Question 897 of 2,152

MPLS Operations →hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

300-410 MPLS Operations Practice Question

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of mpls operations. 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 TWO statements about MPLS label imposition, disposition, and swapping are true? (Choose TWO.)

A
Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP) reduces the processing load on the egress LSR by having the penultimate LSR pop the label.
Correct. PHP offloads the label removal to the penultimate LSR, reducing egress LSR work.
B
An intermediate LSR performs a label swap operation: it replaces the incoming label with an outgoing label.
Correct. In the MPLS data plane, intermediate LSRs swap the top label based on the LFIB.
C
The egress LSR performs label imposition (push) before forwarding the IP packet to the destination.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The egress LSR performs label disposition (pop), not imposition. Imposition occurs at the ingress.
D
PHP is enabled only when the egress LSR is not directly connected to the penultimate LSR.
Why wrong: Incorrect. PHP is typically used when the egress LSR is directly connected; it is the default behavior.
E
By default, PHP is disabled on Cisco IOS routers and must be explicitly configured.
Why wrong: Incorrect. PHP is enabled by default for directly connected egress LSRs; no explicit configuration is needed.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP) reduces the processing load on the egress LSR by having the penultimate LSR pop the label.

In MPLS forwarding, label imposition (push) occurs at the ingress LSR, disposition (pop) at the egress LSR, and swapping (swap) at intermediate LSRs. The PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping) feature causes the penultimate LSR to pop the label before the egress LSR receives the packet, so the egress LSR sees only the IP packet. Option A is correct: PHP reduces the load on the egress LSR. Option B is correct: an intermediate LSR typically swaps the top label. Option C is false: the egress LSR does not impose a label; it removes it. Option D is false: PHP is the default behavior for directly connected egress LSRs. Option E is false: PHP is not disabled by default; it is enabled.

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.

✓
Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP) reduces the processing load on the egress LSR by having the penultimate LSR pop the label.
Why this is correct
Correct. PHP offloads the label removal to the penultimate LSR, reducing egress LSR work.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
An intermediate LSR performs a label swap operation: it replaces the incoming label with an outgoing label.
Why this is correct
Correct. In the MPLS data plane, intermediate LSRs swap the top label based on the LFIB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The egress LSR performs label imposition (push) before forwarding the IP packet to the destination.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The egress LSR performs label disposition (pop), not imposition. Imposition occurs at the ingress.
✗
PHP is enabled only when the egress LSR is not directly connected to the penultimate LSR.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. PHP is typically used when the egress LSR is directly connected; it is the default behavior.
✗
By default, PHP is disabled on Cisco IOS routers and must be explicitly configured.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. PHP is enabled by default for directly connected egress LSRs; no explicit configuration is needed.

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.

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?

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

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP) reduces the processing load on the egress LSR by having the penultimate LSR pop the label. — In MPLS forwarding, label imposition (push) occurs at the ingress LSR, disposition (pop) at the egress LSR, and swapping (swap) at intermediate LSRs. The PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping) feature causes the penultimate LSR to pop the label before the egress LSR receives the packet, so the egress LSR sees only the IP packet. Option A is correct: PHP reduces the load on the egress LSR. Option B is correct: an intermediate LSR typically swaps the top label. Option C is false: the egress LSR does not impose a label; it removes it. Option D is false: PHP is the default behavior for directly connected egress LSRs. Option E is false: PHP is not disabled by default; it is enabled.

What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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