CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which term describes the trustworthiness associated with routing in networking?

1. Routing distance

2. Administrative distance

3. Routing preference

4. Protocol trust

The correct answer is: Administrative distance

The term that describes the trustworthiness associated with routing in networking is administrative distance. Administrative distance is a metric used by routers to determine which routing information to trust when there are multiple routes to the same destination from different routing sources. Each routing protocol has a preset administrative distance value, which reflects its reliability or preference. For instance, a direct connection (like a connected network) has an administrative distance of 0, while protocols like OSPF or EIGRP have higher values, indicating that they are less preferable compared to directly connected routes. This concept is crucial for ensuring that routers make optimal decisions based on the reliability of the routing information received. When faced with competing routes, a router will select the path with the lowest administrative distance, effectively prioritizing the most trustworthy route provided to it. This mechanism helps enhance network performance and maintain stability by choosing the best paths available.