CCNP Complete Study Guide - All Lectures

Sheet 1: Basic Switching Fundamentals

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What is the main difference between a hub and a switch?
o a) A hub operates at Layer 2, a switch at Layer 1
o b) A hub broadcasts to all ports, a switch uses MAC addresses to forward selectively
o c) A hub supports VLANs, a switch does not
o d) A hub is faster than a switch
Answer: b
2. Which of the following describes a collision domain?
o a) A network segment where broadcasts are forwarded
o b) A network segment where frames can collide during transmission
o c) A VLAN boundary
o d) The entire switched network
Answer: b
3. How does a switch learn MAC addresses?
o a) By examining the destination MAC address of incoming frames
o b) By examining the source MAC address of incoming frames
o c) Through manual configuration
o d) By sending ARP requests
Answer: b
4. What is the default MAC address aging time on Cisco switches?
o a) 60 seconds
o b) 150 seconds
o c) 300 seconds
o d) 600 seconds
Answer: c
5. When a switch receives a frame with an unknown unicast destination MAC address, what does it
do?
o a) Drops the frame
o b) Sends it only to the default gateway
o c) Floods it out all ports except the incoming port
o d) Broadcasts it to all devices
Answer: c
6. Which command displays the MAC address table on a Cisco switch?
o a) show mac-address-table
o b) show mac table
o c) show arp
o d) show interfaces
Answer: a
7. What layer of the OSI model does a traditional switch operate at?
o a) Layer 1 (Physical)
o b) Layer 2 (Data Link)
o c) Layer 3 (Network)
o d) Layer 4 (Transport)
Answer: b
8. What is the purpose of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?
o a) To map IP addresses to MAC addresses
o b) To map MAC addresses to IP addresses
o c) To route packets between networks
o d) To assign dynamic IP addresses
Answer: a
9. Which type of switch port connects to end-user devices?
o a) Trunk port
o b) Access port
o c) Routed port
o d) EtherChannel port
Answer: b
 10. What is a broadcast domain?
o a) A network segment where all devices share the same collision domain
o b) A network segment where broadcast frames are forwarded to all devices
o c) A single switch port
o d) The connection between two switches
Answer: b

True or False
11. Switches forward broadcast traffic out all ports in the same VLAN. (True)
12. A switch can have multiple MAC addresses associated with a single port. (True)
13. ARP requests are sent as unicast frames. (False - they are broadcast)
14. Full-duplex eliminates collisions on a switched network. (True)
15. Bridges operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model. (False - Layer 2)

Short Answer Questions

16. What happens when a switch receives a frame with a destination MAC address that matches the
source port?
o The switch filters (drops) the frame because the destination is on the same segment.
17. Explain the difference between a collision domain and a broadcast domain.
o Collision domain: segment where frames can collide; broadcast domain: segment where broadcasts are
forwarded.
18. How does a switch handle a frame destined for the default gateway?
o Forwards it to the port where the default gateway's MAC address was learned.
19. What is the difference between unicast, multicast, and broadcast MAC addresses?
o Unicast: single device; Multicast: group of devices; Broadcast: all devices (FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF).
20. Why does a PC send frames to the default gateway when communicating with remote networks?
o Because the destination IP is on a different subnet, the PC cannot reach it directly.

Configuration Tasks
21. Basic Switch Configuration:
Switch> enable
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# hostname SW1
SW1(config)# enable secret Cisco123
SW1(config)# interface vlan 1
SW1(config-if)# ip address [Link] [Link]
SW1(config-if)# no shutdown
SW1(config-if)# exit
SW1(config)# exit
SW1# copy running-config startup-config
22. Verify MAC Address Table:
SW1# show mac address-table
SW1# show mac address-table dynamic
SW1# show mac address-table interface gi1/0/1
23. Key Show Commands:
 show mac address-table - Displays MAC address table
 show interfaces status - Shows interface status and VLAN assignment
 show arp - Displays ARP table
 show interfaces - Detailed interface information
 show version - Switch hardware and software details

Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: Users on SW2 cannot communicate with devices on SW1, even though the link between switches is up.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Check physical connectivity:
o Run: show interfaces status
o Verify the link is up/up
2. Verify MAC address learning:
o Run: show mac address-table
o Check if MAC addresses are being learned on the correct ports
 3. Check for duplex mismatches:
o Run: show interfaces gi1/0/1
o Look for input errors, CRC errors, or late collisions
4. Verify VLAN configuration:
o Run: show vlan brief
o Ensure both switches have the same VLANs configured
5. Test Layer 3 connectivity:
o Ping between switch management IPs
o Check IP addressing and default gateway configuration

