CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
An engineer wants a static route to be used only if the OSPF route to the same network disappears. What should be configured?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember, administrative distance determines route preference across different protocols, not metrics.
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
✓
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.
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
Setting a static route's administrative distance lower than OSPF's default of 110 makes it the preferred path whenever it exists in the routing table. As a result, the router would use the static route all the time, not just as a fallback, because lower AD always wins. This contradicts the requirement that the static route be used only when the OSPF route is unavailable, so this configuration is incorrect.
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
Configuring a static route with an administrative distance (AD) higher than OSPF's default AD (110) ensures it is less preferred by the router. Routers always prioritise routes with lower ADs when multiple paths to the same destination exist. This setup precisely satisfies the requirement for the static route to be used *only if* the OSPF route, which normally has a lower AD and is thus preferred, becomes unavailable in the routing table.
- ✗
A second OSPF route with a lower metric
Why it's wrong here
Adding a second OSPF route with a lower metric merely makes that OSPF route the best path within the OSPF process; it does not introduce a static fallback at all. OSPF uses metric (cost) to compare routes within the same protocol, and if OSPF goes down, all OSPF routes, including the lower-metric one, are removed. The requirement explicitly asks for a static route that serves only as a backup, so this option fails to provide any fallback mechanism.
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 with no next hop is not a valid installable route, because every route in the routing table requires a next hop or egress interface to forward packets. Even if a default route were correctly configured, it would only be used for traffic to unknown destinations, not as a targeted backup for the specific prefix learned via OSPF. Therefore, it cannot satisfy the requirement of backing up that particular OSPF route using a static route.
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
Configuring a static route with an administrative distance (AD) higher than OSPF's default AD (110) ensures it is less preferred by the router. Routers always prioritise routes with lower ADs when multiple paths to the same destination exist. This setup precisely satisfies the requirement for the static route to be used *only if* the OSPF route, which normally has a lower AD and is thus preferred, becomes unavailable in the routing table.
✗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?”
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
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the SPF algorithm to compute the shortest path to each destination within a single autonomous system.
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.
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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.