This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.. 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
R1# show run | include ip route|default-information
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 198.51.100.2 250
R1# show ip route
O*E2 0.0.0.0/0 [110/1] via 192.0.2.2
Why is R1 not installing the floating static default route into the routing table?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Because the OSPF default route has a lower administrative distance than the floating static route.
The floating static default route is not installed because the primary default route is already present and has a lower administrative distance. In practical terms, a floating static route is meant to sit in reserve and appear only when the preferred route is unavailable. Since the OSPF default route is active and has a better administrative distance, the backup route is not used yet.
This is a classic route-preference question. The key idea is not just that a static route exists, but that a higher-distance static route is intentionally designed to lose until the primary path disappears.
Key principle: Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Because the OSPF default route has a lower administrative distance than the floating static route.
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
✗
Because static default routes can never be used when OSPF is enabled.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because static and OSPF defaults can coexist, with route preference deciding which is installed.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different exam scenario, if the question stated that static routes are not allowed in a specific routing protocol configuration or that the router is configured to only use OSPF for routing, then this option could be correct.
✗
Because the static default route must use a /24 mask instead of 0.0.0.0.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because a default route correctly uses the all-zero destination and mask.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup where the exam asks about the configuration of static routes specifically requiring a subnet mask, this option could be correct if the question states that a static default route must use a specific subnet mask instead of the default 0.0.0.0.
✗
Because the next hop of a floating route must be a loopback address.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because floating static routes do not require a loopback next hop.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different exam scenario, if the question specified that a floating static route could only be configured with a next hop that is a loopback interface, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that the router's configuration only allows loopback addresses for floating routes, this would validate option D.
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.
✓Because the OSPF default route has a lower administrative distance than the floating static route.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the backup static route is designed to lose while the lower-distance OSPF default remains active.
✗Because static default routes can never be used when OSPF is enabled.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Static default routes and OSPF default routes can coexist on the same router. The router selects the route with the lowest administrative distance, so a static default route with a lower AD than OSPF would be installed. The statement is false because OSPF does not prevent static routes from being used.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different exam scenario, if the question stated that static routes are not allowed in a specific routing protocol configuration or that the router is configured to only use OSPF for routing, then this option could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Students may mistakenly think that enabling a dynamic routing protocol like OSPF disables all static routes, confusing the concept of route preference with protocol exclusivity.
✗Because the static default route must use a /24 mask instead of 0.0.0.0.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A default route is defined by destination 0.0.0.0 and mask 0.0.0.0, which matches any destination. Using a /24 mask would create a specific route, not a default route. The configuration in the question likely uses the correct all-zero mask, so this is not the reason.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where the exam asks about the configuration of static routes specifically requiring a subnet mask, this option could be correct if the question states that a static default route must use a specific subnet mask instead of the default 0.0.0.0.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse the mask for a default route with the mask for a network route, thinking that a default route must have a non-zero mask to be valid.
✗Because the next hop of a floating route must be a loopback address.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Floating static routes can use any valid next-hop IP address, such as an interface IP or a directly connected neighbor. There is no requirement for the next hop to be a loopback address. The issue is about administrative distance, not next-hop type.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different exam scenario, if the question specified that a floating static route could only be configured with a next hop that is a loopback interface, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that the router's configuration only allows loopback addresses for floating routes, this would validate option D.
Why candidates choose this
Some students might recall that loopback interfaces are often used for stability in routing protocols, leading them to incorrectly assume that floating static routes also require loopback next hops.
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 frequent exam trap is assuming that a static default route must always appear in the routing table regardless of other routes. Candidates often think the floating static route is missing or misconfigured when it is simply suppressed due to its higher administrative distance compared to the OSPF default route. This misunderstanding leads to incorrect troubleshooting steps or answer choices. Remember, floating static routes are designed to be backup routes and only become active when the primary route is unavailable, so their absence in the routing table under normal conditions is expected behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a key concept in Cisco routing that determines the trustworthiness of a route source. Each routing protocol and static route has a default AD value; lower values indicate more preferred routes. For example, OSPF has an AD of 110, while static routes have an AD of 1 by default. However, floating static routes are configured with a higher AD to act as backups, only used if the primary route fails.
When multiple routes to the same destination exist, the router compares their AD values and installs the route with the lowest AD into the routing table. A floating static route is intentionally assigned a higher AD than the dynamic route (such as OSPF) so it remains inactive unless the dynamic route disappears. This ensures seamless failover without routing conflicts or loops.
A common exam trap is misunderstanding why a static route does not appear in the routing table when OSPF is active. The floating static route is not missing or misconfigured; it is suppressed due to its higher AD. Practically, this design prevents route flapping and ensures stable routing by preferring the dynamic OSPF route until it becomes unavailable, at which point the floating static route activates automatically.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary dynamic route to serve as a backup route.
Cisco routers install the route with the lowest administrative distance into the routing table when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
OSPF default routes have an administrative distance of 110, which is lower than a typical floating static route configured with a higher AD.
Floating static routes remain inactive in the routing table while the preferred dynamic route is available and only activate upon its failure.
Static default routes use the destination 0.0.0.0/0 and do not require a /24 mask or a loopback next hop to function correctly.
Static and dynamic routing protocols like OSPF can coexist, with route preference determined by administrative distance values.
Misinterpreting the absence of a floating static route in the routing table as a configuration error is a common exam trap.
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 determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
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 determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Because the OSPF default route has a lower administrative distance than the floating static route. — The floating static default route is not installed because the primary default route is already present and has a lower administrative distance. In practical terms, a floating static route is meant to sit in reserve and appear only when the preferred route is unavailable. Since the OSPF default route is active and has a better administrative distance, the backup route is not used yet.
This is a classic route-preference question. The key idea is not just that a static route exists, but that a higher-distance static route is intentionally designed to lose until the primary path disappears.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing information sources and influences route selection in Cisco routers.
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