CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A network engineer needs a floating static route to back up an OSPF-learned route. Which two configurations are necessary for the static route to remain unused until OSPF fails?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is assuming that lowering the static route's metric makes it preferred, but Cisco routers compare administrative distance before metric when routes originate from different sources.
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
✓
Configure the static route with an administrative distance higher than 110
A floating static route requires an administrative distance higher than OSPF's default of 110 (option A) so that the static route is less preferred and remains inactive while OSPF is available. Additionally, the static route must point to a valid next-hop IP or exit interface (option B); without a valid next-hop, the route cannot be installed in the routing table and would never serve as a backup. Option C is incorrect because Cisco routers compare administrative distance before metric when routes come from different sources, so a lower metric cannot override the AD difference. Option D is wrong because a directly connected route (with no next-hop) would be treated as a connected route, not a static route, and would be preferred over OSPF due to its AD of 0, defeating the purpose of a floating backup.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure the static route with an administrative distance higher than 110
Why this is correct
A floating static route must be less preferred than the OSPF-learned route while OSPF is operational. Since OSPF has an administrative distance of 110, the competing static route should be configured with an AD greater than 110 (e.g., 120), making it a backup that is used only when OSPF disappears. This allows the route to remain in the configuration but not in the routing table during normal OSPF operation.
- ✓
Point the static route toward a valid next-hop or exit interface
Why this is correct
Even a backup static route must be a valid forwarding entry at the moment it is needed. The route has to identify a next-hop IPv4 address, an exit interface, or both, so the router can build a usable RIB entry. If OSPF goes away, the static route can be inserted and used immediately, provided the next-hop is reachable or the interface is up; otherwise, it remains in the configuration but is not installed.
- ✗
Set the static route metric lower than the OSPF cost
Why it's wrong here
This option confuses metric with administrative distance. OSPF cost is a metric used inside the OSPF protocol to select paths, while the metric on a static route is not compared against OSPF cost. Route preference between different protocols is determined solely by administrative distance, and OSPF's AD of 110 will always beat a static route with an AD of 1 or any other value unless the static route's AD is raised above 110. Lowering the static metric therefore cannot make it preferred.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question about route selection within the same routing protocol (e.g., OSPF), where you need a floating static route to be used only when the OSPF-learned route has a higher cost, you would configure the static route with a lower metric than the OSPF cost.
- ✗
Configure the route as directly connected with no next-hop information
Why it's wrong here
A connected route is created automatically when an interface is configured with an IP address; it is not a configurable static route. A static route must specify a valid next-hop, an exit interface, or both to be considered usable. Omitting next-hop information produces an incomplete or invalid configuration that the router cannot use for forwarding, regardless of whether it is intended as a backup.
When this WOULD be correct
This configuration would be correct in a scenario where the engineer wants a static route to be used only when the directly connected interface is up, and no dynamic routing protocol is involved. For example, on a stub router with a single exit interface, a static route pointing out that interface ensures connectivity without needing a next-hop IP.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
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.
✓Configure the static route with an administrative distance higher than 110Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A floating static route must be less preferred than the OSPF-learned route while OSPF is operational. Since OSPF has an administrative distance of 110, the competing static route should be configured with an AD greater than 110 (e.g., 120), making it a backup that is used only when OSPF disappears. This allows the route to remain in the configuration but not in the routing table during normal OSPF operation.
✗Set the static route metric lower than the OSPF costWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
OSPF uses cost as its metric, not administrative distance. A lower static route metric does not affect route preference; OSPF routes are preferred over static routes only if the static route's administrative distance is higher than OSPF's default of 110.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question about route selection within the same routing protocol (e.g., OSPF), where you need a floating static route to be used only when the OSPF-learned route has a higher cost, you would configure the static route with a lower metric than the OSPF cost.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse metric with administrative distance, thinking that a lower metric always makes a route more preferred, not realizing that administrative distance takes precedence over metric when comparing routes from different sources.
✗Configure the route as directly connected with no next-hop informationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A directly connected route with no next-hop information is a static route pointing out an interface, which does not inherently prevent it from being used until OSPF fails; it would still be installed in the routing table if its administrative distance is lower than OSPF's (110). The question requires the static route to remain unused, which is achieved by setting a higher administrative distance, not by omitting next-hop info.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This configuration would be correct in a scenario where the engineer wants a static route to be used only when the directly connected interface is up, and no dynamic routing protocol is involved. For example, on a stub router with a single exit interface, a static route pointing out that interface ensures connectivity without needing a next-hop IP.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that omitting the next-hop makes the route less preferred or only used as a last resort, confusing the concept of directly connected routes with administrative distance. They might also believe that a route without a next-hop is not fully functional until the primary route fails.
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?”
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
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
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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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.