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: a floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails.. 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.
Exhibit
Current state:
O*E2 0.0.0.0/0 [110/1] via 192.0.2.2
Configured backup:
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 198.51.100.2 250
Primary route is then removed or lost.
Based on the exhibit, which command is the best next step to verify whether the floating static route becomes active after the primary route is lost?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Current state:
O*E2 0.0.0.0/0 [110/1] via 192.0.2.2
Configured backup:
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 198.51.100.2 250
Primary route is then removed or lost.
A
show ip route
This is correct because it directly shows whether the backup default route has been installed after the primary route disappears.
B
show vlan brief
Why wrong: This is wrong because VLAN output does not verify default-route failover.
C
show spanning-tree
Why wrong: This is wrong because STP output is unrelated to route failover verification.
D
show power inline
Why wrong: This is wrong because inline power output has nothing to do with routing-table state.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show ip route
The best next step is to examine the routing table directly after removing or losing the primary route. In practical terms, the purpose of a floating static route is to appear when the better route disappears. The clearest way to verify that behavior is to inspect the route table for the default route after the failure condition.
This is a simulation-style verification question. It is not asking how to configure the route, but how to confirm failover actually happened.
This is wrong because VLAN output does not verify default-route failover.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question scenario where the focus is on VLAN configurations, such as verifying the operational status of VLANs on a switch after a network change, 'show vlan brief' would be the correct command to use to ensure that all VLANs are up and functioning as expected.
✗
show spanning-tree
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because STP output is unrelated to route failover verification.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were focused on verifying the status of a network topology and ensuring there are no loops or issues in the spanning tree, then 'show spanning-tree' would be the correct command to use. For example, a question might ask about troubleshooting connectivity issues in a switched network environment.
✗
show power inline
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because inline power output has nothing to do with routing-table state.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked about verifying the power status of devices connected to PoE ports after a network outage, 'show power inline' would be the correct command to check if the devices are receiving power.
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.
✓show ip routeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because it directly shows whether the backup default route has been installed after the primary route disappears.
✗show vlan briefWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'show vlan brief' command displays VLAN membership and status on switch ports, which is unrelated to routing table entries or default route failover. It does not provide any information about static routes or their activation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question scenario where the focus is on VLAN configurations, such as verifying the operational status of VLANs on a switch after a network change, 'show vlan brief' would be the correct command to use to ensure that all VLANs are up and functioning as expected.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse VLAN configuration with routing, especially in a switched environment, or think that VLAN information is relevant to verifying connectivity after a link failure.
✗show spanning-treeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'show spanning-tree' command displays Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) status, which is used to prevent loops in Layer 2 networks. It does not show routing table entries or the status of static routes, so it cannot verify floating static route activation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were focused on verifying the status of a network topology and ensuring there are no loops or issues in the spanning tree, then 'show spanning-tree' would be the correct command to use. For example, a question might ask about troubleshooting connectivity issues in a switched network environment.
Why candidates choose this
Students may associate STP with redundancy and failover, mistakenly thinking it can verify route failover, or they may confuse Layer 2 loop prevention with Layer 3 path redundancy.
✗show power inlineWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'show power inline' command displays Power over Ethernet (PoE) status for connected devices, which is completely unrelated to routing or the routing table. It cannot verify whether a floating static route has become active.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked about verifying the power status of devices connected to PoE ports after a network outage, 'show power inline' would be the correct command to check if the devices are receiving power.
Why candidates choose this
Students might be tempted by the word 'inline' or think that power status could indicate link status, but it has no bearing on routing protocol or static route activation.
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
A common exam trap is selecting commands unrelated to routing table verification, such as "show vlan brief" or "show spanning-tree." These commands provide information about VLAN configurations or Spanning Tree Protocol status but do not show whether a floating static route has become active. Candidates may mistakenly think these outputs indicate network failover status, but only the routing table output confirms if the backup route is installed after the primary route fails. Misunderstanding the purpose of these commands leads to incorrect answers.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is wrong because VLAN output does not verify default-route failover.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Floating static routes are backup routes configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, ensuring they are only used when the primary route fails. They provide a manual failover mechanism by remaining inactive in the routing table until the preferred route disappears, at which point the floating static route becomes active and is installed in the routing table.
To verify whether a floating static route has become active, the most direct method is to inspect the routing table using the "show ip route" command. This command displays all routes currently installed, including any floating static routes that have taken over due to the loss of the primary route. Other commands like "show vlan brief" or "show spanning-tree" do not provide routing table information and thus cannot confirm route failover.
A common exam trap is confusing commands related to other network functions, such as VLAN or STP status, with routing verification. While these commands are important for other network tasks, they do not indicate whether a floating static route has been activated. Practically, network engineers rely on the routing table output to confirm failover behavior, making "show ip route" the definitive verification step.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails.
The routing table only installs the floating static route when the preferred route is no longer available.
The "show ip route" command displays all active routes, including any floating static routes currently in use.
Commands like "show vlan brief" and "show spanning-tree" do not provide routing table or route failover information.
Verifying route failover requires inspecting the routing table to confirm the backup route has replaced the primary route.
Administrative distance determines route preference, with lower values preferred over higher values in the routing table.
Floating static routes provide a simple manual failover mechanism without dynamic routing protocols.
Exam questions may test understanding of route verification rather than route configuration.
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
A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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 a floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show ip route — The best next step is to examine the routing table directly after removing or losing the primary route. In practical terms, the purpose of a floating static route is to appear when the better route disappears. The clearest way to verify that behavior is to inspect the route table for the default route after the failure condition.
This is a simulation-style verification question. It is not asking how to configure the route, but how to confirm failover actually happened.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "primary", "which command". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route fails.
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