CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A static route is configured as 198.51.100.0/24 via 192.0.2.9, but the connected network to the next hop goes down. What happens to the static route in the routing table?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember that static routes are removed if the next hop is unreachable, unlike dynamic routes that may have additional states.
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
✓
It is removed because the recursive next hop is no longer reachable.
If the outgoing interface or connected path to the next hop becomes unreachable, the router cannot resolve the recursive next hop and the route is removed from the table.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It remains permanently because static routes never disappear.
Why it's wrong here
While a static route configuration remains in the running-config and is not deleted unless an administrator removes it, the route itself may be purged from the routing table if its next hop becomes unreachable. Cisco IOS performs recursive lookup, and if the next hop cannot be resolved, the route is marked invalid and is not used for packet forwarding. Thus static routes can effectively disappear from the routing table even though the configuration persists.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question, if it asked whether static routes are permanently stored in the routing table regardless of the state of the next hop, option A would be correct. This would imply a scenario where the static route is not affected by the operational status of the next hop.
- ✓
It is removed because the recursive next hop is no longer reachable.
Why this is correct
In Cisco IOS, a static route with a recursive next-hop requires that the next-hop IP address be resolvable through another route before it can be installed in the RIB. When the recursive lookup fails because 192.0.2.9 is no longer reachable, the router removes the static route from the routing table, though the configuration remains. This is why the route disappears from forwarding decisions.
- ✗
It changes automatically into a default route.
Why it's wrong here
A default route is a catch-all entry with prefix 0.0.0.0/0, whereas the configured static route points to the specific subnet 198.51.100.0/24. Routers do not automatically alter the prefix length or destination of a static route in response to topology changes; doing so would require explicit configuration. Therefore, this route cannot transform itself into a default route under any condition.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if a static route was configured with a specific destination and the administrator later decided to change the route to a default route (0.0.0.0/0) for all traffic, this option could be correct if the question asked about the outcome of that specific configuration change.
- ✗
It becomes an OSPF external route.
Why it's wrong here
A static route is an independent control-plane entry; it does not automatically become an OSPF route unless it is explicitly redistributed into the OSPF process using commands such as redistribute static. Without that configuration, OSPF is unaware of the static route, and no external LSA (Type 5) is generated. The presence of OSPF on the router does not cause static routes to be reclassified.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question stated that a static route was configured and the router was running OSPF with a redistribution policy that converts static routes into OSPF external routes, then this option could be correct when the static route is redistributed into OSPF.
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.
✓It is removed because the recursive next hop is no longer reachable.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
In Cisco IOS, a static route with a recursive next-hop requires that the next-hop IP address be resolvable through another route before it can be installed in the RIB. When the recursive lookup fails because 192.0.2.9 is no longer reachable, the router removes the static route from the routing table, though the configuration remains. This is why the route disappears from forwarding decisions.
✗It remains permanently because static routes never disappear.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Static routes are not permanent; they are removed from the routing table if the next-hop interface goes down or the next-hop IP becomes unreachable, because the route is no longer valid.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if it asked whether static routes are permanently stored in the routing table regardless of the state of the next hop, option A would be correct. This would imply a scenario where the static route is not affected by the operational status of the next hop.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think static routes are always present once configured, but they forget that the router must be able to reach the next hop for the route to be active.
✗It changes automatically into a default route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A static route does not automatically change into a default route; default routes are explicitly configured (e.g., ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 next-hop) and are not derived from other static routes.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if a static route was configured with a specific destination and the administrator later decided to change the route to a default route (0.0.0.0/0) for all traffic, this option could be correct if the question asked about the outcome of that specific configuration change.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse the behavior of floating static routes or think that a route can 'default' when its next hop fails, but that is incorrect.
✗It becomes an OSPF external route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A static route does not become an OSPF external route automatically; OSPF routes are learned through the OSPF protocol, and a static route remains static unless redistributed into OSPF via configuration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question stated that a static route was configured and the router was running OSPF with a redistribution policy that converts static routes into OSPF external routes, then this option could be correct when the static route is redistributed into OSPF.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that when a static route fails, the router might fall back to a dynamic routing protocol like OSPF, but that is not automatic.
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
Next hop
A next hop is the next immediate router or device that a packet is sent to on its path from source to destination.
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.