- A
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why wrong: MED influences inbound traffic to GCP (how on-premises routers choose paths to reach GCP). It does not control outbound traffic from GCP, so it is incorrect here.
- B
Local Preference
Local Preference influences outbound traffic from GCP by setting a preference for paths within the AS. A higher Local Preference on a Cloud Router session makes GCP prefer that path for outbound traffic. This is the correct attribute.
- C
Next hop
Why wrong: Next hop is a BGP attribute that specifies the next-hop IP address for reaching a prefix. It does not directly influence path preference for outbound traffic; it is more about reachability.
- D
AS Path prepend
Why wrong: AS Path prepend is used to make a path less preferred by artificially lengthening the AS path. It influences inbound traffic to GCP (how on-premises choose paths), not outbound from GCP.
PCNE BGP Local Preference Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of designing, planning, and prototyping a gcp network. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: bGP Local Preference. 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 organization has a hybrid network with multiple BGP sessions between on-premises and GCP. They want to influence outbound traffic from GCP to prefer a specific path. Which BGP attribute should they adjust on the Cloud Router?
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
Local Preference
To influence outbound traffic from GCP (i.e., which path GCP uses to send traffic to on-premises), the correct BGP attribute is Local Preference. Local Preference is an attribute that influences the outbound path selection within the local AS. On Cloud Router, setting a higher Local Preference for a specific BGP session makes GCP prefer that path for outbound traffic. MED, on the other hand, is used to influence inbound traffic to GCP by telling neighboring ASes which path to prefer.
Key principle: BGP Local Preference
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
Why it's wrong here
MED influences inbound traffic to GCP (how on-premises routers choose paths to reach GCP). It does not control outbound traffic from GCP, so it is incorrect here.
- ✓
Local Preference
Why this is correct
Local Preference influences outbound traffic from GCP by setting a preference for paths within the AS. A higher Local Preference on a Cloud Router session makes GCP prefer that path for outbound traffic. This is the correct attribute.
Related concept
BGP Local Preference
- ✗
Next hop
Why it's wrong here
Next hop is a BGP attribute that specifies the next-hop IP address for reaching a prefix. It does not directly influence path preference for outbound traffic; it is more about reachability.
- ✗
AS Path prepend
Why it's wrong here
AS Path prepend is used to make a path less preferred by artificially lengthening the AS path. It influences inbound traffic to GCP (how on-premises choose paths), not outbound from GCP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common mistake is confusing MED with Local Preference. MED influences how neighboring ASes choose paths for inbound traffic to GCP, while Local Preference influences outbound path selection from GCP. For controlling outbound traffic, adjust Local Preference on the Cloud Router.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MED is a non-transitive optional attribute (RFC 4271) that is exchanged between neighboring ASes and compared only when paths come from the same neighboring AS; a lower MED value is preferred. In GCP Cloud Router, you can set MED per BGP session using the `--advertised-route-med` flag or via custom route advertisements, allowing fine-grained control over which on-premises router receives a lower metric for specific prefixes. A real-world scenario is when an organization has two on-premises data centers connected to GCP via separate Cloud Routers; setting a lower MED on one session makes that data center the preferred entry point for traffic from GCP, enabling load balancing or failover.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- BGP Local Preference
- BGP MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator)
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
BGP Local Preference
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review bGP Local Preference, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCNE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCNE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCNE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuring Network Services practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Configuring Network Services.
Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity.
Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations.
Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network.
Implementing VPC Instances practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Implementing VPC Instances.
Implementing network security practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Implementing network security.
Implementing a Virtual Private Cloud practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to Implementing a Virtual Private Cloud.
PCNE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to PCNE fundamentals.
PCNE scenario practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to PCNE scenario.
PCNE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCNE questions linked to PCNE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCNE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network — This question tests Designing, Planning, and Prototyping a GCP Network — BGP Local Preference.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Local Preference — To influence outbound traffic from GCP (i.e., which path GCP uses to send traffic to on-premises), the correct BGP attribute is Local Preference. Local Preference is an attribute that influences the outbound path selection within the local AS. On Cloud Router, setting a higher Local Preference for a specific BGP session makes GCP prefer that path for outbound traffic. MED, on the other hand, is used to influence inbound traffic to GCP by telling neighboring ASes which path to prefer.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review bGP Local Preference, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
BGP Local Preference
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More PCNE practice questions
- An organization is migrating to Google Cloud and requires connectivity between their on-premises network and VPC. They p…
- A company is migrating on-premises DNS to Google Cloud. They have a hybrid network using Cloud VPN and want to resolve o…
- A network engineer is configuring a Cloud Router for BGP peering with an on-premises router over a VPN tunnel. The on-pr…
- A company uses Cloud NAT to allow private instances to reach the internet. They notice that egress traffic from Compute…
- You are setting up Partner Interconnect with a service provider that offers both Layer 2 and Layer 3 options. Your on-pr…
- Match each VPC networking concept to its definition.
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.