JNCIS-ENT BGP Practice Question
An operator troubleshooting BGP path selection notices two routes have identical Local Preference, AS path length, origin, MED, and both are eBGP routes. Which attribute does the BGP path selection algorithm evaluate next?
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
✓
Lowest IGP cost to the BGP next hop
According to the BGP best path selection algorithm, after comparing local pref, AS path, origin, MED, and iBGP vs eBGP, the router prefers the path with the lowest IGP metric to the BGP next hop.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Lowest Router ID
Why it's wrong here
Router ID is evaluated later in the algorithm.
- ✗
Oldest route
Why it's wrong here
Route age is an even later tie-breaker.
- ✗
Lowest peer IP address
Why it's wrong here
Peer IP is not part of the selection criteria.
- ✓
Lowest IGP cost to the BGP next hop
Why this is correct
IGP cost to next hop is evaluated to prefer the closest exit point when comparing eBGP routes or prior ties.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every JNCIS-ENT question from scratch — 519 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Juniper Networks exam blueprint
This JNCIS-ENT practice question is part of Courseiva's free Juniper Networks 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 JNCIS-ENT exam.