' (which does not), leading candidates to mistakenly think the 'always' keyword is optional or that the command only affects area 0.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The command specifically injects a default route, not all connected routes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When 'default-information originate always' is configured, the router creates a Type 5 LSA with link-state ID 0.0.0.0 and a forwarding address of 0.0.0.0, which is flooded to all areas (except stub areas by default). In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used on an ASBR to provide internet connectivity to internal OSPF routers without requiring a static default route on the ASBR itself, simplifying failover designs.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
SD-Access Architecture — This question tests SD-Access Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: OSPF will advertise a default route into all OSPF areas even if no default route is present in the routing table. — The 'default-information originate always' command instructs OSPF to generate and advertise a default route (0.0.0.0/0) into the OSPF domain as a Type 5 External LSA, regardless of whether a default route exists in the router's own routing table. This ensures that all OSPF routers in every area receive the default route, making the advertising router a gateway of last resort.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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