- A
AS_PATH
Why wrong: AS_PATH influences outbound traffic by affecting path selection for routes advertised.
- B
Next Hop
Why wrong: Next hop is used for reachability, not for inbound traffic influence.
- C
Local Preference
Why wrong: Local preference influences outbound traffic selection from the router's AS.
- D
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
The MED attribute is used to suggest to a neighboring AS the preferred path for inbound traffic when multiple entry points exist.
Question 25 of 520
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 network administrator is configuring BGP between two autonomous systems. Which BGP attribute is primarily used to influence inbound traffic to a particular AS?
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
✓
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
The Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from a neighboring AS when multiple entry points exist. A lower MED value is preferred, allowing an AS to advertise to its neighbor which path should be used to reach it, thereby influencing traffic entering the local AS.
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.
- ✗
AS_PATH
Why it's wrong here
AS_PATH influences outbound traffic by affecting path selection for routes advertised.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking 'Which BGP attribute is used to prevent routing loops and influence path selection by prepending AS numbers?' would make AS_PATH correct.
- ✗
Next Hop
Why it's wrong here
Next hop is used for reachability, not for inbound traffic influence.
When this WOULD be correct
In a BGP question asking which attribute is used to determine the next router for forwarding packets toward a destination network, Next Hop would be the correct answer.
- ✗
Local Preference
Why it's wrong here
Local preference influences outbound traffic selection from the router's AS.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator wants to ensure that traffic from within the AS leaves via a specific EBGP peer when multiple paths exist to the same destination. In this case, Local Preference is the correct attribute to set a higher value on the preferred path.
- ✓
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why this is correct
The MED attribute is used to suggest to a neighboring AS the preferred path for inbound traffic when multiple entry points exist.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
✓MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The MED attribute is used to suggest to a neighboring AS the preferred path for inbound traffic when multiple entry points exist.
✗AS_PATHWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AS_PATH is used for loop prevention and path selection, but it primarily influences outbound traffic by affecting how routes are advertised, not inbound traffic to a particular AS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking 'Which BGP attribute is used to prevent routing loops and influence path selection by prepending AS numbers?' would make AS_PATH correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse AS_PATH with MED because both can influence path selection, but AS_PATH affects outbound traffic while MED affects inbound traffic.
✗Next HopWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Next Hop attribute specifies the IP address of the next router to reach a destination, but it does not influence inbound traffic decisions; it is used for routing path selection, not traffic engineering into an AS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a BGP question asking which attribute is used to determine the next router for forwarding packets toward a destination network, Next Hop would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Next Hop with a tool for traffic control because it is a mandatory BGP attribute involved in path selection, but they overlook that it does not affect inbound traffic preference.
✗Local PreferenceWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Local Preference is used to influence outbound traffic from an AS, not inbound traffic. It is a well-known discretionary attribute that is exchanged within an AS to affect the exit path for routes learned from EBGP peers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator wants to ensure that traffic from within the AS leaves via a specific EBGP peer when multiple paths exist to the same destination. In this case, Local Preference is the correct attribute to set a higher value on the preferred path.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Local Preference with MED because both are used for path selection, but they operate in opposite directions: Local Preference influences outbound traffic, while MED influences inbound traffic.
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 confusing MED with Local Preference: candidates often pick Local Preference because it is a well-known attribute for path selection, but it influences outbound traffic from the local AS, not inbound traffic from a neighboring AS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MED is an optional non-transitive attribute exchanged between eBGP peers, typically set on routes advertised to a neighbor AS to indicate the preferred ingress point. In a scenario with dual-homed connections to an ISP, setting a lower MED on one link can steer incoming traffic away from a congested path. MED values are compared only if the paths come from the same neighboring AS (RFC 4271), and Cisco routers compare MED across different ASes only if the 'bgp always-compare-med' command is configured.
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 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: MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) — The Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from a neighboring AS when multiple entry points exist. A lower MED value is preferred, allowing an AS to advertise to its neighbor which path should be used to reach it, thereby influencing traffic entering the local AS.
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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