This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: a Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A branch router learns a route to 10.20.30.0/24 from OSPF with metric 30 and also has a static route to the same prefix with an administrative distance of 5. Which route will appear in the routing table?
The OSPF route because metric 30 is lower than the static route metric
Why wrong: Distractor.
The static route because its administrative distance is lower
Correct choice.
Both routes with equal preference because they point to the same prefix
Why wrong: Distractor.
Neither route until the router performs a full SPF recalculation
Why wrong: Distractor.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The static route because its administrative distance is lower
The router installs the static route because administrative distance is compared before metric when two different routing sources advertise the same prefix. OSPF metric matters only against other OSPF choices, not against a lower-AD static route.
Key principle: A Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The OSPF route because metric 30 is lower than the static route metric
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question stated that the static route had an administrative distance of 200, the OSPF route would be selected due to its lower administrative distance, making option A correct. This would change the preference dynamics between the routes.
The static route because its administrative distance is lower
Why this is correct
Correct choice.
Related concept
A Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix.
Both routes with equal preference because they point to the same prefix
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question where both OSPF and static routes are configured for ECMP and have the same administrative distance, the routing table could show both routes as valid options for load balancing traffic to the same prefix.
Neither route until the router performs a full SPF recalculation
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a router is configured to only install routes after a full SPF recalculation is completed, such as during a network convergence event, this option could be correct. For example, if the router has just rebooted and is waiting for OSPF to converge, it might not install any routes until the SPF process is complete.
Option-by-option analysis
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
Why this is correct
Correct choice.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because OSPF routes are chosen based on administrative distance first, not metric. The static route has a lower administrative distance (5) compared to the OSPF route (110), making the static route the preferred choice.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question stated that the static route had an administrative distance of 200, the OSPF route would be selected due to its lower administrative distance, making option A correct. This would change the preference dynamics between the routes.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be misled by the metric comparison, mistakenly believing that a lower OSPF metric automatically makes it the preferred route, without considering the critical role of administrative distance in route selection.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because routing tables do not include multiple routes to the same prefix unless they are configured for equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, which is not indicated in this scenario.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question where both OSPF and static routes are configured for ECMP and have the same administrative distance, the routing table could show both routes as valid options for load balancing traffic to the same prefix.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how routing protocols interact, assuming that multiple valid routes can coexist without considering administrative distance and routing table rules.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the router will not wait for a full SPF recalculation to install the static route in the routing table; it will use the static route immediately due to its lower administrative distance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a router is configured to only install routes after a full SPF recalculation is completed, such as during a network convergence event, this option could be correct. For example, if the router has just rebooted and is waiting for OSPF to converge, it might not install any routes until the SPF process is complete.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how routing protocols interact with static routes, believing that OSPF must always recalculate before any routes are used, which is not the case with static routes.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
A common exam trap is to confuse the OSPF metric with administrative distance and assume the route with the lower metric is preferred. Since OSPF’s metric is 30 and the static route’s metric is not applicable or higher, candidates may incorrectly select the OSPF route. However, Cisco routers first compare administrative distance, which is a measure of route trustworthiness across different routing sources. Because the static route has a lower administrative distance (5) than OSPF (110), the static route is preferred and installed in the routing table. Misunderstanding this leads to incorrect route selection and exam errors.
Detailed technical explanation
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router feature that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information received from different routing protocols or sources. Lower AD values indicate more reliable routes, so the router prefers routes with the lowest AD when multiple sources advertise the same destination prefix. Metrics, such as OSPF cost or EIGRP metric, are used to select the best route among multiple routes learned from the same routing protocol but do not influence route selection across different routing protocols. When a router learns a route to the same prefix from multiple sources, it first compares the administrative distance of each route. The route with the lowest AD is installed in the routing table regardless of the metric values associated with the routes. In this question, the static route has an AD of 5, which is lower than OSPF's default AD of 110, so the static route is preferred and installed. The OSPF metric of 30 is irrelevant in this cross-protocol comparison because metrics are only compared among routes learned from the same routing protocol. A common exam trap is confusing metric values with administrative distance and assuming the route with the lower metric always wins. This mistake leads to selecting the OSPF route because its metric (30) is numerically lower than the static route's metric (which is not applicable). In practice, Cisco routers always prioritize administrative distance first, so the static route with AD 5 overrides the OSPF route with AD 110. Understanding this distinction is critical for correct route selection and troubleshooting in Cisco networks.
Key takeaway
A Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Review a Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — A Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix..
The correct answer is: The static route because its administrative distance is lower — The router installs the static route because administrative distance is compared before metric when two different routing sources advertise the same prefix. OSPF metric matters only against other OSPF choices, not against a lower-AD static route.
Review a Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
A Cisco router compares administrative distance before metric when selecting a route from different routing sources for the same prefix.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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