- A
Local preference
Why wrong: Local preference is the second tie-breaker after weight.
- B
AS-path length
Why wrong: AS-path length is the third tie-breaker after weight and local preference.
- C
Weight
Correct: Weight is checked first in the BGP path selection process.
- D
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why wrong: MED is compared later in the process, typically after AS-path length.
Question 1,792 of 2,152
300-410 Device Management Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. 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.
Which BGP attribute is used as the first tie-breaker when multiple paths are available for the same prefix, assuming default settings?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Weight
C is correct because, under default BGP settings, the Weight attribute is the first tie-breaker when multiple paths exist for the same prefix. Weight is a Cisco-proprietary attribute that is locally significant to the router and is evaluated before any other BGP path selection criteria, including Local Preference and AS-path length.
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.
- ✗
Local preference
Why it's wrong here
Local preference is the second tie-breaker after weight.
- ✗
AS-path length
Why it's wrong here
AS-path length is the third tie-breaker after weight and local preference.
- ✓
Weight
Why this is correct
Correct: Weight is checked first in the BGP path selection process.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why it's wrong here
MED is compared later in the process, typically after AS-path length.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the order of BGP path selection attributes, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly remember Local Preference as the first tie-breaker because it is the first global attribute, but Weight (which is local to the router) actually takes precedence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The BGP best-path selection algorithm follows a strict order of up to 13 steps, with Weight (Cisco-proprietary) being the very first step. Weight is configured per neighbor and ranges from 0 to 65535, with a higher weight preferred; it is never advertised to BGP peers, making it a powerful tool for influencing inbound traffic on a single router without affecting other routers in the AS. In real-world scenarios, Weight is often used to prefer a specific path for load balancing or backup without altering the routing policy of the entire AS.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Device Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Device Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Device Management — This question tests Device Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Weight — C is correct because, under default BGP settings, the Weight attribute is the first tie-breaker when multiple paths exist for the same prefix. Weight is a Cisco-proprietary attribute that is locally significant to the router and is evaluated before any other BGP path selection criteria, including Local Preference and AS-path length.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 300-410 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 300-410 exam.
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