PDF H12-831_V1.0 Study Guide

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

Understanding the BGP Network Topology in the Question:

EBGP Peering & Route Distribution

Each router forms EBGP peer relationships with directly connected neighbors.

BGP learns and propagates routes via EBGP neighbors.

R1 and R4 advertise the static route 192.168.1.0/24 into BGP.

Effect of the aggregate 192.168.1.0/16 detail-suppressed Command on R2

R2 performs BGP route aggregation, summarizing 192.168.1.0/24 into a larger 192.168.1.0/16 route.

The detail-suppressed option hides the more specific 192.168.1.0/24 prefix when advertising routes.

As a result, R2 does not advertise the specific 192.168.1.0/24 route to its neighbors.

Route Selection and Traffic Flow Analysis:

R1 and R4 originate 192.168.1.0/24 and advertise it via BGP.

R2 does not advertise the 192.168.1.0/24 route because of the detail-suppressed command.

R3 cannot learn the specific route from R2, so it must choose an alternative path via R5.

R5 learns 192.168.1.0/24 from R1 and advertises it to R3.

Thus, the best available path for R3 to reach 192.168.1.0/24 is R3 → R5 → R1.

✅ Correct Path: R3 → R5 → R1

Checking Each Option:

✅ Option A: R3 → R5 → R1 (Correct)

R3 learns 192.168.1.0/24 from R5, and R5 forwards traffic to R1, which has the static route.

❌ Option B: R3 → R2 → R1 (Incorrect)

R2 does not advertise 192.168.1.0/24 due to route summarization (detail-suppressed), so R3 cannot use R2 as the next hop.

❌ Option C: R3 → R6 → R5 → R1 (Incorrect)

This is an unnecessary detour.

R3 has a direct EBGP connection with R5, so it will use the shortest path (R3 → R5 → R1) instead of going through R6.

❌ Option D: R3 → R5 → R4 (Incorrect)

R3 prefers the shortest AS path to reach 192.168.1.0/24.

Since R1 and R4 both advertise the route, R3 will prefer the route via R5 to R1 rather than R4.

Final Conclusion:

✅ A. The correct path for traffic from R3 to 192.168.1.0/24 is R3 → R5 → R1.

Thus, the correct answer is: A.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

1. Understanding MPLS Label Switching

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) operates by adding labels to packets to enable fast switching across an MPLS domain.

Labels are swapped at each router (LSR - Label Switch Router) based on the LFIB (Label Forwarding Information Base).

When an MPLS packet reaches a router, it checks the incoming label and swaps it with an outgoing label as per its label forwarding table.

The label value "3" is the implicit null label, which is used for PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping).

2. Analyzing the MPLS Label Flow in the Figure

At PE1: The packet enters the MPLS domain and is labeled with 1033.

At P1: P1 forwards the packet based on label 1033.

At P2:

P2 receives label 1033 and swaps it with label 3 (as per the figure).

Label 3 (implicit null) means that the label is removed before reaching PE2 (PHP - Penultimate Hop Popping).

This ensures that PE2 receives a pure IP packet without an MPLS label.

3. Evaluating Each Answer Option

Option A: "The label value is 3." → Incorrect.

Label 3 (implicit null) is not actually sent to PE2.

Instead, P2 removes the label before sending the packet to PE2.

Option B: "There is no label." → Correct.

Since P2 performs PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping), the label is removed, and PE2 receives only an IP packet.

Option C: "The label value is 1033." → Incorrect.

Label 1033 was used earlier in the MPLS path but was swapped out before reaching PE2.

Option D: "The label values are 3 and 1033." → Incorrect.

Only one label is present at a time.

Label 1033 was swapped for label 3, but label 3 was removed before reaching PE2.

Final Answer:

Answer: B (There is no label).

HCIP-Datacom-Advanced Routing & Switching Technology References:

MPLS Label Forwarding Mechanism

Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP) and Implicit Null Label (3)

MPLS Label Swapping and Label Forwarding Table (LFIB)