CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A router shows the following routing table entries for the same destination:
O 10.10.50.0/24 [110/20] via 192.168.12.2, GigabitEthernet0/0 D 10.10.50.0/24 [90/30720] via 192.168.13.2, GigabitEthernet0/1
Which route will become the active route in the routing table?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid comparing metric values directly between different protocols; focus on administrative distance first.
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
✓
The EIGRP route, because its administrative distance is lower
The EIGRP route becomes active because the router compares administrative distance first when the same destination is learned from different routing protocols. This is one of the most common Cisco exam traps: candidates compare the OSPF metric value of 20 to the EIGRP metric value and assume the smaller number must win. That is not how route selection works across different protocols. OSPF metrics and EIGRP metrics are calculated differently, so the router does not compare them directly. Instead it checks administrative distance. EIGRP internal routes default to 90, while OSPF routes default to 110. Since 90 is lower than 110, the EIGRP route is trusted more and is installed as the active path.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The OSPF route, because its metric is lower
Why it's wrong here
This is the classic wrong answer because the OSPF metric looks smaller. The mistake is treating metric values from different protocols as if they mean the same thing. They do not. The router first compares administrative distance when choosing between route sources such as OSPF and EIGRP, and only then uses metrics within a single protocol's own logic.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance, but the OSPF route has a lower metric than the EIGRP route, the question could ask which route would be preferred based on metric alone. In that case, the OSPF route would indeed be the correct answer.
- ✓
The EIGRP route, because its administrative distance is lower
Why this is correct
EIGRP is selected because Cisco routers use administrative distance (AD) as the primary trust metric when multiple routing protocols propose the same prefix. The default AD for EIGRP internal routes is 90, while OSPF's default AD is 110; the lower AD wins, so the EIGRP route is installed in the routing table. The metric values from different protocols are never compared against each other—the router first chooses the protocol with the best AD, and only then uses that protocol's metric for path selection. Therefore, even though OSPF may report a numerically smaller cost, EIGRP's lower AD takes precedence.
- ✗
Both routes, because the prefixes are identical
Why it's wrong here
Routers do not automatically install both routes just because the prefix is identical. When the entries come from different routing protocols, the router chooses the source with the best administrative distance first. Only after that, and usually within the same protocol, do equal-cost load-balancing rules come into play.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question where the routing table entries for the same destination were configured to allow for equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, both routes could be active. For example, if the question specified that the routing protocol supports ECMP, then this option would be correct.
- ✗
Neither route, because the metrics use different scales
Why it's wrong here
It is true that the metrics use different scales, but that does not mean the router rejects both routes. Cisco routers solve that comparison problem by using administrative distance first. In this case they still choose one route, and it is the EIGRP route.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question specifies that the metrics of the routing protocols are not comparable, such as when using different protocols that do not interact or when metrics are based on different criteria. For example, if the question stated that both routes were from different routing protocols with incompatible metrics, then neither would be selected.
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.
✓The EIGRP route, because its administrative distance is lowerCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
EIGRP is selected because Cisco routers use administrative distance (AD) as the primary trust metric when multiple routing protocols propose the same prefix. The default AD for EIGRP internal routes is 90, while OSPF's default AD is 110; the lower AD wins, so the EIGRP route is installed in the routing table. The metric values from different protocols are never compared against each other—the router first chooses the protocol with the best AD, and only then uses that protocol's metric for path selection. Therefore, even though OSPF may report a numerically smaller cost, EIGRP's lower AD takes precedence.
✗The OSPF route, because its metric is lowerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the active route is determined by the administrative distance, not the metric. In this case, the EIGRP route has a lower administrative distance than the OSPF route, making it the active route.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance, but the OSPF route has a lower metric than the EIGRP route, the question could ask which route would be preferred based on metric alone. In that case, the OSPF route would indeed be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by this option due to a common misconception that lower metrics always take precedence, leading them to overlook the importance of administrative distance in route selection.
✗Both routes, because the prefixes are identicalWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because only one route can be active for a given destination in a routing table, and having identical prefixes does not mean both routes can be active simultaneously. The router will select the route with the lower administrative distance, which is not addressed here.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question where the routing table entries for the same destination were configured to allow for equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, both routes could be active. For example, if the question specified that the routing protocol supports ECMP, then this option would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might recall that multiple routes can exist for the same destination, leading to confusion about the conditions under which they can be simultaneously active.
✗Neither route, because the metrics use different scalesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because both routes are valid, and the router will select the route with the lower administrative distance, not the metric. The administrative distance of the EIGRP route is lower than that of the OSPF route, making it the active route.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question specifies that the metrics of the routing protocols are not comparable, such as when using different protocols that do not interact or when metrics are based on different criteria. For example, if the question stated that both routes were from different routing protocols with incompatible metrics, then neither would be selected.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might confuse the concept of metrics with administrative distance, thinking that different metrics automatically disqualify routes from being active.
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
Interpreting HSRP and VRRP Operational Status
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.
Key term
Metric
A metric is a quantifiable measurement used to assess the performance, health, or status of IT systems, networks, or applications.
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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.