Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What does the command #clear ip ospf process do aside from forcing a DR election?

1. It clears the OSPF routing table

2. It restarts OSPF process on the router

3. It shows OSPF debug information

4. It resets the router ID

The correct answer is: It restarts OSPF process on the router

The command #clear ip ospf process is used to restart the OSPF process on the router. When this command is executed, it effectively clears the existing OSPF process, causing the router to reinitialize its OSPF routing process. This action can resolve issues related to OSPF, such as adjacency problems, incorrect routing behavior, or any discrepancies in OSPF routes. By restarting the process, the router re-establishes its OSPF neighbors and begins the process of rediscovering network topology. As a result of this restart, any existing OSPF neighbors are dropped, and a new OSPF neighbor discovery process begins, resulting in a new Designated Router (DR) election. While this might affect the OSPF routing table temporarily, the primary function of this command is to restart the router's OSPF protocols and processes. In contrast, clearing the OSPF routing table, showing debug information, or resetting the router ID are not specific actions performed by this command. Each of these actions serves different purposes within the context of OSPF functionality and network management. This is why the identification of the command's role as a means to restart the OSPF process reflects its primary function accurately.