- A
metric = bandwidth + delay + load + reliability
Why wrong: This is not the default; load and reliability are excluded unless K values are changed.
- B
metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K3 * delay)
Correct: With default K values (K1=1, K3=1, others=0), the formula simplifies to bandwidth + delay.
- C
metric = bandwidth + delay + MTU
Why wrong: MTU is not part of the EIGRP metric calculation.
- D
metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K2 * load) + (K3 * delay) + (K5 / (K4 + reliability))
Why wrong: This is the full formula, but K2, K4, and K5 default to 0, making those terms zero.
Question 2,086 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.
What is the default EIGRP composite metric formula used for route calculation?
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
✓
metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K3 * delay)
The default EIGRP composite metric uses only K1 and K3, which correspond to bandwidth and delay, with K1=1 and K3=1 by default. This yields the formula metric = bandwidth + delay, where bandwidth is calculated as (10^7 / minimum path bandwidth in kbps) * 256 and delay is the sum of interface delays in tens of microseconds multiplied by 256. Option B correctly represents this default behavior.
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.
- ✗
metric = bandwidth + delay + load + reliability
Why it's wrong here
This is not the default; load and reliability are excluded unless K values are changed.
- ✓
metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K3 * delay)
Why this is correct
Correct: With default K values (K1=1, K3=1, others=0), the formula simplifies to bandwidth + delay.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
metric = bandwidth + delay + MTU
- ✗
metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K2 * load) + (K3 * delay) + (K5 / (K4 + reliability))
Why it's wrong here
This is the full formula, but K2, K4, and K5 default to 0, making those terms zero.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the full five-term formula (Option D) is the default, but the trap is that K2, K4, and K5 default to zero, so only K1 and K3 are used, making Option B the correct default formula.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the EIGRP metric is computed as metric = [K1 * bandwidth + (K2 * bandwidth) / (256 - load) + K3 * delay] * [K5 / (K4 + reliability)], but with default K-values (K1=1, K2=0, K3=1, K4=0, K5=0), the formula simplifies to bandwidth + delay. A subtle behavior is that if K5 is set to 0, the reliability term is ignored entirely, which is the default; this prevents division-by-zero errors. In real-world scenarios, changing K-values can cause routing loops or suboptimal path selection if not consistently applied across all routers in the EIGRP domain.
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.
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
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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: metric = (K1 * bandwidth) + (K3 * delay) — The default EIGRP composite metric uses only K1 and K3, which correspond to bandwidth and delay, with K1=1 and K3=1 by default. This yields the formula metric = bandwidth + delay, where bandwidth is calculated as (10^7 / minimum path bandwidth in kbps) * 256 and delay is the sum of interface delays in tens of microseconds multiplied by 256. Option B correctly represents this default behavior.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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