350-401 Question 142
Single answerA network administrator is tasked with designing a routing strategy for a large enterprise network. The network includes multiple branch offices and a main data center. The administrator must ensure efficient use of bandwidth, fast convergence during topology changes, and scalability to support future growth. Which protocol and feature combination would best meet these requirements?
- A
EIGRP with equal-cost load balancing
- B
EIGRP with unequal-cost load balancing
- C
OSPF with equal-cost load balancing
- D
OSPF with backbone area design
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
For a large enterprise network, OSPF with a backbone area design is the most suitable option. OSPF is a link-state protocol that uses a hierarchical structure with areas, which improves scalability and simplifies routing. The backbone area (Area 0) ensures that inter-area routing is efficient. Additionally, OSPF supports equal-cost load balancing, which helps in optimizing bandwidth usage. While EIGRP offers features like unequal-cost load balancing, it lacks the scalability and hierarchical approach of OSPF, making OSPF a better fit for this scenario.
- A. Incorrect.
EIGRP with equal-cost load balancing is efficient in utilizing available paths, but it does not provide the scalability and hierarchical design of OSPF, which is critical for large networks.
- B. Incorrect.
EIGRP with unequal-cost load balancing allows better utilization of backup links, but it is not as scalable as OSPF for a large enterprise network due to EIGRP's reliance on a flat topology.
- C. Incorrect.
OSPF with equal-cost load balancing is effective in distributing traffic across multiple paths and supports scalability. However, without a hierarchical design (areas), it may not efficiently support very large networks.
- D. Correct.
OSPF with backbone area design is the best choice for large enterprise networks. It ensures scalability through its hierarchical area structure, supports fast convergence, and allows efficient bandwidth usage through equal-cost load balancing.