Question 2,037 of 2,152

SNMP Troubleshooting →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

SNMP OSPF MIB Not Accessible — Troubleshooting

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of snmp troubleshooting. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.

An engineer configures SNMPv2c with a read-only community string 'public' on a router. The NMS can poll interface statistics, but when trying to poll OSPF neighbor states, the NMS receives no response. 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 OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router.
Some routers require the 'snmp-server enable traps ospf' command or the OSPF process to be configured to load the OSPF MIB; otherwise, the MIB objects are not available.
B
The community string 'public' is not allowed to access the OSPF MIB due to a missing 'snmp-server view' command.
Why wrong: By default, the community string 'public' uses the default view, which includes most MIB objects; a specific view exclusion would be needed to block OSPF.
C
OSPF neighbor states are only available via SNMPv3 due to security restrictions.
Why wrong: OSPF MIB objects are accessible via SNMPv2c if the MIB is loaded and the view permits it.
D
The NMS must use the OSPF process ID in the OID to poll neighbor states.
Why wrong: The OID for OSPF neighbor states includes the neighbor IP address, not the process ID; the NMS should use the correct OID.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router. While SNMPv2c with the community string 'public' typically grants read-only access to standard MIB objects like interface statistics, the OSPF MIB is a separate, protocol-specific module that must be explicitly loaded and supported in the router’s IOS image. Even if the community string is correct, the NMS will receive no response for OSPF neighbor states if the router does not have the OSPF MIB loaded or if the view-based access control (VACM) excludes those objects. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that SNMP MIB availability is not guaranteed by a simple community string—it depends on both the IOS feature set and the MIB’s presence in the running configuration. A common trap is assuming that a working community string means all MIBs are accessible, but OSPF-specific MIBs like OSPF-MIB require the router to be running an IP routing feature set. Memory tip: “OSPF MIB is a loaded module, not a given right.”

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 OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router.

The most likely explanation is that the OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router. SNMPv2c with a read-only community string 'public' can poll standard interface MIB objects (like ifEntry) because those are part of the base IF-MIB, which is always loaded. However, OSPF neighbor states are defined in the OSPF-MIB (RFC 1850/4750), which is an enterprise-specific MIB that must be explicitly supported and loaded in the router's SNMP agent. If the OSPF MIB is not present, the agent will not respond to GET requests for OSPF-related OIDs, even though the community string has read-only access.

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 OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router.
Why this is correct
Some routers require the 'snmp-server enable traps ospf' command or the OSPF process to be configured to load the OSPF MIB; otherwise, the MIB objects are not available.
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 community string 'public' is not allowed to access the OSPF MIB due to a missing 'snmp-server view' command.
Why it's wrong here
By default, the community string 'public' uses the default view, which includes most MIB objects; a specific view exclusion would be needed to block OSPF.
✗
OSPF neighbor states are only available via SNMPv3 due to security restrictions.
Why it's wrong here
OSPF MIB objects are accessible via SNMPv2c if the MIB is loaded and the view permits it.
✗
The NMS must use the OSPF process ID in the OID to poll neighbor states.
Why it's wrong here
The OID for OSPF neighbor states includes the neighbor IP address, not the process ID; the NMS should use the correct OID.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the misconception that SNMP community strings or views are the only reason for MIB access failures, when in fact the MIB itself may not be loaded or supported on the device.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The OSPF-MIB (RFC 1850, updated by RFC 4750) is an enterprise MIB under the OSPF subtree (1.3.6.1.2.1.14). Cisco routers load this MIB only when the OSPF process is configured and the MIB is supported in the IOS version. In some IOS versions, the OSPF MIB is not loaded by default to conserve memory, requiring the 'snmp-server enable traps ospf' command or a specific MIB loading mechanism. A real-world scenario: an engineer might successfully poll interface counters (IF-MIB) but fail to poll OSPF neighbor states because the OSPF MIB is not loaded, leading to a silent timeout from the SNMP agent.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 300-410 question test?

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

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router. — The most likely explanation is that the OSPF MIB is not supported or not loaded on the router. SNMPv2c with a read-only community string 'public' can poll standard interface MIB objects (like ifEntry) because those are part of the base IF-MIB, which is always loaded. However, OSPF neighbor states are defined in the OSPF-MIB (RFC 1850/4750), which is an enterprise-specific MIB that must be explicitly supported and loaded in the router's SNMP agent. If the OSPF MIB is not present, the agent will not respond to GET requests for OSPF-related OIDs, even though the community string has read-only access.

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.

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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