Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CCNA Practice Questions and Study Guide

EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) allows a maximum of 100 hops by default when calculating the metric for route selection. This default limit is significant because it defines the number of intermediary devices or routers that a packet can traverse in an EIGRP-enabled network before it is considered unreachable.

EIGRP uses a composite metric that incorporates bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability, which makes it capable of efficiently handling routing within both small and large networks. The maximum hop count of 100 is designed to ensure that EIGRP can function effectively in extensive networks while also maintaining efficiency and performance.

While other routing protocols may allow different hop counts, the specific limit of 100 for EIGRP is an important design choice that balances scalability with practical usability. Thus, understanding this default maximum hop count is crucial for network design and troubleshooting within environments utilizing EIGRP.