Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

How can you influence OSPF path selection or the DR/BDR election process?

1. By changing the OSPF process ID

2. By changing the area ID

3. By changing the OSPF priority

4. By adjusting the hello and dead timers

The correct answer is: By changing the OSPF priority

Changing the OSPF priority directly influences the Designated Router (DR) and Backup Designated Router (BDR) election process. In OSPF, routers within the same broadcast domain use the priority value configured on each interface to determine which router will become the DR or BDR. Higher priority values are preferred during this election process, meaning that a router with a higher priority is more likely to be selected as the DR or BDR. If all routers have the same priority (the default is 1), the router with the highest router ID is selected as the DR. Therefore, by adjusting the OSPF priority, network administrators can strategically select which router they want to take on these vital roles to optimize network performance and reduce routing instability.