Sheet 2: Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) - 802.1D

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What is the primary purpose of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)?
o a) To provide redundancy in the network
o b) To prevent Layer 2 loops in redundant topologies
o c) To increase bandwidth utilization
o d) To segment broadcast domains
Answer: b
2. Which IEEE standard defines the original Spanning Tree Protocol?
o a) 802.1D
o b) 802.1W
o c) 802.1Q
o d) 802.1S
Answer: a
3. What are the five STP port states in 802.1D?
o a) Disabled, Enabled, Forwarding, Blocking, Learning
o b) Blocking, Listening, Learning, Forwarding, Disabled
o c) Shutdown, Blocking, Forwarding, Learning, Listening
o d) Disabled, Discarding, Learning, Forwarding
Answer: b
4. Which port role connects to the root bridge or upstream switch?
o a) Designated port
o b) Root port
o c) Blocking port
o d) Alternate port
Answer: b
5. How is the root bridge elected in STP?
o a) Highest MAC address
o b) Lowest priority, then lowest MAC address
o c) Highest priority, then highest MAC address
o d) Manually configured by administrator
Answer: b
6. What is the default STP priority value?
o a) 0
o b) 4096
o c) 32768
o d) 61440
Answer: c
7. What is the default STP hello timer interval?
o a) 1 second
o b) 2 seconds
o c) 10 seconds
o d) 20 seconds
Answer: b
8. What is the default STP max age timer?
o a) 2 seconds
o b) 15 seconds
o c) 20 seconds
o d) 30 seconds
Answer: c
 9. What is the STP path cost for a 1 Gbps link in short mode?
o a) 2
o b) 4
o c) 19
o d) 100
Answer: b
10. How long does it take for 802.1D STP to converge after a direct link failure?
o a) Immediately (0 seconds)
o b) 15 seconds
o c) 30 seconds
o d) 50 seconds (30s max age + 2×15s forward delay)
Answer: d

True or False
11. The root bridge has all ports in designated state. (True)
12. STP blocks all redundant links to prevent loops. (False - blocks only necessary links)
13. A switch can have multiple root ports per VLAN. (False - only one root port per VLAN)
14. TCN BPDUs are sent from the root bridge to all switches. (False - sent toward root by switches detecting
changes)
15. STP uses the lowest path cost to determine the best path to root. (True)

Short Answer Questions

16. What is a root bridge in STP?
o The central reference point in the STP topology with the lowest bridge ID; all paths are calculated from it.
17. Explain the purpose of the listening state in STP.
o Port can send/receive BPDUs but does not forward data or learn MAC addresses; used to prevent loops
during convergence.
18. What is the difference between a root port and a designated port?
o Root port: best path to root on non-root switch; Designated port: forwarding port toward downstream
devices/switches.
19. How does STP calculate path cost?
o Sum of all interface costs along the path to the root bridge; lower cumulative cost is preferred.
20. What triggers a topology change notification (TCN) in STP?
o A port transitioning to or from forwarding state (link up/down events).

Configuration Tasks
21. Configure SW1 as Root Bridge for VLAN 10:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree vlan 10 root primary
OR
SW1(config)# spanning-tree vlan 10 priority 4096
22. Configure SW2 as Secondary Root Bridge for VLAN 10:
SW2(config)# spanning-tree vlan 10 root secondary
OR
SW2(config)# spanning-tree vlan 10 priority 8192
23. Verify STP Configuration:
SW1# show spanning-tree
SW1# show spanning-tree vlan 10
SW1# show spanning-tree root
SW1# show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/1
SW1# show spanning-tree vlan 10 detail
Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: After adding a new switch to the network, SW3 became the root bridge and is causing suboptimal traffic paths.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Identify the current root bridge:
o Run: show spanning-tree
o Check which switch has "This bridge is the root" message
2. Check bridge priorities:
o Run: show spanning-tree vlan 10 on all switches
o Compare priority values (lower wins)
3. Verify SW3's priority:
o If SW3 has lower priority or MAC, it became root
o Check: show spanning-tree bridge id
 4. Reconfigure the desired root bridge:
o On SW1: spanning-tree vlan 10 priority 4096
o Or: spanning-tree vlan 10 root primary
5. Verify the change:
o Run: show spanning-tree vlan 10
o Confirm SW1 is now root and ports have correct roles
6. Monitor for topology changes:
o Run: show spanning-tree vlan 10 detail
o Check for excessive topology changes

