mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Examine the following BGP configuration: router…
Examine the following BGP configuration:
router bgp 65001
bgp log-neighbor-changes
neighbor 10.1.1.1 remote-as 65002 neighbor 10.1.1.1 route-map SET_MED out
! route-map SET_MED permit 10 set metric 50
What is the purpose of this configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between BGP path attributes (MED vs. local preference vs. weight) and the direction in which they are applied (inbound vs. outbound), causing candidates to confuse 'set metric' with 'set local-preference' or 'set weight'.
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 sets the MED value to 50 for all routes sent to the neighbor 10.1.1.1.
The configuration applies a route-map named SET_MED to outbound updates toward neighbor 10.1.1.1. The route-map permits all routes (no match statement) and sets the Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) to 50. MED is a BGP path attribute that influences inbound traffic from the neighbor AS, making this path less preferred if the neighbor has a lower MED from another entry point. Thus, all routes sent to 10.1.1.1 will carry a MED of 50.
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 sets the MED value to 50 for all routes sent to the neighbor 10.1.1.1.
Why this is correct
The route-map is applied in the outbound direction for neighbor 10.1.1.1, and the set metric command sets the BGP MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) value to 50 for every permitted route. Because the route-map contains a permit statement without a restrictive match clause, all routes advertised to this neighbor carry MED 50. This influences the neighbor's inbound path selection, preferring lower MED values, so routes with MED 50 may be less preferred than routes with lower MED from other peers.
- ✗
It sets the local preference to 50 for routes received from the neighbor.
Why it's wrong here
Local preference is a BGP attribute that influences egress traffic within the local AS and is configured with the set local-preference command, not set metric. Moreover, this route-map is applied in the outbound direction, so it modifies routes being advertised to 10.1.1.1, not routes received from that neighbor. Therefore, this option misidentifies both the attribute and the traffic direction.
- ✗
It filters routes with a metric of 50 from being advertised to the neighbor.
Why it's wrong here
A set metric clause assigns the metric value to routes that match the route-map's permit statement; it does not act as a filter. Filtering would require a deny statement or a match clause that evaluates the existing metric and then denies/filters the route. Since the route-map permits all routes and applies the set metric command, all routes are advertised with their metric changed to 50, not filtered out based on a metric of 50.
- ✗
It sets the weight to 50 for routes learned from the neighbor.
Why it's wrong here
Weight is a Cisco-proprietary BGP attribute configured with the set weight command, not set metric, and it is a locally significant value used for outbound interface selection on the router itself. Additionally, weight is applied to routes received from a neighbor (inbound direction) or generated locally—not to routes advertised outbound to a peer. Because this route-map is outbound to 10.1.1.1, it cannot set weight on routes learned from that neighbor.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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