Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingIP ConnectivityMedium

A network engineer is configuring OSPF on a router. They need to ensure that the router becomes the Designated Router (DR) for a specific multi-access segment. Which OSPF parameter should be adjusted to influence this election, assuming all other parameters are default?

  1. ARouter ID
  2. BProcess ID
  3. CPriority
  4. DHello Timer
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. Priority

The OSPF DR election process is primarily influenced by the OSPF interface priority. A higher priority value (0-255) makes a router more likely to become the DR. If priorities are equal, the router with the highest Router ID wins.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Router ID is used as a tie-breaker if priorities are equal, but priority is the primary factor for influencing DR election.
  • B. The OSPF process ID is locally significant and does not influence DR election.
  • D. The Hello Timer influences the frequency of neighbor discovery and keepalives, but not the DR election itself.

OSPF DR/BDR Election

The OSPF Designated Router (DR) and Backup Designated Router (BDR) election process on multi-access networks is determined by router priority and then Router ID.

  • Highest OSPF interface priority wins DR election.
  • If priorities are equal, highest Router ID wins.
  • A priority of 0 prevents a router from becoming DR/BDR.

Memory trick: DR's Priority Rules, Router ID Resolves.

More IP Connectivity questions