cisco certified internetwork expert Interview Questions and Answers

100 CCIE Interview Questions and Answers
  1. What are the different routing protocols supported by Cisco IOS?

    • Answer: Cisco IOS supports a wide range of routing protocols, including RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, and static routing. Each protocol has its own strengths and weaknesses, making it suitable for different network topologies and scaling requirements. RIP is a simple distance-vector protocol suitable for small networks. IGRP and EIGRP are Cisco proprietary distance-vector and hybrid protocols, respectively, offering better scalability than RIP. OSPF and IS-IS are link-state protocols offering better scalability and convergence than distance-vector protocols. BGP is an exterior gateway protocol used for routing between autonomous systems.
  2. Explain the concept of convergence in routing protocols.

    • Answer: Convergence refers to the time it takes for a routing protocol to re-establish stable routing information after a topology change (e.g., link failure, router failure). Faster convergence is crucial for network stability and minimizing disruption. Different routing protocols have different convergence times, influenced by factors like the protocol's algorithm, network size, and the number of routers involved.
  3. What is the difference between OSPF and EIGRP?

    • Answer: OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses Dijkstra's algorithm to calculate the shortest path. It's an open standard and supports VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking). EIGRP is a Cisco proprietary hybrid routing protocol that uses a combination of distance-vector and link-state concepts. EIGRP offers features like fast convergence through the use of its neighbor discovery and partial updates. Choosing between them depends on factors like network size, vendor preference, and specific requirements for features like support for non-Cisco devices (OSPF) or faster convergence (EIGRP).
  4. Explain the concept of BGP and its importance in the Internet.

    • Answer: BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is an exterior gateway protocol used to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (ASes). It's crucial for the Internet's routing infrastructure, enabling connectivity between different networks operated by different organizations. BGP uses path vector routing and considers factors like AS path length and policy to determine the best path for routing traffic.
  5. What are the different types of access lists in Cisco IOS?

    • Answer: Cisco IOS supports Standard and Extended Access Lists. Standard access lists filter traffic based on source IP address only. Extended access lists offer more granular control, allowing filtering based on source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and other criteria.
  6. Explain the concept of VLANs and their benefits.

    • Answer: VLANs (Virtual LANs) logically segment a physical network into multiple broadcast domains. This improves network security, performance, and manageability. VLANs allow administrators to group users and devices based on their function or location, regardless of their physical location on the network.
  7. Describe the functions of a switch and a router.

    • Answer: Switches operate at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses. They create broadcast domains. Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network Layer), forwarding traffic based on IP addresses. They create collision and broadcast domains.
  8. What is the purpose of STP (Spanning Tree Protocol)?

    • Answer: STP prevents loops in a switched network. Loops can cause broadcast storms and network instability. STP dynamically calculates a loop-free topology by blocking redundant paths.
  9. Explain the concept of First Hop Redundancy Protocols (like HSRP, VRRP, GLBP).

    • Answer: First Hop Redundancy Protocols provide redundancy for the default gateway, ensuring high availability. HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol), VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), and GLBP (Gateway Load Balancing Protocol) are examples. They all elect an active router to handle traffic while maintaining a standby router ready to take over in case of failure.

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