Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

How many feasible successor paths can EIGRP store in its topology table?

1. 2

2. 4

3. 6

4. 8

The correct answer is: 6

EIGRP can store multiple feasible successor paths in its topology table, allowing for efficient load balancing and quick convergence in the event of a primary path failure. Specifically, EIGRP allows for the storage of up to 16 feasible successors. However, only the feasible successors that meet the condition of being lower than the feasible distance make it into the topology table. In practice, while network designers might configure EIGRP to take advantage of multiple paths for optimal performance, the default behavior is to preferentially use one primary path and hold several backup paths, increasing redundancy and availability. Thus, knowing how many feasible successors EIGRP can manage is crucial for understanding its capacity for handling network topologies effectively. The answer indicating six feasible successors suggests a common misunderstanding. In EIGRP, it's important to remember that although multiple successors are supported, the term "feasible successors" usually relates to those that fall within the constraints of metrics and bandwidth. Therefore, while the topology table theoretically can hold many paths, the specific answer to how many feasible successors can be considered is important for optimizing routing decisions in network environments effectively.