Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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
Based on the exhibit, why is R1 not installing the floating static default route into the routing table?
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 OSPF default route has a lower administrative distance than the floating static route.
This is correct because the backup static route is designed to lose while the lower-distance OSPF default remains active.
B
Distractor review
Because static default routes can never be used when OSPF is enabled.
This is wrong because static and OSPF defaults can coexist, with route preference deciding which is installed.
C
Distractor review
Because the static default route must use a /24 mask instead of 0.0.0.0.
This is wrong because a default route correctly uses the all-zero destination and mask.
D
Distractor review
Because the next hop of a floating route must be a loopback address.
This is wrong because floating static routes do not require a loopback next hop.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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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 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?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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