Sheet 3: Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) - 802.1W

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. Which IEEE standard defines Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol?
o a) 802.1D
o b) 802.1W
o c) 802.1Q
o d) 802.1S
Answer: b
2. How many port states does RSTP have?
o a) 2
o b) 3
o c) 4
o d) 5
Answer: b
3. Which RSTP port states exist?
o a) Blocking, Listening, Learning, Forwarding
o b) Discarding, Learning, Forwarding
o c) Disabled, Learning, Forwarding
o d) Blocking, Learning, Forwarding
Answer: b
4. What RSTP port role provides an alternate path to the root bridge?
o a) Root port
o b) Designated port
o c) Alternate port
o d) Backup port
Answer: c
5. What is the purpose of the backup port in RSTP?
o a) Backup path to root through different switch
o b) Backup path through the same switch (multiple links)
o c) Primary forwarding port
o d) Connection to end devices
Answer: b
6. What mechanism does RSTP use for fast convergence?
o a) TCN BPDUs
o b) Proposal and agreement handshake
o c) Shorter timer values
o d) BPDU filtering
Answer: b
7. What is an RSTP edge port?
o a) A port connected to another switch
o b) A port at the network edge connected to end devices
o c) A blocking port
o d) The root port
Answer: b
8. What type of link does RSTP require for fast transition?
o a) Half-duplex
o b) Full-duplex point-to-point
o c) Hub connection
o d) Shared media
Answer: b
 9. How does RSTP detect link failure faster than STP?
o a) Uses shorter hello timers
o b) Relies on physical layer signaling for direct failures
o c) Sends more BPDUs
o d) Uses UDLD
Answer: b
10. What is the typical convergence time for RSTP compared to 802.1D STP?
o a) Same (50 seconds)
o b) 30 seconds
o c) 15 seconds
o d) Sub-second to a few seconds
Answer: d

True or False
11. RSTP is backward compatible with 802.1D STP. (True)
12. RSTP edge ports are equivalent to PortFast-enabled ports. (True)
13. RSTP uses the same BPDU format as 802.1D. (False - enhanced BPDU format)
14. Alternate and backup ports in RSTP are in forwarding state. (False - discarding state)
15. RSTP allows all switches to generate BPDUs, not just the root. (True)

Short Answer Questions

16. What is the main advantage of RSTP over 802.1D STP?
o Faster convergence (sub-second to seconds vs 30-50 seconds) through proposal/agreement mechanism.
17. Explain the difference between an alternate port and a backup port.
o Alternate: backup path to root through different switch; Backup: backup path through same switch
(multiple links to same segment).
18. What is the proposal/agreement handshake in RSTP?
o Superior switch proposes its port as designated; inferior switch blocks non-edge ports and sends
agreement, allowing instant forwarding.
19. How does RSTP handle edge ports?
o Edge ports transition immediately to forwarding (like PortFast); if BPDU received, edge status removed.
20. What is an RSTP point-to-point link?
o Full-duplex link connecting two switches, enabling fast transition through proposal/agreement.

Configuration Tasks
21. Enable RSTP Mode:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree mode rapid-pvst
22. Configure an Edge Port (PortFast):
SW1(config)# interface gi1/0/10
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree portfast
OR globally for all access ports:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree portfast default
23. Verify RSTP Configuration:
SW1# show spanning-tree
SW1# show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/1
SW1# show spanning-tree summary

Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: After enabling RSTP, convergence is still slow (taking 30+ seconds) when a link fails between SW2 and SW3.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Verify RSTP is enabled on all switches:
o Run: show spanning-tree summary
o Check for "Mode: rapid-pvst"
2. Check link type (must be point-to-point):
o Run: show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/1 detail
o Verify "Link type is point-to-point"
3. Verify duplex mode (must be full-duplex):
o Run: show interfaces gi1/0/1
o Check for "Full-duplex"
4. Check for alternate port availability:
o Run: show spanning-tree vlan 10
o Look for "Altn" (alternate) port role
 5. If no alternate port exists:
o RSTP still needs to wait for max age timer
o Add redundant links or verify topology
6. Monitor proposal/agreement:
o Run: debug spanning-tree events (use carefully)
o Look for proposal and agreement messages

Sheet 4: Advanced STP Protection Mechanisms

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What is the purpose of PortFast?
o a) To speed up convergence between switches
o b) To allow access ports to bypass listening and learning states
o c) To prevent loops
o d) To enable trunking faster
Answer: b
2. Which feature prevents a port from becoming a root port?
o a) BPDU Guard
o b) Root Guard
o c) Loop Guard
o d) PortFast
Answer: b
3. What happens when BPDU Guard is triggered?
o a) The port is moved to blocking state
o b) The port is placed in err-disabled state
o c) A TCN is generated
o d) The switch reboots
Answer: b
4. Which command enables BPDU Guard globally on all PortFast ports?
o a) spanning-tree bpduguard enable
o b) spanning-tree portfast bpduguard default
o c) bpduguard enable
o d) spanning-tree guard bpdu
Answer: b
5. What is the difference between BPDU Guard and BPDU Filter?
o a) Guard err-disables port, Filter drops BPDUs silently
o b) Guard drops BPDUs, Filter err-disables port
o c) They are the same
o d) Guard is for trunks, Filter is for access ports
Answer: a
6. What does Loop Guard protect against?
o a) BPDU reception on access ports
o b) Loss of BPDUs on root/alternate ports causing loops
o c) Root bridge changes
o d) Unauthorized switches
Answer: b
7. Which protocol detects unidirectional link failures on fiber connections?
o a) STP
o b) RSTP
o c) UDLD
o d) CDP
Answer: c
8. What are the two modes of UDLD?
o a) Active and Passive
o b) Normal and Aggressive
o c) Enabled and Disabled
o d) Server and Client
Answer: b
9. Which command enables automatic recovery from err-disabled state caused by BPDU Guard?
o a) errdisable recovery enable
o b) errdisable recovery cause bpduguard
o c) spanning-tree recovery
o d) bpduguard recovery
Answer: b
 10. What is the default err-disable recovery interval?
o a) 60 seconds
o b) 120 seconds
o c) 300 seconds
o d) 600 seconds
Answer: c

