- A
The OSPF route because it has a lower metric
Why wrong: Metrics are only comparable within the same routing protocol. Administrative distance is used to compare routes from different protocols, not metric. OSPF's higher AD makes it less preferred.
- B
The EIGRP route because it has a lower administrative distance
EIGRP's default administrative distance of 90 is lower than OSPF's 110, so the router chooses the EIGRP route regardless of metric values.
- C
Both routes will be installed for load balancing
Why wrong: For equal-cost multipath, routes must have the same metric and be from the same routing protocol (or have equal AD from different protocols, which is rare). Here, the ADs differ, so only one route is installed.
- D
The OSPF route because it is a link-state protocol
Why wrong: The routing protocol type does not affect which route is installed; the decision is based on administrative distance. OSPF is link-state but still has AD 110.
N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of networking concepts. 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.
A router has two routes to the same destination network: one learned via OSPF with a metric of 10, and another learned via EIGRP with a composite metric of 3072. The default administrative distances are OSPF=110, EIGRP=90. Which route will be installed in the routing table?
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
The EIGRP route because it has a lower administrative distance
The EIGRP route is installed because administrative distance (AD) is the primary tiebreaker when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination. EIGRP has a default AD of 90, which is lower than OSPF's AD of 110, so the router prefers the EIGRP route regardless of metric values. Metrics are only compared when routes come from the same protocol.
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 OSPF route because it has a lower metric
Why it's wrong here
Metrics are only comparable within the same routing protocol. Administrative distance is used to compare routes from different protocols, not metric. OSPF's higher AD makes it less preferred.
- ✓
The EIGRP route because it has a lower administrative distance
Why this is correct
EIGRP's default administrative distance of 90 is lower than OSPF's 110, so the router chooses the EIGRP route regardless of metric values.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both routes will be installed for load balancing
Why it's wrong here
For equal-cost multipath, routes must have the same metric and be from the same routing protocol (or have equal AD from different protocols, which is rare). Here, the ADs differ, so only one route is installed.
When this WOULD be correct
If both routes had the same administrative distance (e.g., both from OSPF) and equal metrics, or if both were from protocols with equal AD (e.g., two EIGRP routes with equal composite metrics), then both routes would be installed for load balancing.
- ✗
The OSPF route because it is a link-state protocol
Why it's wrong here
The routing protocol type does not affect which route is installed; the decision is based on administrative distance. OSPF is link-state but still has AD 110.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The EIGRP route because it has a lower administrative distanceCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
EIGRP's default administrative distance of 90 is lower than OSPF's 110, so the router chooses the EIGRP route regardless of metric values.
✗The OSPF route because it has a lower metricWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
When comparing routes from different routing protocols, the router uses administrative distance (AD) first, not metric. OSPF has AD 110, EIGRP has AD 90, so EIGRP is preferred regardless of metric values.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If both routes were learned via the same routing protocol (e.g., both OSPF), then the route with the lower metric would be installed. For example, two OSPF routes to the same destination with metrics 10 and 20.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often confuse metric and administrative distance, assuming the lower metric always wins, but metric only applies within the same protocol.
✗Both routes will be installed for load balancingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Routers install only the route with the lowest administrative distance (AD) when multiple routes to the same destination exist from different routing protocols. Here, EIGRP has AD 90 vs OSPF's 110, so only the EIGRP route is installed; load balancing requires equal AD and equal metric.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If both routes had the same administrative distance (e.g., both from OSPF) and equal metrics, or if both were from protocols with equal AD (e.g., two EIGRP routes with equal composite metrics), then both routes would be installed for load balancing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that multiple routes to the same network always result in load balancing, ignoring the role of administrative distance in selecting which routing protocol's route is preferred.
✗The OSPF route because it is a link-state protocolWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
OSPF being a link-state protocol does not automatically make its route preferred; route selection is based on administrative distance, not protocol type. Here, EIGRP has a lower AD (90 vs 110), so it wins regardless of OSPF's link-state nature.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked which routing protocol is more scalable or converges faster in a large network, where link-state protocols like OSPF are generally superior to distance-vector protocols like EIGRP.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may incorrectly assume that link-state protocols are always preferred over distance-vector protocols, or they confuse protocol characteristics with route selection criteria.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse metric with administrative distance, mistakenly thinking a lower OSPF metric (10) beats a higher EIGRP metric (3072), when in fact the router first compares AD values (90 vs 110) and selects the EIGRP route.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance is a Cisco-proprietary trustworthiness value ranging from 0 to 255, where lower values indicate more reliable sources. The routing table stores only the best route per destination based on AD first, then metric; if ADs are equal, the router compares metrics, but here EIGRP's AD of 90 beats OSPF's 110. In real-world scenarios, redistributing between OSPF and EIGRP can lead to suboptimal routing if AD values are not carefully managed, and the 'show ip route' command reveals the selected route with its AD and metric.
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.
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Networking Concepts — This question tests Networking Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EIGRP route because it has a lower administrative distance — The EIGRP route is installed because administrative distance (AD) is the primary tiebreaker when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination. EIGRP has a default AD of 90, which is lower than OSPF's AD of 110, so the router prefers the EIGRP route regardless of metric values. Metrics are only compared when routes come from the same protocol.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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