Question 1,032 of 2,152

BGP Troubleshooting →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

DMVPN Phase 2 — Spoke-to-Spoke Traffic Not Using Direct Tunnel | Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 Explained

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of bgp troubleshooting. 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.

An engineer configures a DMVPN Phase 2 network. Spoke-to-spoke tunnels are established, but traffic between spokes is not using the direct tunnel. What is the most likely explanation?

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 spoke routers have a default route via the hub, so they send traffic to the hub instead of initiating NHRP resolution for a direct tunnel.
Phase 2 requires that spokes have a specific route to the remote subnet to trigger NHRP; a default route prevents this.
B
The hub has 'no ip nhrp redirect' configured, which disables spoke-to-spoke tunnel setup.
Why wrong: In Phase 2, the hub does not send redirect messages; that is Phase 3.
C
The spokes have 'ip nhrp shortcut' enabled, which forces all traffic through the hub.
Why wrong: Shortcut is used in Phase 3, not Phase 2.
D
The tunnel mode is set to 'tunnel mode gre multipoint' on the spokes, which is incorrect.
Why wrong: Spokes can use point-to-point GRE in Phase 2, but multipoint is also valid.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the spoke routers have a default route via the hub, which prevents them from using the direct tunnel. In DMVPN Phase 2, spoke-to-spoke traffic requires the spoke to have a specific route to the destination network via the tunnel interface, with a next hop that triggers NHRP resolution for a direct path. When a default route points to the hub, the spoke forwards all non-local traffic to the hub instead of initiating the NHRP resolution process, so the direct tunnel remains unused. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this tests your understanding of how routing and NHRP interact in Phase 2; a common trap is assuming that establishing the mGRE tunnel automatically enables spoke-to-spoke traffic. Remember the key condition: for a direct tunnel to form, the spoke must have a route with a next hop that is not the hub. Memory tip: “No default, no hub—direct spoke-to-spoke needs a specific route to the sub.”

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 spoke routers have a default route via the hub, so they send traffic to the hub instead of initiating NHRP resolution for a direct tunnel.

In DMVPN Phase 2, spoke-to-spoke tunnels require that the spoke routers have a route to the destination network via the tunnel interface with a next hop that triggers NHRP resolution. If the spoke has a default route pointing to the hub, it will not attempt to resolve the spoke-to-spoke tunnel.

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 spoke routers have a default route via the hub, so they send traffic to the hub instead of initiating NHRP resolution for a direct tunnel.
Why this is correct
Phase 2 requires that spokes have a specific route to the remote subnet to trigger NHRP; a default route prevents this.
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 hub has 'no ip nhrp redirect' configured, which disables spoke-to-spoke tunnel setup.
Why it's wrong here
In Phase 2, the hub does not send redirect messages; that is Phase 3.
✗
The spokes have 'ip nhrp shortcut' enabled, which forces all traffic through the hub.
Why it's wrong here
Shortcut is used in Phase 3, not Phase 2.
✗
The tunnel mode is set to 'tunnel mode gre multipoint' on the spokes, which is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
Spokes can use point-to-point GRE in Phase 2, but multipoint is also valid.

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.

Visual reference

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?

BGP Troubleshooting — This question tests BGP Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The spoke routers have a default route via the hub, so they send traffic to the hub instead of initiating NHRP resolution for a direct tunnel. — In DMVPN Phase 2, spoke-to-spoke tunnels require that the spoke routers have a route to the destination network via the tunnel interface with a next hop that triggers NHRP resolution. If the spoke has a default route pointing to the hub, it will not attempt to resolve the spoke-to-spoke tunnel.

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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