- A
The route is a default route.
Why wrong: Default route would be 0.0.0.0/0, not 172.16.0.0/20.
- B
The route is an inter-area summary route.
Inter-area summary routes result from Type 3 LSAs and would show as 'inter-area', not 'intra area'.
- C
The route is an external route.
Why wrong: External routes show as 'type 5' or 'type 7' and have higher metrics typically.
- D
The route is a connected route.
Why wrong: Connected routes are directly attached and do not show via OSPF.
Question 854 of 2,152
300-410 OSPF Intra-Area Route Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of route summarization. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: oSPF Intra-Area Route. 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 route 172.16.0.0 255.255.240.0
Routing entry for 172.16.0.0/20 Known via "ospf 1", distance 110, metric 20, type intra area Last update from 192.168.1.2 on GigabitEthernet0/0, 00:00:15 ago Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 192.168.1.2, from 192.168.1.2, 00:00:15 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/0
Route metric is 20, traffic share count is 1
Based on this output, what can be concluded about the route 172.16.0.0/20?
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 route is an inter-area summary route.
The route 172.16.0.0/20 is learned via OSPF with type 'intra area', which indicates it is an intra-area route, not a summary. Intra-area routes are learned via Type 1 or Type 2 LSAs. The metric of 20 is typical for an OSPF intra-area route. Therefore, none of the given options correctly describe this route: it is not a default route (A), not an inter-area summary (B), not an external route (C), and not a connected route (D).
Key principle: OSPF Intra-Area Route
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 route is a default route.
Why it's wrong here
Default route would be 0.0.0.0/0, not 172.16.0.0/20.
- ✓
The route is an inter-area summary route.
Why this is correct
Inter-area summary routes result from Type 3 LSAs and would show as 'inter-area', not 'intra area'.
Related concept
OSPF Intra-Area Route
- ✗
The route is an external route.
Why it's wrong here
External routes show as 'type 5' or 'type 7' and have higher metrics typically.
- ✗
The route is a connected route.
Why it's wrong here
Connected routes are directly attached and do not show via OSPF.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is to mistake intra-area routes for summary routes when the prefix is a summary address. However, the 'type intra area' field indicates it is a network LSA from within the same area.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
External routes show as 'type 5' or 'type 7' and have higher metrics typically.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF Intra-Area Route
- OSPF Inter-Area Summary Route
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
OSPF Intra-Area Route
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.
Review oSPF Intra-Area Route, then practise related 300-410 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Route Summarization — This question tests Route Summarization — OSPF Intra-Area Route.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The route is an inter-area summary route. — The route 172.16.0.0/20 is learned via OSPF with type 'intra area', which indicates it is an intra-area route, not a summary. Intra-area routes are learned via Type 1 or Type 2 LSAs. The metric of 20 is typical for an OSPF intra-area route. Therefore, none of the given options correctly describe this route: it is not a default route (A), not an inter-area summary (B), not an external route (C), and not a connected route (D).
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review oSPF Intra-Area Route, then practise related 300-410 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF Intra-Area Route
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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