Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) Practice Exam

The command "show ip cef" displays the Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) information, which includes the CEF tables. CEF is a high-performance packet forwarding mechanism utilized in Cisco routers and switches to optimize the process of moving packets through the network. By employing CEF, devices can manage the forwarding of packets at Layer 3 efficiently.

When you issue the "show ip cef" command, you will see information about the CEF tables, including the various routes and their associated next-hop information. This allows network professionals to troubleshoot or verify routing behaviors and the state of the forwarding table, ensuring that packets are being directed appropriately based on the current network topology.

Understanding CEF is crucial for effective network management, as it enhances speed and efficiency in packet forwarding compared to traditional methods. This command is vital for network engineers when analyzing and optimizing traffic flow within an enterprise network.