The answer is to increase the delay on GigabitEthernet0/0. This is correct because the EIGRP metric, with default K values of K1=1 and K3=1, simplifies to metric = (bandwidth + delay) * 256, where delay is measured in tens of microseconds. Increasing the delay on the outgoing interface directly adds to the delay component, raising the composite metric without altering bandwidth or load. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this tests your understanding of the EIGRP metric formula and the impact of individual K values; a common trap is assuming bandwidth adjustments always dominate, but delay is often the more practical lever for fine-tuning metrics. Remember that delay is additive across the path, while bandwidth is based on the slowest link. A useful memory tip is "Delay Directly Dictates" — since delay is the only variable you can incrementally increase on a single interface to raise the metric without changing the path's bottleneck bandwidth.
350-401 Network Assurance Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of network assurance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
router# show ip route 10.0.0.0
Routing entry for 10.0.0.0/8
Known via "eigrp 100", distance 170, metric 2560512, type internal
Redistributing via eigrp 100
Last update from 192.168.1.1 on GigabitEthernet0/0, 00:00:05 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 192.168.1.1, from 192.168.1.1, 00:00:05 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/0
Route metric is 2560512, traffic share count is 1
Total delay is 2000 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 10000 Kbit
Reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
Loading 1/255, Hops 3
```
Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer is troubleshooting a routing issue. The route for 10.0.0.0/8 is learned via EIGRP with metric 2560512. Which change would most likely cause the metric to increase?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```
router# show ip route 10.0.0.0
Routing entry for 10.0.0.0/8
Known via "eigrp 100", distance 170, metric 2560512, type internal
Redistributing via eigrp 100
Last update from 192.168.1.1 on GigabitEthernet0/0, 00:00:05 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 192.168.1.1, from 192.168.1.1, 00:00:05 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/0
Route metric is 2560512, traffic share count is 1
Total delay is 2000 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 10000 Kbit
Reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
Loading 1/255, Hops 3
```
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increase the delay on GigabitEthernet0/0.
The EIGRPmetric is calculated using the formula: metric = (K1 * bandwidth + (K2 * bandwidth) / (256 - load) + K3 * delay) * 256, with default K values (K1=1, K3=1, others=0). Increasing the delay on the outgoing interface (GigabitEthernet0/0) directly increases the delay component in the composite metric, causing the overall metric to increase. Option D is correct because delay is a key variable in the EIGRP metric calculation.
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.
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that increasing bandwidth increases the EIGRPmetric, but the trap is that bandwidth is inversely proportional in the formula, so increasing bandwidth actually decreases the metric, while increasing delay directly increases it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In EIGRP, the default composite metric uses only bandwidth and delay (K1=1, K3=1), where bandwidth is the lowest bandwidth along the path (in kbps) and delay is the sum of interface delays (in tens of microseconds). The delay value on an interface can be modified using the 'delay' command under interface configuration, and even a small increase can noticeably raise the metric, making this a common tuning method for path selection. In real-world scenarios, engineers might increase delay to influence EIGRP path preference without changing physical link characteristics.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
Network Assurance — This question tests Network Assurance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the delay on GigabitEthernet0/0. — The EIGRP metric is calculated using the formula: metric = (K1 * bandwidth + (K2 * bandwidth) / (256 - load) + K3 * delay) * 256, with default K values (K1=1, K3=1, others=0). Increasing the delay on the outgoing interface (GigabitEthernet0/0) directly increases the delay component in the composite metric, causing the overall metric to increase. Option D is correct because delay is a key variable in the EIGRP metric calculation.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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