True or False
11. PortFast should be enabled on all switch ports. (False - only access ports to end devices)
12. Root Guard should be placed on ports toward the core switches. (False - toward access/distribution
where root should not appear)
13. BPDU Filter can create loops if misconfigured. (True)
14. Loop Guard and Root Guard can be enabled on the same port. (False - mutually exclusive)
15. UDLD aggressive mode will err-disable a port if it detects unidirectional traffic. (True)

Short Answer Questions

16. When should you use PortFast?
o On access ports connected to end devices (PCs, servers, printers) that will never connect to switches or
bridges.
17. What is the purpose of Root Guard?
o Prevents configured ports from becoming root ports, protecting against unauthorized switches becoming
root bridge.
18. Explain the difference between Loop Guard and UDLD.
o Loop Guard: detects loss of BPDUs (software); UDLD: detects unidirectional links (hardware/fiber issues).
19. Why should BPDU Filter be used carefully?
o It completely suppresses BPDUs, which can allow loops if a switch is connected; should only be used in
specific scenarios.
20. What causes an err-disabled state?
o Security violations, BPDU Guard triggers, port security violations, or other protective mechanisms.

Configuration Tasks
21. Enable PortFast and BPDU Guard on Access Ports:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree portfast default
SW1(config)# spanning-tree portfast bpduguard default
OR per-interface:
SW1(config)# interface gi1/0/10
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree portfast
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree bpduguard enable
22. Enable Root Guard on Distribution Layer Ports:
SW1(config)# interface gi1/0/1
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree guard root
23. Enable Loop Guard Globally:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree loopguard default
24. Enable UDLD:
SW1(config)# udld enable
OR aggressive mode:
SW1(config)# udld aggressive
25. Configure Err-Disable Recovery:
SW1(config)# errdisable recovery cause bpduguard
SW1(config)# errdisable recovery interval 300
26. Verify Protection Features:
SW1# show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/10 detail
SW1# show errdisable recovery
SW1# show interfaces status err-disabled
SW1# show udld neighbors
SW1# show spanning-tree inconsistentports
Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: Several access ports went into err-disabled state after users connected small unmanaged switches to share
connections.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Identify err-disabled ports:
o Run: show interfaces status
o Look for ports with "err-disabled" status
2. Determine the cause:
o Run: show interfaces gi1/0/10
o Check interface output for err-disable reason
o Run: show errdisable detect
3. Check logs for BPDU Guard:
o Run: show logging | include BPDU
o Look for "BPDU Guard" messages
4. Verify BPDU Guard configuration:
o Run: show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/10 detail
o Check if "Bpdu guard is enabled"
5. Remove the cause (unmanaged switch):
o Physically remove unauthorized switches
o Educate users about policy
6. Recover the port manually:
SW1(config)# interface gi1/0/10
SW1(config-if)# shutdown
SW1(config-if)# no shutdown
7. OR enable automatic recovery:
SW1(config)# errdisable recovery cause bpduguard
SW1(config)# errdisable recovery interval 300
8. Verify recovery:
o Run: show interfaces status
o Wait 300 seconds and check port comes back up
o Run: show errdisable recovery

Sheet 5: Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MST)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. Which IEEE standard defines Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol?
o a) 802.1D
o b) 802.1W
o c) 802.1Q
o d) 802.1S
Answer: d
2. What is the main advantage of MST over PVST+?
o a) Faster convergence
o b) Reduces number of STP instances by mapping multiple VLANs to one instance
o c) Better security
o d) Supports more VLANs
Answer: b
3. What is the Internal Spanning Tree (IST) in MST?
o a) Instance 0, runs on all ports regardless of VLANs
o b) The root bridge instance
o c) A special VLAN
o d) The backup instance
Answer: a
4. How many MST instances are supported by default on Cisco switches?
o a) 8
o b) 16
o c) 32
o d) 64
Answer: b
 5. What three parameters define an MST region?
o a) Name, revision number, VLAN-to-instance mapping
o b) Name, priority, root bridge
o c) Priority, MAC address, VLAN list
o d) Region ID, instance number, priority
Answer: a
6. Which instance number is reserved for IST?
o a) Instance 0
o b) Instance 1
o c) Instance 15
o d) Instance 16
Answer: a
7. What command enters MST configuration mode?
o a) spanning-tree mst configuration
o b) spanning-tree mode mst
o c) mst configuration
o d) config mst
Answer: a
8. Which command verifies MST region configuration?
o a) show spanning-tree mst
o b) show spanning-tree mst configuration
o c) show mst region
o d) show spanning-tree region
Answer: b
9. What happens if two switches have different MST region names?
o a) They form separate regions and see each other as CST boundaries
o b) They cannot communicate
o c) One overrides the other
o d) MST fails to operate
Answer: a
10. What is a common MST misconfiguration issue?
o a) Incorrect priority values
o b) Pruning VLANs from trunk links but not adjusting MSTI mappings
o c) Too many instances
o d) Wrong VLAN IDs
Answer: b

