Quick Answer
The answer is 255, as EIGRP enforces a hard maximum hop count limit of 255, which is embedded directly into the protocol’s metric structure. Unlike older distance-vector protocols such as RIP, which cap at 15 hops to prevent routing loops, EIGRP’s 255-hop ceiling allows it to scale across large enterprise networks without artificially restricting path length. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept often appears in questions contrasting EIGRP with RIP or testing your understanding of EIGRP’s advanced loop-prevention mechanisms, such as the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL). A common trap is confusing EIGRP’s hop count with its composite metric—remember that hop count is a separate, hard limit, not a calculated value. For a quick memory tip, think of the number 255 as the maximum value in a single byte, which is exactly how EIGRP encodes this limit in its protocol fields.
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of sd-access architecture. 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.
What is the maximum hop count for EIGRP?
255
EIGRP supports up to 255 hops, configurable with the 'metric maximum-hops' command.
100
Why wrong: 100 is the default hop count, but the maximum is 255.
15
Why wrong: 15 is the maximum hop count for RIP, not EIGRP.
16
Why wrong: 16 is used by RIP as infinity (unreachable), not EIGRP.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
255
EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 255, which is a hard limit encoded in the protocol's metric structure. This high limit allows EIGRP to scale in large enterprise networks without the hop-count restrictions of distance-vector protocols like RIP.
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.
255
100
Why it's wrong here
100 is the default hop count, but the maximum is 255.
15
16
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the EIGRP hop count limit of 255 to catch candidates who confuse it with RIP's 15-hop limit or who assume all distance-vector protocols have the same constraints.
Detailed technical explanation
EIGRP is an advanced distance-vector protocol that uses a composite metric based on bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability, with hop count only used as a tiebreaker or secondary constraint. The 255-hop limit is defined in the EIGRP packet header's TLV (Type-Length-Value) fields, and exceeding it causes the route to be considered unreachable, though in practice EIGRP's DUAL algorithm prevents loops without relying on hop count.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
SD-Access Architecture — This question tests SD-Access Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 255 — EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 255, which is a hard limit encoded in the protocol's metric structure. This high limit allows EIGRP to scale in large enterprise networks without the hop-count restrictions of distance-vector protocols like RIP.
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
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-401 exam.
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