Question 61 of 2,152

DMVPN →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

EIGRP Metric Preference over NHRP Shortcut in DMVPN Phase 3 | Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 Explained

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of dmvpn. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 configures a DMVPN Phase 3 network with EIGRP and uses the 'ip nhrp redirect' and 'ip nhrp shortcut' commands on the hub and spokes. Unexpectedly, spoke-to-spoke traffic still goes through the hub even after the shortcut is established, based on show ip nhrp shortcut output. Which 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 EIGRP route to the remote spoke's network still has the hub as the next-hop with a lower metric than the NHRP shortcut, so the router prefers the hub path.
The NHRP shortcut creates a host route or /32 route, but if the EIGRP route has a lower administrative distance or better metric, the router will use the hub path.
B
The 'ip nhrp shortcut' command is not configured on the spoke's tunnel interface, so the shortcut is not used for forwarding.
Why wrong: The engineer configured it, so it should be present.
C
The NHRP redirect is not enabled on the hub, so the spoke never receives redirect messages to trigger shortcut creation.
Why wrong: The engineer configured it, so redirects should be sent.
D
The spoke's CEF is disabled, causing the shortcut to not be used in the forwarding path.
Why wrong: CEF is typically enabled by default; disabling it would affect all forwarding, not just shortcuts.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the EIGRP route to the remote spoke’s network still has the hub as the next-hop with a lower metric than the NHRP shortcut, so the router prefers the hub path. In DMVPN Phase 3, the `ip nhrp redirect` and `ip nhrp shortcut` commands successfully establish a shortcut tunnel between spokes, but the routing table must also point to that shortcut’s next-hop for traffic to use it. EIGRP, by default, installs routes through the hub with a lower composite metric, and since the NHRP shortcut does not automatically override the routing table, the spoke continues forwarding traffic via the hub. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this tests your understanding that DMVPN Phase 3 is a routing-driven solution—the shortcut is useless unless the routing protocol prefers it. A common trap is assuming the shortcut alone reroutes traffic; the fix requires adjusting EIGRP metrics, often with an offset-list, to make the direct path more attractive. Memory tip: “Shortcut creates the road, but EIGRP chooses the path—if the hub’s metric is lower, traffic won’t take the shortcut.”

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 EIGRP route to the remote spoke's network still has the hub as the next-hop with a lower metric than the NHRP shortcut, so the router prefers the hub path.

In DMVPN Phase 3, the shortcut is created when the spoke receives a redirect from the hub and sends a resolution request to the target spoke. However, for the shortcut to be used, the routing table must have a route that points to the shortcut next-hop. EIGRP, by default, installs routes with the hub as the next-hop. The corner case is that the spoke's routing table still prefers the hub as the next-hop because the EIGRP metric for the hub route is lower than the shortcut. The fix is to use 'ip nhrp shortcut' with 'ip nhrp redirect' and ensure that the routing protocol's metric is adjusted (e.g., using offset-list) or that the shortcut is installed with a better metric via NHRP.

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 EIGRP route to the remote spoke's network still has the hub as the next-hop with a lower metric than the NHRP shortcut, so the router prefers the hub path.
Why this is correct
The NHRP shortcut creates a host route or /32 route, but if the EIGRP route has a lower administrative distance or better metric, the router will use the hub path.
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 'ip nhrp shortcut' command is not configured on the spoke's tunnel interface, so the shortcut is not used for forwarding.
Why it's wrong here
The engineer configured it, so it should be present.
✗
The NHRP redirect is not enabled on the hub, so the spoke never receives redirect messages to trigger shortcut creation.
Why it's wrong here
The engineer configured it, so redirects should be sent.
✗
The spoke's CEF is disabled, causing the shortcut to not be used in the forwarding path.
Why it's wrong here
CEF is typically enabled by default; disabling it would affect all forwarding, not just shortcuts.

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.

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 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?

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

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The EIGRP route to the remote spoke's network still has the hub as the next-hop with a lower metric than the NHRP shortcut, so the router prefers the hub path. — In DMVPN Phase 3, the shortcut is created when the spoke receives a redirect from the hub and sends a resolution request to the target spoke. However, for the shortcut to be used, the routing table must have a route that points to the shortcut next-hop. EIGRP, by default, installs routes with the hub as the next-hop. The corner case is that the spoke's routing table still prefers the hub as the next-hop because the EIGRP metric for the hub route is lower than the shortcut. The fix is to use 'ip nhrp shortcut' with 'ip nhrp redirect' and ensure that the routing protocol's metric is adjusted (e.g., using offset-list) or that the shortcut is installed with a better metric via NHRP.

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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