Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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?
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
Distractor review
The static route, because static routes always win
Static routes do not always win; their administrative distance can be changed.
B
Best answer
The OSPF route, because 110 is lower than 150
Correct. OSPF is preferred here because AD 110 is lower than 150.
C
Distractor review
Both routes, because administrative distances are different
Different AD values do not cause both routes to be installed for the same prefix by default.
D
Distractor review
Neither route, because the static route is floating
A floating static route is valid; it simply stays inactive unless the preferred route is lost.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is believing that static routes always override dynamic routes because they are manually configured. This misconception leads to selecting the static route even when its administrative distance is higher. In reality, Cisco routers prefer routes with the lowest administrative distance, so a static route with AD 150 will not override an OSPF route with AD 110. Misunderstanding floating static routes and administrative distance values can cause candidates to choose incorrect answers, especially when static routes have been manually assigned higher AD values for backup purposes.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a key concept in Cisco routing that determines the trustworthiness of a route source. Each routing protocol and route type has a default AD value, which the router uses to select the best path when multiple routes to the same destination exist. Lower AD values indicate more preferred routes. For example, OSPF has a default AD of 110, while static routes have a default AD of 1, but can be manually set higher to create floating static routes. When a router learns multiple routes to the same prefix, it compares their administrative distances and installs only the route with the lowest AD into the routing table. In this scenario, the router has an OSPF route to 198.51.100.0/24 with AD 110 and a static route to the same prefix with AD 150. Since 110 is lower than 150, the OSPF route is installed, and the static route acts as a backup or floating static route, remaining inactive unless the OSPF route fails. A common exam trap is assuming static routes always take precedence because they are manually configured. However, static routes with a higher AD than a dynamic route become floating static routes, which only activate if the preferred route disappears. This behaviour is crucial for redundancy and failover scenarios. Understanding this distinction helps avoid mistakes in route selection questions and practical network design.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
- A router installs only the route with the lowest administrative distance to a given destination prefix into its routing table.
- OSPF routes have a default administrative distance of 110, which is lower than a static route configured with an AD of 150.
- Static routes with a higher administrative distance than dynamic routes act as floating static routes and remain inactive until needed.
- Floating static routes provide backup paths that activate only when the preferred route is unavailable, supporting network redundancy.
- Cisco routers compare administrative distances before considering metrics or other route attributes for route installation.
- Manual adjustment of administrative distance allows network engineers to influence route preference and failover behaviour.
- Understanding administrative distance prevents incorrect assumptions about route priority, especially between static and dynamic routes.
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
Which two statements accurately compare TCP and UDP? (Choose two.)
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The OSPF route, because 110 is lower than 150 — The route with the lower administrative distance is installed. A static route configured with a higher AD becomes a floating static route and remains as a backup until the preferred route disappears.
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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