- A
Neighbor 192.168.2.2 is stuck in 2WAY state, indicating a problem.
Why wrong: 2WAY is a normal state for DROTHER neighbors.
- B
The DR election is incomplete on Gi0/0.
Why wrong: The state is FULL/DR, which is correct.
- C
All OSPF neighbors are in appropriate states for their roles.
Each neighbor is in the correct state based on its role (DR, BDR, DROTHER).
- D
Neighbor 10.10.10.2 should be in FULL/DR state.
Why wrong: It is the BDR, so FULL/BDR is correct.
Question 1,127 of 2,152
OSPF Neighbor State Interpretation
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. 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 runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 192.168.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:35 192.168.1.2 Gi0/0 192.168.2.2 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:38 192.168.2.2 Gi0/1 10.10.10.2 1 FULL/BDR 00:00:32 10.10.10.2 Gi0/2
Based on this output, what is a potential issue?
Quick Answer
The answer is that all OSPF neighbors are in appropriate states for their roles, meaning no issue exists in this output. This is correct because OSPF neighbor state interpretation requires understanding that on a multi-access network, only the Designated Router (DR) and Backup Designated Router (BDR) form FULL adjacencies with all other routers, while non-DR/BDR routers (DROTHERs) remain in the 2WAY state with each other. In the output, the neighbor on Gi0/1 is in 2WAY/DROTHER, which is perfectly normal for a router that is neither the DR nor BDR on that segment. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize that 2WAY is not an error but an expected state for DROTHERs, a common trap where candidates mistakenly flag it as a problem. A key memory tip: remember that FULL is for DR/BDR relationships, while 2WAY is the default for all other neighbor pairs on the same broadcast network.
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
✓
All OSPF neighbors are in appropriate states for their roles.
Option C is correct because the output shows normal OSPF neighbor states for a multi-access network. The DR (192.168.1.2) is in FULL/DR state, the BDR (10.10.10.2) is in FULL/BDR state, and the DROTHER (192.168.2.2) is in 2WAY/DROTHER state, which is expected for a non-DR/non-BDR router on a broadcast multi-access segment. The 2WAY state is a valid and stable state for DROTHER neighbors, indicating that they have exchanged Hello packets and are aware of each other but do not form full adjacency with each other.
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.
- ✗
Neighbor 192.168.2.2 is stuck in 2WAY state, indicating a problem.
Why it's wrong here
2WAY is a normal state for DROTHER neighbors.
- ✗
The DR election is incomplete on Gi0/0.
Why it's wrong here
The state is FULL/DR, which is correct.
- ✓
All OSPF neighbors are in appropriate states for their roles.
Why this is correct
Each neighbor is in the correct state based on its role (DR, BDR, DROTHER).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Neighbor 10.10.10.2 should be in FULL/DR state.
Why it's wrong here
It is the BDR, so FULL/BDR is correct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the 2WAY state is always a problem, but in reality it is a normal and expected state for DROTHER neighbors on broadcast multi-access networks, and candidates must recognize that only the DR and BDR should be in FULL state with all neighbors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In OSPF broadcast multi-access networks, the DR and BDR are elected based on the highest OSPF interface priority (default 1) and then highest Router ID. Routers that are not DR or BDR (DROTHERs) form full adjacencies only with the DR and BDR, not with each other, to reduce the number of adjacencies from O(n^2) to O(2n). The 2WAY state between DROTHERs is a stable state indicating that they have received each other's Hello packets but will not proceed to the ExStart state, as they are not required to exchange LSAs directly.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
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.
- →
Device Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Device Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 300-410 questions
2,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
300-410 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 300-410 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Layer 3 Technologies practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Layer 3 Technologies.
EIGRP Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to EIGRP Troubleshooting.
OSPF Troubleshooting (v2/v3) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to OSPF Troubleshooting (v2/v3).
BGP Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to BGP Troubleshooting.
Route Redistribution practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Redistribution.
Policy-Based Routing (PBR) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Policy-Based Routing (PBR).
VRF-Lite practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VRF-Lite.
Route Maps and Route Filtering practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Maps and Route Filtering.
Administrative Distance practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Administrative Distance.
Route Summarization practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Summarization.
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD).
VPN Technologies practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VPN Technologies.
Practice this exam
Start a free 300-410 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: All OSPF neighbors are in appropriate states for their roles. — Option C is correct because the output shows normal OSPF neighbor states for a multi-access network. The DR (192.168.1.2) is in FULL/DR state, the BDR (10.10.10.2) is in FULL/BDR state, and the DROTHER (192.168.2.2) is in 2WAY/DROTHER state, which is expected for a non-DR/non-BDR router on a broadcast multi-access segment. The 2WAY state is a valid and stable state for DROTHER neighbors, indicating that they have exchanged Hello packets and are aware of each other but do not form full adjacency with each other.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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 →
Keep practising
More 300-410 practice questions
- Drag and drop the steps to negotiate an IKEv2 IPsec site-to-site tunnel into the correct order, from first to last.
- Drag and drop the steps to troubleshoot an IPsec site-to-site VPN adjacency failure into the correct order, from first t…
- Drag and drop the steps to verify and validate the operational state of an IPsec site-to-site VPN into the correct order…
- Consider the following configuration snippet: ip cef ! interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.25…
- A router is configured with 'logging host 10.1.1.100' and 'logging trap informational'. The engineer notices that syslog…
- Drag and drop the steps to configure a GRE tunnel for IPv6 over IPv4 into the correct order, from first to last.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.