Question 942 of 2,152

Administrative Distance →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

300-410 Administrative Distance Practice Question

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of administrative distance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 engineer is troubleshooting a multi-homed BGP setup. R1 receives the prefix 10.1.1.0/24 from two eBGP peers: R2 (AS 100) and R3 (AS 200). The engineer configures the distance bgp 20 20 20 command on R1 to make all BGP routes have the same AD. However, R1 still prefers the route from R2 over R3. What is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The route from R2 has a lower MED than the route from R3.
Why wrong: MED is compared after local preference and AS path; if all are equal, MED could be a factor, but the question implies a more fundamental attribute is different.
B
The route from R2 has a higher local preference than the route from R3.
Local preference is compared before AS path and MED; if R2's route has a higher local preference (e.g., 150 vs 100), it will be preferred even with equal AD.
C
The route from R2 is the oldest BGP route.
Why wrong: The oldest route is a tie-breaker only if all other attributes are equal; local preference is compared first.
D
The AS path for the route from R2 is shorter than that from R3.
Why wrong: AS path length is compared after local preference; if local preference differs, AS path is not considered.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 route from R2 has a higher local preference than the route from R3.

The distance bgp command sets AD for eBGP, iBGP, and local routes. With AD equal, the router uses other BGP path attributes, such as local preference, AS path length, or MED. The most common tie-breaker is local preference (default 100) or the oldest route.

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 route from R2 has a lower MED than the route from R3.
Why it's wrong here
MED is compared after local preference and AS path; if all are equal, MED could be a factor, but the question implies a more fundamental attribute is different.
✓
The route from R2 has a higher local preference than the route from R3.
Why this is correct
Local preference is compared before AS path and MED; if R2's route has a higher local preference (e.g., 150 vs 100), it will be preferred even with equal AD.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The route from R2 is the oldest BGP route.
Why it's wrong here
The oldest route is a tie-breaker only if all other attributes are equal; local preference is compared first.
✗
The AS path for the route from R2 is shorter than that from R3.
Why it's wrong here
AS path length is compared after local preference; if local preference differs, AS path is not considered.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 300-410 question test?

Administrative Distance — This question tests Administrative Distance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The route from R2 has a higher local preference than the route from R3. — The distance bgp command sets AD for eBGP, iBGP, and local routes. With AD equal, the router uses other BGP path attributes, such as local preference, AS path length, or MED. The most common tie-breaker is local preference (default 100) or the oldest route.

What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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