CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A router has a static default route with administrative distance 250 and also learns a default route through OSPF. What is the main design purpose of the static default route?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is assuming that a static default route with a high administrative distance will override the OSPF default route immediately. Candidates might think the static route takes precedence because it is manually configured, but in reality, the administrative distance value controls route preference. Since 250 is much higher than OSPF’s 110, the static route remains inactive while OSPF’s route is available. This misunderstanding can lead to incorrect answers about route selection and failover behavior in Cisco routing exams.
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
✓
To serve as a backup default route if the OSPF default is lost.
The main purpose is to act as a backup route of last resort if the OSPF-learned default route disappears. In practical terms, the very high administrative distance keeps the static default out of the active table while the OSPF default is available. It remains in reserve only for failure conditions. This is a classic floating-static-default design. It provides resilience without replacing the primary dynamic 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.
- ✓
To serve as a backup default route if the OSPF default is lost.
Why this is correct
This is a classic floating static route configuration. By setting the administrative distance to 250, the static default route is less preferred than the OSPF default (AD 110), so it remains in the background. If OSPF fails and its default route is withdrawn from the routing table, the router then installs the static backup, ensuring continued default connectivity.
- ✗
To override the OSPF default route immediately.
Why it's wrong here
OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110, which is much lower than the static route's 250. Since the router prefers the lowest AD, the OSPF default route is installed and used immediately, not the static one. The static route with a higher AD will only be considered if the OSPF route is removed or lost, so it definitely does not override OSPF right away.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a static default route has an administrative distance lower than that of OSPF, a question might ask about the purpose of the static route in a network where immediate route preference is required. In that case, the static route would indeed override the OSPF default route.
- ✗
To make the router ignore all default routes.
Why it's wrong here
A higher administrative distance makes a route less preferred, but it does not filter or suppress all default route usage. The static default route is still present in the configuration and can be placed into the routing table if no better default route exists. The router will still install and use the best available default route based on AD, so it does not ignore default routes entirely.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question scenario where a router is configured to ignore all dynamic routes and only use static routes, a static default route with an administrative distance of 250 could be used to signify that no default routes should be accepted, effectively ignoring them.
- ✗
To turn the default route into a host route.
Why it's wrong here
Administrative distance is a value used to choose between multiple routes to the same destination network, not a mechanism for modifying the prefix length. A host route is a /32 mask that identifies a single IP address, while a default route is 0.0.0.0/0. Setting AD to 250 leaves the default route as 0.0.0.0/0, so it cannot turn it into a host route.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question where the context involves configuring a router to explicitly define a route to a specific host IP address, a static route could be described as turning a default route into a host route if the default route is redefined to point to a specific host rather than a network.
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.
✓To serve as a backup default route if the OSPF default is lost.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is a classic floating static route configuration. By setting the administrative distance to 250, the static default route is less preferred than the OSPF default (AD 110), so it remains in the background. If OSPF fails and its default route is withdrawn from the routing table, the router then installs the static backup, ensuring continued default connectivity.
✗To override the OSPF default route immediately.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A static default route with administrative distance 250 has a higher (less preferred) distance than OSPF (default AD 110), so it will not override the OSPF route. The OSPF route remains in the routing table as long as it is valid.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a static default route has an administrative distance lower than that of OSPF, a question might ask about the purpose of the static route in a network where immediate route preference is required. In that case, the static route would indeed override the OSPF default route.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse administrative distance with metric or assume that a static route always takes precedence over dynamic routes, forgetting that a higher AD means lower preference.
✗To make the router ignore all default routes.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The router does not ignore all default routes; it still uses the OSPF-learned default route (AD 110) as the primary path. The static default route is simply not installed in the routing table while the OSPF route exists.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question scenario where a router is configured to ignore all dynamic routes and only use static routes, a static default route with an administrative distance of 250 could be used to signify that no default routes should be accepted, effectively ignoring them.
Why candidates choose this
A test-taker might think that a high AD causes the route to be ignored entirely, but in reality, the route is present in the configuration and becomes active only when the preferred route is removed.
✗To turn the default route into a host route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Administrative distance does not affect the prefix length or type of route; it only influences route preference. A default route (0.0.0.0/0) remains a default route regardless of its AD.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question where the context involves configuring a router to explicitly define a route to a specific host IP address, a static route could be described as turning a default route into a host route if the default route is redefined to point to a specific host rather than a network.
Why candidates choose this
Some students may mistakenly believe that changing AD can alter the subnet mask or convert a network route into a host route, which is incorrect.
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
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
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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.