Question 1,806 of 2,152

VRF-Lite →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

VRF Route Leaking: Next-Hop Unreachable Root Cause

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of vrf-lite. 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.

Router R1 is configured with VRF-A and VRF-B. Route leaking is configured between them using route-targets. However, routes from VRF-A are appearing in VRF-B with incorrect next-hop addresses, causing traffic to be black-holed. R1 configuration: ip vrf VRF-A, rd 100:1, route-target both 100:1. ip vrf VRF-B, rd 200:2, route-target both 200:2. Additionally, a route-map is applied to the VRF-A export: route-map LEAK, set global. The route-map does not modify the next-hop. What is the root cause?

A
The route-map uses 'set global', which is intended for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs, causing incorrect next-hop.
Correct: 'set global' is for global table; for VRF-to-VRF, the route-map should not include that command.
B
The route-targets must be the same for both VRFs for route leaking.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Route-targets can be different; leaking is configured via import/export.
C
The VRF names must be the same for route leaking.
Why wrong: Incorrect: VRF names are local.
D
The route-map should be applied to the VRF-B import instead.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Export on VRF-A is correct for leaking to VRF-B.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The root cause is the misapplication of the `set global` command in the route-map, which is designed for leaking routes to the global routing table, not for VRF-to-VRF route leaking. When you use `set global` during VRF export, the router attempts to install the route into the global table with the next-hop set to the source VRF’s interface address, which is unreachable from the destination VRF—causing the “next-hop unreachable” error and black-holing traffic. For proper VRF route leaking between VRF-A and VRF-B, the route-map should omit any next-hop manipulation, allowing the router to automatically set the next-hop to a reachable address within the destination VRF. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between leaking to the global table versus between VRFs, a common trap where candidates assume `set global` is a generic “leak” command. Remember: “Global is for global, VRF-to-VRF needs no set.”

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-map uses 'set global', which is intended for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs, causing incorrect next-hop.

When leaking routes between VRFs, the next-hop is typically the local router's interface IP in the source VRF. If the route-map does not set the next-hop to a reachable address in the destination VRF, the route may be installed with an unreachable next-hop. In this case, the route-map sets 'set global', which is used for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs. For VRF-to-VRF leaking, the route-map should not use 'set global' but rather rely on the default behavior. The 'set global' command causes the route to be leaked to the global table instead of VRF-B, or it may cause the next-hop to be set incorrectly. The root cause is that the route-map is misconfigured for VRF-to-VRF leaking.

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 route-map uses 'set global', which is intended for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs, causing incorrect next-hop.
Why this is correct
Correct: 'set global' is for global table; for VRF-to-VRF, the route-map should not include that command.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The route-targets must be the same for both VRFs for route leaking.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Route-targets can be different; leaking is configured via import/export.
✗
The VRF names must be the same for route leaking.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: VRF names are local.
✗
The route-map should be applied to the VRF-B import instead.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Export on VRF-A is correct for leaking to VRF-B.

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?

VRF-Lite — This question tests VRF-Lite — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The route-map uses 'set global', which is intended for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs, causing incorrect next-hop. — When leaking routes between VRFs, the next-hop is typically the local router's interface IP in the source VRF. If the route-map does not set the next-hop to a reachable address in the destination VRF, the route may be installed with an unreachable next-hop. In this case, the route-map sets 'set global', which is used for leaking to the global table, not between VRFs. For VRF-to-VRF leaking, the route-map should not use 'set global' but rather rely on the default behavior. The 'set global' command causes the route to be leaked to the global table instead of VRF-B, or it may cause the next-hop to be set incorrectly. The root cause is that the route-map is misconfigured for VRF-to-VRF leaking.

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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