True or False
11. MST is backward compatible with PVST+ and 802.1D. (True)
12. All VLANs must be manually mapped to MST instances. (False - default to instance 0)
13. The MST revision number must match for switches in the same region. (True)
14. MST reduces CPU and memory load compared to PVST+ in large VLAN environments. (True)
15. IST BPDUs contain information about all MSTIs in the region. (True)

Short Answer Questions

16. What is an MST region?
o Group of switches with identical MST configuration (name, revision, VLAN-to-instance mapping) that
appear as single virtual switch externally.
17. Why does MST reduce STP overhead?
o Multiple VLANs mapped to single instance means fewer STP calculations and BPDU transmissions.

18. What is the purpose of the MST revision number?

o Version control for configuration changes; must match across region for switches to be in same region.
19. Explain the IST instance.
o Instance 0, mandatory, runs on all ports; carries information about other MSTIs; connects MST region to
outside STP domains.
20. What happens if VLAN pruning doesn't match MSTI topology?
o Can cause suboptimal paths or even isolation; VLANs may traverse blocking ports unexpectedly.
Configuration Tasks
21. Enable MST Mode:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree mode mst
22. Configure MST Region:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree mst configuration
SW1(config-mst)# name ENTERPRISE
SW1(config-mst)# revision 1
SW1(config-mst)# instance 1 vlan 10,20
SW1(config-mst)# instance 2 vlan 30,40
SW1(config-mst)# exit
23. Configure Root Bridge for MST Instance:
SW1(config)# spanning-tree mst 1 root primary
SW1(config)# spanning-tree mst 1 priority 4096
24. Modify MST Port Cost and Priority:
SW1(config)# interface gi1/0/1
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree mst 1 cost 10000
SW1(config-if)# spanning-tree mst 1 port-priority 64
25. Verify MST Configuration:
SW1# show spanning-tree mst configuration
SW1# show spanning-tree mst
SW1# show spanning-tree mst 1
SW1# show spanning-tree mst interface gi1/0/1

Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: Two switches SW1 and SW2 are configured with MST, but VLANs are not synchronizing and appear to be in
different regions.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Verify MST region configuration on both switches:
o Run: show spanning-tree mst configuration
o Compare name, revision, and VLAN-to-instance mappings
2. Check region name:
o Must match exactly (case-sensitive)
o If different: spanning-tree mst configuration → name ENTERPRISE
3. Check revision number:
o Must match exactly
o If different: spanning-tree mst configuration → revision 1
4. Check VLAN-to-instance mapping:
o Must be identical on all switches in region
o If different: reconfigure instance mappings consistently
5. Verify MST mode is enabled:
o Run: show spanning-tree summary
o Should show "Mode: mst"
o If not: spanning-tree mode mst
6. Check trunk configuration:
o Run: show interfaces trunk
o Ensure VLANs are allowed on trunk links
7. Verify after changes:
o Run: show spanning-tree mst
o Check that both switches see same root and topology

Sheet 6: EIGRP Fundamentals

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What type of routing protocol is EIGRP?
o a) Link-state
o b) Distance-vector
o c) Advanced distance-vector
o d) Path-vector
Answer: c
 2. Which algorithm does EIGRP use to calculate routes?
o a) Dijkstra's algorithm
o b) Bellman-Ford algorithm
o c) DUAL (Diffusing Update Algorithm)
o d) SPF algorithm
Answer: c
3. What is EIGRP's default administrative distance for internal routes?
o a) 90
o b) 100
o c) 110
o d) 170
Answer: a
4. Which transport protocol number does EIGRP use?
o a) TCP 88
o b) UDP 88
o c) IP protocol 88
o d) TCP 89
Answer: c
5. What is the default EIGRP hello interval on Ethernet interfaces?
o a) 1 second
o b) 5 seconds
o c) 10 seconds
o d) 30 seconds
Answer: b
6. What is the default EIGRP hold timer on Ethernet interfaces?
o a) 5 seconds
o b) 15 seconds
o c) 30 seconds
o d) 180 seconds
Answer: b
7. Which EIGRP metric components are used by default (K-values)?
o a) Bandwidth only
o b) Bandwidth and delay
o c) Bandwidth, delay, and reliability
o d) All five metrics
Answer: b
8. What multicast address does EIGRP for IPv4 use?
o a) [Link]
o b) [Link]
o c) [Link]
o d) [Link]
Answer: d
9. What is a feasible successor in EIGRP?
o a) The best route to a destination
o b) A backup route that meets the feasibility condition
o c) Any route in the topology table
o d) The next-hop router
Answer: b
10. What is the feasibility condition in EIGRP?
o a) Advertised distance < Feasible distance
o b) Advertised distance > Feasible distance
o c) Reported distance < Feasible distance
o d) Feasible distance < Reported distance
Answer: c

