Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
Exhibit
S* 0.0.0.0/0 via 203.0.113.1 O 192.168.50.0/24 [110/20] via 10.10.10.2
A route table shows both a default route and a more specific route to 192.168.50.0/24. Which two statements describe how packets destined for 192.168.50.25 are handled?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
The router prefers the 192.168.50.0/24 route because it is the longest prefix match
Longest prefix match decides forwarding when multiple routes match a destination.
B
Best answer
The default route is used only when no more-specific route matches
The default route is the catch-all fallback.
C
Distractor review
Administrative distance is compared before prefix length for forwarding decisions
Forwarding first relies on the most specific matching prefix present in the table.
D
Distractor review
The packet is load-balanced across both routes automatically
A default and a more-specific route are not treated as equal-cost forwarding entries.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that administrative distance is compared before prefix length when selecting a route. Candidates might think that if the default route has a better administrative distance, it will be chosen over a more specific route. However, Cisco routers always apply the longest prefix match rule first, selecting the most specific route regardless of administrative distance. Administrative distance only comes into play when multiple routes have the same prefix length. Misunderstanding this can lead to incorrect answers about how packets are forwarded, especially when both default and specific routes exist in the routing table.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Routing tables in Cisco devices use the longest prefix match rule to determine the best path for forwarding packets. When multiple routes match a destination IP address, the router selects the route with the most specific subnet mask, meaning the route with the longest prefix length. For example, a route to 192.168.50.0/24 is more specific than a default route 0.0.0.0/0 because /24 covers a smaller, more precise range of IP addresses. The forwarding decision process first identifies all routes that match the destination IP address. Among these, the route with the longest prefix is preferred regardless of administrative distance or metric at this stage. Only if multiple routes have the same prefix length does the router compare administrative distance and metrics to select the best path. Therefore, packets destined for 192.168.50.25 will use the 192.168.50.0/24 route instead of the default route because it is a more specific match. A common exam trap is misunderstanding the role of administrative distance and prefix length in route selection. Many candidates incorrectly believe administrative distance is always compared first, but Cisco routers prioritize longest prefix match before considering administrative distance. Practically, this means a more specific route always overrides a default route, preventing packets from being sent to a less optimal path. This behavior ensures efficient routing and prevents unnecessary use of fallback routes when a precise match exists.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cisco routers use longest prefix match to select the best route when multiple routes match a destination IP address.
- A route with a more specific subnet mask (longer prefix) is preferred over a less specific route such as a default route.
- The default route (0.0.0.0/0) is only used when no other more specific route matches the destination IP address.
- Administrative distance is compared only when multiple routes have the same prefix length to determine the best path.
- Routing tables do not load-balance traffic between a default route and a more specific route because they are not equal-cost routes.
- Longest prefix match ensures packets are forwarded along the most precise path available in the routing table.
- Misunderstanding the order of route selection criteria can lead to incorrect assumptions about packet forwarding behavior.
- Cisco routing behavior prioritizes prefix length over administrative distance to optimize routing efficiency and accuracy.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Cisco routers use longest prefix match to select the best route when multiple routes match a destination IP address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The router prefers the 192.168.50.0/24 route because it is the longest prefix match — Once routes are installed, packet forwarding follows longest prefix match. The /24 route is more specific than the default route, so traffic to 192.168.50.25 uses the /24 entry.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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