CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring a floating static route on a Cisco router to provide backup connectivity to a remote network 172.16.0.0/16. The primary route is learned via OSPF. The engineer wants the static route to be used only if the OSPF route is lost. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is setting the administrative distance equal to or lower than the primary route, which would either cause load balancing or make the static route primary, defeating its purpose as a backup.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ip route 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.2 200
A floating static route is a static route with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, so it remains inactive until the primary route is lost. For OSPF with a default distance of 110, the static route must have a distance greater than 110, such as 200. When the OSPF route disappears, the static route is installed and used.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ip route 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.2 200
Why this is correct
A distance of 200 is higher than OSPF's 110, so the static route will not be installed in the routing table as long as the OSPF route exists. If the OSPF route is lost, the static route becomes the best available and is installed. This is the definition of a floating static route, providing backup connectivity.
- ✗
ip route 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.2 110
Why it's wrong here
Setting the administrative distance to 110 makes the static route equal to OSPF's default distance. When distances are equal, the router may load-balance or prefer one based on other factors, but it does not guarantee that the static route is a backup. To ensure the static route is only used when OSPF fails, its distance must be higher than 110.
- ✗
ip route 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.2 255
Why it's wrong here
A distance of 255 is the maximum and indicates an unreachable route. Routes with distance 255 are never installed in the routing table. Therefore, this static route would never be used, even if OSPF fails. The engineer needs a backup route that can be used, so 255 is incorrect.
- ✗
ip route 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.2 90
Why it's wrong here
A distance of 90 is lower than OSPF's 110, so the static route would be preferred over the OSPF route even when OSPF is available. This would make the static route primary, not a backup. The engineer wants the static route to be used only if OSPF fails, so a distance higher than 110 is needed.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
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Key term
Static route
A static route is a manually configured path in a router's routing table that tells the router exactly where to send packets for a specific destination network.
Key term
Administrative distance
Administrative distance is a number that a router uses to decide which routing protocol's route to trust when it learns about the same destination from multiple different routing protocols.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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