True or False
11. EIGRP sends full routing updates periodically. (False - only partial triggered updates)
12. EIGRP supports VLSM and discontinuous networks. (True)
13. EIGRP can perform unequal-cost load balancing. (True)
14. EIGRP hello and hold timers must match for neighbor adjacency. (False - not required but
recommended)
15. EIGRP automatically summarizes at classful network boundaries by default. (False - not by default in
modern IOS)
Short Answer Questions
16. What is the difference between reported distance (RD) and feasible distance (FD)?
o RD: metric advertised by neighbor to reach destination; FD: local router's best metric (RD + cost to
neighbor).
17. What is a successor route in EIGRP?
o The best route to a destination; installed in routing table with lowest FD.
18. What happens when EIGRP loses a route with no feasible successor?
o Router goes active, sends query messages to neighbors to find alternate path.
19. What is EIGRP SIA (Stuck-in-Active)?
o Condition where router doesn't receive query replies within active timer (3 min default), causing neighbor
reset.
20. What is the purpose of EIGRP stub routing?
o Limits query scope by preventing stub routers from being queried, improving convergence and reducing
overhead.

Configuration Tasks
21. Configure Basic EIGRP for IPv4:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# network [Link]
R1(config-router)# network [Link]
R1(config-router)# no auto-summary
22. Configure EIGRP Router ID:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# eigrp router-id [Link]
23. Configure EIGRP Passive Interface:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# passive-interface gi0/0
24. Configure EIGRP Manual Summarization:
R1(config)# interface gi0/1
R1(config-if)# ip summary-address eigrp 100 [Link] [Link]
25. Configure EIGRP Stub Router:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# eigrp stub connected summary
26. Verify EIGRP Configuration:
R1# show ip eigrp neighbors
R1# show ip eigrp topology
R1# show ip eigrp interfaces
R1# show ip protocols
R1# show ip route eigrp

Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: EIGRP neighbors are not forming between R1 and R2 despite having connectivity.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Verify IP connectivity:
o Ping between R1 and R2 interfaces
o Check: show ip interface brief
2. Check EIGRP configuration:
o Run: show ip protocols
o Verify same AS number on both routers
3. Verify network statements:
o Run: show run | section eigrp
o Ensure networks are advertised correctly
4. Check EIGRP is enabled on interfaces:
o Run: show ip eigrp interfaces
o Interface should appear in list
5. Verify passive interface:
o Run: show ip protocols
o Ensure interface is not passive
6. Check for ACLs blocking EIGRP:
o Run: show ip access-lists
o Verify protocol 88 is permitted
 7. Verify authentication (if configured):
o Run: show run interface gi0/1
o Ensure keys match on both sides
8. Check EIGRP timers (optional):
o Run: show ip eigrp interfaces detail
o Verify hello/hold intervals

Sheet 7: Advanced EIGRP Features

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. What command configures EIGRP variance for unequal-cost load balancing?
o a) load-balance
o b) variance
o c) maximum-paths
o d) balance
Answer: b
2. What is the default variance value in EIGRP?
o a) 1
o b) 2
o c) 4
o d) 8
Answer: a
3. What is the maximum number of equal-cost paths EIGRP supports by default?
o a) 2
o b) 4
o c) 6
o d) 16
Answer: b
4. Which EIGRP stub option advertises only connected routes?
o a) stub summary
o b) stub connected
o c) stub static
o d) stub redistribute
Answer: b
5. Which EIGRP stub option prevents all route advertisements?
o a) stub connected
o b) stub summary
o c) stub receive-only
o d) stub static
Answer: c
6. What is the default EIGRP active timer before declaring SIA?
o a) 90 seconds
o b) 180 seconds
o c) 3 minutes
o d) 5 minutes
Answer: c
7. Which command displays EIGRP packet statistics?
o a) show ip eigrp traffic
o b) show ip eigrp packets
o c) show ip eigrp statistics
o d) show ip eigrp neighbors detail
Answer: a
8. What multicast address does EIGRP for IPv6 use?
o a) FF02::5
o b) FF02::6
o c) FF02::9
o d) FF02::A
Answer: d
9. What is required before configuring EIGRP for IPv6?
o a) IPv4 addressing
o b) ipv6 unicast-routing global command
o c) IPv6 ACLs
o d) OSPFv3
Answer: b
 10. What is named EIGRP configuration?
o a) EIGRP using hostnames instead of AS numbers
o b) Unified configuration mode for both IPv4 and IPv6 EIGRP
o c) EIGRP with authentication
o d) EIGRP with custom routing protocols
Answer: b

