NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
A FortiGate is configured with OSPF in multiple areas and redistributes connected routes into OSPF. The administrator notices that routes from area 1 are not appearing in area 0. The area 0 routers show the routes as 'O E2' but with an invalid metric. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume mismatched network types or interface costs cause metric issues, but the real problem is that OSPF requires explicit metric configuration (via route map or 'metric' keyword) for redistributed routes to be valid, and a missing route map leads to an invalid metric on the ABR.
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
✓
Redistribution is configured without a route map
When a route is redistributed into OSPF without a route map, it is advertised as a Type 5 LSA (external) with a default metric of 20. However, if the redistribution is not properly filtered or the metric is not explicitly set, the route may appear with an invalid metric (e.g., 0 or unexpected value) on the ABR. The ABR will flood this LSA into area 0, but the metric inconsistency causes the routes to be seen as 'O E2' with an invalid metric, preventing proper route installation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
OSPF network type is broadcast on one side and point-to-point on the other
Why it's wrong here
This would affect neighbor adjacency, not route redistribution.
- ✓
Redistribution is configured without a route map
Why this is correct
Without a route map, redistributed routes may get default metric values that can be invalid.
- ✗
The interface costs are misconfigured
Why it's wrong here
Interface costs affect internal OSPF metrics, not redistribution.
- ✗
The ABR has 'area 0 stub' configured
Why it's wrong here
Stub areas block Type 5 LSAs, but area 0 is never stub.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This NSE7 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet 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 NSE7 exam.