CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which of the following is a disadvantage of dynamic routing?

1. Requires manual route updates

2. Less scalable than static routing

3. Increased router overhead

4. No protocol overhead

The correct answer is: Increased router overhead

Dynamic routing protocols automatically adjust to changes in the network by discovering new routes and updating routing tables without the need for manual intervention. While this adaptability is beneficial, it comes with the disadvantage of increased overhead on the routers involved. This overhead arises from the need to periodically exchange routing information and process updates, which consumes bandwidth and router resources, possibly impacting overall network performance. In contrast to manual updates required in static routing, dynamic routing eliminates the need for hands-on management but at the cost of greater resource utilization. Additionally, while dynamic routing is generally more scalable than static routing due to its ability to adapt to larger and more complex networks, the increased workload imposed on the routers is a significant drawback. The reference to "no protocol overhead" does not accurately describe dynamic routing, as the protocols inherently include mechanisms for updates and maintenance of routing tables, thereby contributing to the increased overhead.