True or False
11. EIGRP can load balance across unequal-cost paths if variance is configured. (True)
12. All alternate paths can be used for unequal-cost load balancing. (False - only feasible successors)
13. EIGRP stub routers do not forward queries. (False - they don't receive queries from neighbors)
14. EIGRP for IPv6 requires a router ID to be configured if no IPv4 address exists. (True)
15. Named EIGRP configuration requires separate processes for IPv4 and IPv6. (False - unified under one
process)

Short Answer Questions

16. How does EIGRP variance work?
o Multiplies FD by variance value; routes with metric less than (FD × variance) and meeting feasibility
condition are used.
17. What are the benefits of EIGRP stub routing?
o Reduces query scope, improves convergence, saves CPU/bandwidth, prevents SIA conditions.
18. What is the difference between auto-summary and manual summarization?
o Auto: automatic at classful boundaries; Manual: specific summary routes configured per interface with
custom masks.
19. Why is EIGRP for IPv6 configured differently than EIGRP for IPv4?
o IPv6 EIGRP enabled per-interface (not network statement), requires IPv6 routing enabled, uses link-local
addresses.
20. What is the purpose of named EIGRP configuration?
o Simplifies configuration by unifying IPv4 and IPv6 under single routing process with address-family
structure.

Configuration Tasks
21. Configure EIGRP Unequal-Cost Load Balancing:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# variance 2
R1(config-router)# maximum-paths 6
22. Configure EIGRP Summarization:
R1(config)# interface gi0/1
R1(config-if)# ip summary-address eigrp 100 [Link] [Link]
23. Configure EIGRP Stub Router:
R1(config)# router eigrp 100
R1(config-router)# eigrp stub connected summary
24. Configure EIGRP for IPv6:
R1(config)# ipv6 unicast-routing
R1(config)# ipv6 router eigrp 100
R1(config-rtr)# eigrp router-id [Link]
R1(config-rtr)# no shutdown
R1(config)# interface gi0/1
R1(config-if)# ipv6 eigrp 100
25. Configure Named EIGRP:
R1(config)# router eigrp MY_EIGRP
R1(config-router)# address-family ipv4 unicast autonomous-system 100
R1(config-router-af)# network [Link]
R1(config-router-af)# exit-address-family
R1(config-router)# address-family ipv6 unicast autonomous-system 100
R1(config-router-af)# exit-address-family
26. Verify Advanced EIGRP Features:
R1# show ip eigrp topology
R1# show ip route eigrp
R1# show ip eigrp traffic
R1# show ip protocols
R1# show ipv6 eigrp neighbors
Troubleshooting Scenario
Problem: EIGRP routes are flapping and routers are experiencing SIA conditions frequently.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Identify SIA routes:
o Run: show ip eigrp topology active
o Check which routes are stuck active
2. Check for large query scope:
o Run: show ip eigrp topology
o Look for many routers in query chain
3. Verify summarization:
o Run: show run interface on boundary routers
o Implement summarization to limit query scope:
R1(config-if)# ip summary-address eigrp 100 [Link] [Link]
4. Consider EIGRP stub configuration:
o On branch routers:
R1(config-router)# eigrp stub connected summary
o Verify: show ip eigrp neighbors detail
5. Check link stability:
o Run: show interfaces gi0/1
o Look for flapping, errors, or high utilization
6. Monitor EIGRP neighbors:
o Run: show ip eigrp neighbors
o Check uptime for frequent resets
7. Review EIGRP timers:
o Run: show ip eigrp interfaces detail
o Consider adjusting hello/hold timers for unstable links
8. Implement active timer tuning:
R1(config-router)# timers active-time 90

Quick Reference Tables

STP Port States Comparison
Feature 802.1D STP 802.1W RSTP
Port States Disabled, Blocking, Listening, Learning, Forwarding Discarding, Learning, Forwarding
Port Roles Root, Designated, Blocking Root, Designated, Alternate, Backup
Convergence 30-50 seconds Sub-second to few seconds
Standard IEEE 802.1D IEEE 802.1W

Table 1: STP vs RSTP Comparison

STP Path Cost (Short Mode)

Link Speed Cost
10 Mbps 100
100 Mbps 19
1 Gbps 4
10 Gbps 2

Table 2: STP Path Costs

STP Timers
Timer Default Value Purpose
Hello 2 seconds BPDU transmission interval
Max Age 20 seconds Time to keep BPDU info
Forward Delay 15 seconds Time in listening/learning

Table 3: STP Default Timers

EIGRP Default Values

Parameter Value
Administrative Distance 90 (internal), 170 (external)
Hello Timer (Ethernet) 5 seconds
Hold Timer (Ethernet) 15 seconds
Multicast Address (IPv4) [Link]
Multicast Address (IPv6) FF02::A
Protocol Number 88
Maximum Paths 4 (default)
Variance 1 (default)
Active Timer 3 minutes (180 seconds)

