The answer is to configure a static route with a higher administrative distance than OSPF. This technique, known as a floating static route, works because administrative distance (AD) is the trustworthiness metric Cisco routers use to choose between routes from different sources; OSPF has a default AD of 110, so setting the static route’s AD to, say, 120 ensures it remains inactive in the routing table as long as the OSPF route exists. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this tests your understanding of how AD controls route selection and backup path design—a common trap is thinking a static route always overrides dynamic routes, but the floating static route flips that logic by intentionally making the static route less preferred. The key memory tip: “Float it higher to keep it in the drawer”—a higher AD floats the static route out of the active table until the dynamic route sinks, making it a perfect failover.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An engineer wants a static route to be used only if the OSPF route to the same network disappears. What should be configured?
Key principle: Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing 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.
✗
A static route with lower administrative distance than OSPF
Why it's wrong here
A lower AD would make the static route preferred all the time.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question asks for a static route that should always be preferred over OSPF routes for a specific network, configuring a static route with a lower administrative distance would be correct to ensure it is used preferentially.
✓
A static route with higher administrative distance than OSPF
Why this is correct
Correct. Higher-AD static routes provide backup behavior.
Related concept
Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table.
✗
A second OSPF route with a lower metric
Why it's wrong here
That would not create a static fallback route.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks for a method to ensure that a specific OSPF route is preferred for traffic, while a static route should only be used if the OSPF route fails, this option would be correct if the static route had a lower metric than the existing OSPF route.
✗
A default route with no next hop
Why it's wrong here
A default route does not specifically solve the backup-to-this-prefix requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
If a question asked for a route that should be used for all traffic when no specific routes exist, a default route with no next hop could be correct. For example, in a scenario where a network is designed to send all unmatched traffic to a single exit point without needing to specify a next hop.
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.
✓A static route with higher administrative distance than OSPFCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Higher-AD static routes provide backup behavior.
✗A static route with lower administrative distance than OSPFWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because a static route with a lower administrative distance than OSPF would take precedence over OSPF routes, making it active even when OSPF is available, contrary to the requirement of using the static route only when the OSPF route is unavailable.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question asks for a static route that should always be preferred over OSPF routes for a specific network, configuring a static route with a lower administrative distance would be correct to ensure it is used preferentially.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose this option because they understand that lower administrative distances indicate higher preference, leading them to mistakenly believe that this would ensure the static route is used when OSPF is down.
✗A second OSPF route with a lower metricWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because a second OSPF route with a lower metric would not serve as a backup to the existing OSPF route; instead, it would be preferred over the static route, which contradicts the requirement for the static route to be used only if the OSPF route disappears.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks for a method to ensure that a specific OSPF route is preferred for traffic, while a static route should only be used if the OSPF route fails, this option would be correct if the static route had a lower metric than the existing OSPF route.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they may misinterpret the question as seeking a way to enhance routing redundancy, thinking that adding another OSPF route would provide a backup solution.
✗A default route with no next hopWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A default route with no next hop would not serve as a backup for an OSPF route because it lacks specificity and cannot direct traffic to a specific network. It would be ineffective in scenarios where a specific static route is needed when OSPF fails.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If a question asked for a route that should be used for all traffic when no specific routes exist, a default route with no next hop could be correct. For example, in a scenario where a network is designed to send all unmatched traffic to a single exit point without needing to specify a next hop.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because it seems like a catch-all solution for routing, especially if they misunderstand the need for specificity in routing tables and the role of default routes.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Remember, administrative distance determines route preference across different protocols, not metrics.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a key concept in Cisco routing that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information sources. Each routing protocol and static route has a default AD value; for example, OSPF has an AD of 110, while static routes default to 1. The router installs the route with the lowest AD into the routing table, ensuring the most reliable path is used for forwarding traffic. This mechanism prevents routing loops and conflicts between multiple routing sources.
When an engineer wants a static route to serve only as a backup to an OSPF-learned route, they configure a floating static route by assigning it an AD higher than OSPF's 110. This means the static route will not be installed in the routing table as long as the OSPF route exists. If the OSPF route disappears due to a link failure or topology change, the router then installs the floating static route, providing immediate backup connectivity without waiting for routing protocol reconvergence.
A common exam trap is misunderstanding the role of administrative distance in route selection. Many candidates incorrectly assume that a static route with a lower AD than OSPF will act as a backup, but it will actually override the OSPF route and always be preferred. The practical behavior of floating static routes ensures network stability by only activating backup routes when necessary, avoiding routing conflicts and ensuring seamless failover in Cisco environments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table.
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than a dynamic routing protocol route to act as a backup route.
OSPF uses an administrative distance of 110 by default, so a static route with an AD higher than 110 will only be used if the OSPF route disappears.
Routing protocols like OSPF dynamically learn routes and update the routing table based on network topology changes.
Static routes have a default administrative distance of 1, which makes them preferred over OSPF routes unless the AD is manually increased.
Cisco routers install the route with the lowest administrative distance into the routing table, ignoring routes with higher AD unless the preferred route fails.
Configuring a static route with a higher AD than OSPF creates a floating static route that remains inactive until the OSPF route is lost.
Backup routes using floating static routes improve network resilience by providing immediate alternative paths without routing protocol convergence delays.
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.
Key takeaway
Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A static route with higher administrative distance than OSPF — A floating static route is given a higher administrative distance than the preferred dynamic route so it stays out of the routing table unless the dynamic route is lost.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Administrative distance (AD) determines the trustworthiness of a routing source, with lower AD values preferred over higher ones in the routing table.
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