350-401 Network Assurance Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
a - application route
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override
Gateway of last resort is 10.0.0.2 to network 0.0.0.0
O*E2 0.0.0.0/0 [110/1] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/0
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.0.0.0/30 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 10.0.0.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
O 192.168.1.0/24 [110/2] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/0
O 192.168.1.1/32 [110/2] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/0Refer to the exhibit. Which OSPF route type is the default route?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the default OSPF metric type for redistributed routes (E2) and the fact that a default route can be an external route, not just an inter-area or NSSA type, leading candidates to confuse it with N2 or IA when the area type is not explicitly stated.
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
✓
External type 2 (E2)
The exhibit shows a default route (0.0.0.0/0) being redistributed into OSPF from another routing protocol or static route. By default, OSPF redistributes routes as External Type 2 (E2), meaning the metric does not include the internal cost to the ASBR. The route is not an NSSA type because the area is not configured as a not-so-stubby area, and it is not an inter-area route because it originates outside the OSPF domain.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
External type 2 (E2)
Why this is correct
When OSPF redistributes a default route, the default metric-type is 2 (E2), which means the route's metric remains fixed at the ASBR-advertised value (20) and does not include the internal cost of reaching that ASBR. This is why a default route injected via redistribute or default-information originate is normally seen as an E2 route unless metric-type 1 is explicitly selected.
- ✗
Inter-area (IA)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Inter-area routes (IA) are OSPF routes that originate in one area and are advertised to another area, but they are not external routes. A default route redistributed from outside the OSPF domain is an external route, not an inter-area route.
- ✗
NSSA external type 2 (N2)
Why it's wrong here
N2 routes are OSPF external routes originating only in not-so-stubby areas (NSSA), where the ASBR injects them as type 7 LSAs. The exhibit depicts regular OSPF areas rather than an NSSA, and the default route is being redistributed or originated by standard commands, so it cannot be classified as an N2 route.
- ✗
External type 1 (E1)
Why it's wrong here
E1 routes require explicit configuration with metric-type 1 and include the internal cost from the local router to the ASBR in addition to the external metric. The exhibited default route carries the characteristic E2 seed metric of 20 and shows no accumulation of internal path cost, so it cannot be an E1 route.
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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