Table 4: EIGRP Default Values

EIGRP K-Values (Default)

K-Value Metric Component Default Value
K1 Bandwidth 1
K2 Load 0
K3 Delay 1
K4 Reliability 0
K5 MTU 0

Table 5: EIGRP K-Values

Default Metric Formula: Metric = [K1 × Bandwidth + (K3 × Delay)] × 256

STP Protection Features Summary

Feature Purpose Placement Action on Violation
PortFast Skip listening/learning Access ports to end devices Removed if BPDU received
BPDU Guard Prevent BPDUs on access ports PortFast-enabled ports Err-disable port
BPDU Filter Suppress BPDU transmission Specific scenarios only Silently drops BPDUs
Root Guard Prevent root port formation Ports where root shouldn't appear Inconsistent state
Loop Guard Detect BPDU loss Root/alternate ports Inconsistent state
UDLD Detect unidirectional links Fiber connections Err-disable (aggressive)
Table 6: STP Protection Features

MST Configuration Parameters

Parameter Description Must Match in Region
Region Name Identifies MST region Yes (case-sensitive)
Revision Number Version control Yes
VLAN-to-Instance Mapping Which VLANs in which instance Yes

Table 7: MST Region Parameters

Study Tips and Exam Strategy

Priority Topics (High Probability)
For STP and RSTP Questions:
• Root bridge election logic - Priority first, then MAC address
• Port role determination - Root port, designated port, alternate/backup
• Path cost calculations - Know the cost values for common speeds
• Convergence times - 802.1D (50s) vs RSTP (sub-second)
• Protection features - When to use each guard/protection mechanism
For EIGRP Questions:
• Successor vs Feasible Successor - Know the feasibility condition
• Metric calculation - Bandwidth and delay (default K-values)
• Neighbor formation requirements - Same AS number, network statements
• Stub routing benefits - Query scope reduction
• SIA conditions - Causes and solutions

How to Approach Troubleshooting Questions

Your doctor follows this pattern:
1. Identify the symptom - What's not working?
2. Check configuration - Use show commands to verify settings
3. Compare expected vs actual - What should match?
4. Identify the mismatch - Find the specific difference
5. Apply the fix - Configuration command to resolve
6. Verify the solution - Confirm it's working
Practice this method for each protocol!

Memory Techniques
STP Port States (802.1D) - "BLLFD"
Blocking → Listening → Learning → Forwarding → Disabled
RSTP Port States - "DLF"
Discarding → Learning → Forwarding
EIGRP Packet Types - "HUQRA"
Hello, Update, Query, Reply, Ack
Root Bridge Election - "PLM"
Priority (lowest), then Lowest MAC address
EIGRP Feasibility Condition - "RD < FD"
Reported Distance < Feasible Distance

Show Command Mastery

Memorize these - they appear in every troubleshooting scenario:
Switching:
show mac address-table
show interfaces status
show spanning-tree
show spanning-tree vlan X
show spanning-tree interface gi1/0/1 detail
show spanning-tree root
show errdisable recovery
show interfaces status err-disabled
EIGRP:
show ip eigrp neighbors
show ip eigrp topology
show ip eigrp interfaces
show ip protocols
show ip route eigrp
show ip eigrp traffic

Configuration Command Shortcuts

Quick STP Root Bridge Setup:
spanning-tree vlan X root primary (sets priority to 24576)
spanning-tree vlan X root secondary (sets priority to 28672)
Quick Protection Enable:
spanning-tree portfast default
spanning-tree portfast bpduguard default
spanning-tree loopguard default
Quick EIGRP Setup:
router eigrp [AS]
network [network]
no auto-summary
passive-interface [interface]

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing RD and FD in EIGRP - RD is from neighbor, FD is local best metric
2. Forgetting RSTP has 3 states, not 5 - Don't list blocking/listening for RSTP
3. Mixing up Root Guard and Loop Guard - Root prevents becoming root port, Loop detects BPDU loss
4. MST region matching - All three must match: name, revision, VLAN mapping
5. EIGRP stub options - receive-only is most restrictive (no routes advertised)
6. Assuming all ports need PortFast - Only access ports to end devices!

Last-Minute Review Checklist

Default STP priority: 32768
Default STP hello timer: 2 seconds
Default STP max age: 20 seconds
802.1D convergence time: 50 seconds
1 Gbps STP cost: 4
EIGRP admin distance: 90
EIGRP hello (Ethernet): 5 seconds
EIGRP hold (Ethernet): 15 seconds
EIGRP multicast: [Link]
EIGRP protocol number: 88
Default K-values: K1=1, K3=1, rest=0
Feasibility condition: RD < FD
MST instance 0: IST
BPDU Guard action: err-disable
Loop Guard action: inconsistent state
UDLD modes: normal and aggressive
Default variance: 1
Default max-paths: 4