The answer is a misconfigured session initialization mode set to PASSIVE. When both BGP peers are configured with PASSIVE mode, neither router will initiate the TCP connection required to establish the BGP session, leaving it permanently stuck in a down state. In contrast, an ACTIVE mode peer will actively attempt to open the connection, which is why the first session came up successfully. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP session establishment mechanics within Cloud Router, often appearing as a trick where one session works and another does not despite identical routing policies. The common trap is assuming both sessions share the same initialization behavior, but the passive mode prevents the handshake from starting. A useful memory tip: think of PASSIVE as “patiently waiting” — if both sides wait, nobody knocks, so the session never opens.
PCNE Configuring network services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A Cloud Router has two BGP sessions. The first session is UP, the second is DOWN. What is the most likely cause for the second session being down?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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.
Why wrong: Priority is the same as the working session and does not affect session status.
B
The session initialization mode is set to PASSIVE.
If the peer is also PASSIVE, the session cannot establish. One side must be ACTIVE.
C
The peer IP address 169.254.1.2 is not routable.
Why wrong: Link-local addresses are directly connected; if the peer is unreachable, the session would not come up, but the exhibit shows both sessions use similar IPs, and the first works. The mode is a more likely cause.
D
The BFD multiplier is too low (3).
Why wrong: A multiplier of 3 is acceptable and would not prevent session establishment.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The session initialization mode is set to PASSIVE.
The second session has sessionInitializationMode set to PASSIVE. If the peer router is also configured as PASSIVE, the BGP session will never establish. The first session is ACTIVE, so it came up. This is a common misconfiguration.
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 advertised route priority is too low.
Why it's wrong here
Priority is the same as the working session and does not affect session status.
✓
The session initialization mode is set to PASSIVE.
Why this is correct
If the peer is also PASSIVE, the session cannot establish. One side must be ACTIVE.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The peer IP address 169.254.1.2 is not routable.
Why it's wrong here
Link-local addresses are directly connected; if the peer is unreachable, the session would not come up, but the exhibit shows both sessions use similar IPs, and the first works. The mode is a more likely cause.
✗
The BFD multiplier is too low (3).
Why it's wrong here
A multiplier of 3 is acceptable and would not prevent session establishment.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Link-local addresses are directly connected; if the peer is unreachable, the session would not come up, but the exhibit shows both sessions use similar IPs, and the first works. The mode is a more likely cause.
Command / output trap
Link-local addresses are directly connected; if the peer is unreachable, the session would not come up, but the exhibit shows both sessions use similar IPs, and the first works. The mode is a more likely cause.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCNE 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.
Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The session initialization mode is set to PASSIVE. — The second session has sessionInitializationMode set to PASSIVE. If the peer router is also configured as PASSIVE, the BGP session will never establish. The first session is ACTIVE, so it came up. This is a common misconfiguration.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Identify which PCNE 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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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