Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
R1# show ip route S 10.90.0.0/16 [1/0] via 192.0.2.2 R 10.90.0.0/16 [120/1] via 192.0.2.6
Based on the exhibit, what is the strongest reason the static route is preferred over the RIP route?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Because the static route has a lower administrative distance for the same prefix.
This is correct because both routes are /16, so source preference is decisive and static wins.
B
Distractor review
Because RIP can never be installed when static routing is configured anywhere.
This is wrong because RIP routes can still exist in the table.
C
Distractor review
Because RIP is valid only for host routes.
This is wrong because RIP can carry broader network routes such as /16s.
D
Distractor review
Because static routes are always more specific than RIP routes.
This is wrong because specificity depends on prefix length, not route source.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is to assume that RIP routes are never installed when static routes exist, or that static routes are always more specific. The question tests understanding that administrative distance, not route existence or prefix length alone, determines route preference when prefixes match. Misreading RIP's capabilities or confusing route specificity with route source can lead to incorrect answers.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
In Cisco routing, when a router learns multiple routes to the same destination prefix, it uses administrative distance (AD) as the primary criterion to select the best route. Administrative distance is a trustworthiness value assigned to routing protocols and static routes; lower values indicate more trusted sources. Static routes have an AD of 1 by default, making them more preferred than RIP routes, which have an AD of 120. Even if both routes have the same prefix length (e.g., /16), the router will choose the static route because it is considered more reliable. Metrics such as hop count in RIP are secondary and only used when comparing routes from the same protocol. This behavior ensures that manually configured static routes override dynamic routes like RIP, providing network administrators control over routing decisions. Understanding this hierarchy is critical for troubleshooting and designing Cisco networks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- administrative distance
- static routing
- RIP routing protocol
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
administrative distance
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Because the static route has a lower administrative distance for the same prefix. — The static route is preferred because both routes describe the same destination prefix and the static route has the lower administrative distance. In practical terms, longest-prefix match does not break the tie because the prefixes are equal. The router then compares source trust, and static routing wins over RIP by default. This is a core route-selection concept and a very exam-relevant comparison.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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