PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring a Cloud Router for BGP peering with an on-premises router over a VPN tunnel. The on-premises router uses 169.254.x.x link-local addresses. Which BGP peer IP should the engineer use in the Cloud Router configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that BGP peering over a VPN tunnel uses the tunnel's external IP addresses or private RFC 1918 addresses, but the correct answer requires knowledge that Google Cloud mandates link-local 169.254.x.x addresses for BGP sessions.
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
✓
169.254.0.1
The correct BGP peer IP is 169.254.0.1 because Cloud Router uses the first IP in the 169.254.0.0/16 link-local range for BGP peering over a VPN tunnel. This is required by Google Cloud's implementation, where the on-premises router must use a link-local address from the 169.254.0.0/16 range, and Cloud Router automatically assigns 169.254.0.1 as its own BGP peer IP. The on-premises router typically uses 169.254.0.2 as its BGP peer IP, ensuring a point-to-point link-local BGP session.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
169.254.0.1
Why this is correct
Google requires BGP peer IPs to be in the 169.254.0.0/16 range for Cloud VPN tunnels.
- ✗
10.0.0.1
Why it's wrong here
Private IPs are not allowed for BGP over Cloud VPN; must use 169.254.x.x.
- ✗
The tunnel's external IP address
Why it's wrong here
The tunnel's external IP is used for the VPN, not for BGP peering.
- ✗
The on-premises router's external IP address
Why it's wrong here
External IPs are not used for BGP; BGP uses link-local addresses for the VPN.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCNE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCNE exam.