- A
It injects a default route into OSPF only if a default route exists in the routing table, with metric 20 and type E1.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The 'always' keyword overrides the requirement for a default route in the routing table.
- B
It injects a default route into OSPF unconditionally, with metric 20 and type E1.
Correct. 'always' forces advertisement even without a default route. Metric-type 1 means E1.
- C
It injects a default route into OSPF with metric 20 and type E2, but only if a default route exists.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Metric-type 1 is E1, not E2. Also, 'always' removes the condition.
- D
It injects a default route into OSPF with metric 20 and type E1, but only for area 0.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default route is injected into all areas unless filtered.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the command injects a default route into OSPF unconditionally, with a metric of 20 and a Type E1 metric type. This is correct because the 'always' keyword forces the router to originate a default route into the OSPF link-state database regardless of whether a default route exists in the router’s own routing table, while 'metric 20' sets the external cost and 'metric-type 1' makes it a Type 1 external route, meaning the total cost to reach the destination includes both the external metric and the internal cost to the ASBR. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this command tests your understanding of OSPF route injection and the distinction between E1 and E2 routes—a common trap is forgetting that without 'always', the router only injects a default if one is already present in its routing table. A useful memory tip: "Always injects E1 with a cost of 20" reminds you that 'always' overrides the routing table check, E1 adds internal path cost, and the default metric is 20.
350-401 Virtual Machines and Hypervisors Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of virtual machines and hypervisors. 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.
Review the following OSPF configuration:
router ospf 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 metric 20 metric-type 1 !
What is the effect of the 'default-information originate always metric 20 metric-type 1' 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 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 injects a default route into OSPF unconditionally, with metric 20 and type E1.
The 'default-information originate always' command injects a default route into the OSPF link-state database unconditionally, even if no default route exists in the routing table. The 'metric 20' sets the OSPF cost to 20, and 'metric-type 1' makes it an E1 (Type 1) external route, meaning the metric includes the internal cost to the ASBR plus the external cost.
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.
- ✗
It injects a default route into OSPF only if a default route exists in the routing table, with metric 20 and type E1.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The 'always' keyword overrides the requirement for a default route in the routing table.
- ✓
It injects a default route into OSPF unconditionally, with metric 20 and type E1.
Why this is correct
Correct. 'always' forces advertisement even without a default route. Metric-type 1 means E1.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
It injects a default route into OSPF with metric 20 and type E2, but only if a default route exists.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Metric-type 1 is E1, not E2. Also, 'always' removes the condition.
- ✗
It injects a default route into OSPF with metric 20 and type E1, but only for area 0.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default route is injected into all areas unless filtered.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'default-information originate' (conditional) and 'default-information originate always' (unconditional), and the difference between metric-type 1 (E1) and metric-type 2 (E2), to see if candidates understand the exact behavior of each keyword.
Trap categories for this question
Keyword trap
Incorrect. The 'always' keyword overrides the requirement for a default route in the routing table.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, OSPF Type 1 (E1) external routes add the internal cost from the ASBR to the advertised metric, making them more accurate for path selection in multi-homed scenarios, whereas Type 2 (E2) routes use only the external metric. The 'always' keyword forces the ASBR to originate a default route (0.0.0.0/0) as a Type 5 LSA, even if no default is present in the routing table, which is useful for stub networks or as a backup default. In real-world designs, this command is often used on an edge router to provide a default route to internal OSPF routers without requiring a static default route.
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — This question tests Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It injects a default route into OSPF unconditionally, with metric 20 and type E1. — The 'default-information originate always' command injects a default route into the OSPF link-state database unconditionally, even if no default route exists in the routing table. The 'metric 20' sets the OSPF cost to 20, and 'metric-type 1' makes it an E1 (Type 1) external route, meaning the metric includes the internal cost to the ASBR plus the external cost.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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