CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
R1# show run | include ^ip route ip route 10.200.0.0 255.255.0.0 Serial0/0/0 R1# show ip interface brief Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol Serial0/0/0 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
A router has a static route configured: ip route 10.200.0.0 255.255.0.0 GigabitEthernet0/1. The output of show ip interface brief shows that interface GigabitEthernet0/1 is administratively down. Why is the route to 10.200.0.0/16 present in the running configuration but absent from the routing table?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is to confuse the presence of a static route in the configuration with its presence in the routing table. Candidates often overlook the fact that a static route pointing to an administratively down interface will not be installed, leading to the mistaken belief that the route is missing due to mask length or protocol requirements. Another trap is assuming static routes cannot use exit interfaces or require time synchronization, which is false. This question tests the candidate's understanding of the difference between configured routes and operationally valid routes, focusing on interface state as the critical factor for route installation.
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
✓
Because the route points to an interface that is administratively down.
The static route is absent because the outgoing interface is down. In practical terms, when a static route depends on an interface that is not operational, the router cannot use that path, so the route is not installed as usable forwarding state. The configuration line alone is not enough; the forwarding path also has to be viable. This is a realistic static-route troubleshooting pattern because it distinguishes between configured intent and operational state.
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 route points to an interface that is administratively down.
Why this is correct
A static route that specifies only an exit interface is installed in the routing table only when that interface is in an up/up state. An administratively down interface (shutdown) makes the route invalid because the router cannot use that path for packet forwarding, even though the configuration exists. Therefore the route is absent from the show ip route output and no traffic is sent to 10.200.0.0/16.
- ✗
Because static routes cannot reference exit interfaces.
Why it's wrong here
Static routes may legitimately reference an exit interface, such as ip route 10.200.0.0 255.255.0.0 GigabitEthernet0/0, which is a common and valid configuration for point-to-point links. The problem in the exhibit is not that the configuration uses an exit interface, but that the referenced interface has been administratively shut down. When the interface is down, the route is removed from the routing table, whereas a healthy interface would allow the static route to appear.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if a question asked about a router configuration where static routes were incorrectly set up to reference non-existent or misconfigured interfaces, then this option could be correct. For example, if the question specified that the static route was configured to point to an interface that does not exist, it would validate this option.
- ✗
Because the destination must be a /24, not a /16.
Why it's wrong here
The prefix length /16 is perfectly valid for a static route, and there is no Cisco IOS requirement that a destination be a /24. Static routes accept any legitimate IPv4 prefix, and subnetted networks can be summarized into larger blocks like /16. The exhibit shows the route missing because the outgoing interface is down, not because the mask is too short or unsupported.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup, if the question specified that static routes were only allowed for /24 networks due to specific router limitations or configurations, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could state that the router only supports /24 static routes for routing to specific subnets.
- ✗
Because static routes require NTP before installation.
Why it's wrong here
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used for clock synchronization and does not affect the Routing Information Base or the installation of static routes. A static route is evaluated based on the administrative distance, metric, and the reachability of the configured next hop or exit interface, not on any time-based condition. NTP misconfiguration could impact logging or certificate validation but will never prevent a valid static route from being installed.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if a question stated that a static route was not being installed because the router was unable to synchronize its clock with an NTP server, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question involved time-sensitive routing protocols that depend on accurate timestamps.
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 route points to an interface that is administratively down.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A static route that specifies only an exit interface is installed in the routing table only when that interface is in an up/up state. An administratively down interface (shutdown) makes the route invalid because the router cannot use that path for packet forwarding, even though the configuration exists. Therefore the route is absent from the show ip route output and no traffic is sent to 10.200.0.0/16.
✗Because static routes cannot reference exit interfaces.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because static routes can reference exit interfaces; they are commonly used to specify the next-hop IP address or an interface for routing traffic. Therefore, the absence of the route in the routing table is not due to this limitation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if a question asked about a router configuration where static routes were incorrectly set up to reference non-existent or misconfigured interfaces, then this option could be correct. For example, if the question specified that the static route was configured to point to an interface that does not exist, it would validate this option.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of static route configurations, believing that there are restrictions on referencing interfaces, especially if they have encountered scenarios where misconfigurations led to routing issues.
✗Because the destination must be a /24, not a /16.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because static routes can reference exit interfaces of any subnet mask, including /16. The routing table can accept routes with various subnet masks, not limited to /24.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup, if the question specified that static routes were only allowed for /24 networks due to specific router limitations or configurations, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could state that the router only supports /24 static routes for routing to specific subnets.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of subnetting rules and the belief that static routes are restricted to certain subnet masks, leading them to incorrectly assume that a /16 is invalid.
✗Because static routes require NTP before installation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because static routes can reference exit interfaces; they do not require NTP for installation. The absence of the route in the routing table is due to other factors, such as the interface being down.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if a question stated that a static route was not being installed because the router was unable to synchronize its clock with an NTP server, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question involved time-sensitive routing protocols that depend on accurate timestamps.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by this option due to a misunderstanding of the requirements for static routes and the role of NTP in network configurations, leading them to incorrectly associate time synchronization with routing issues.
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?”
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Related to this question
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OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Routing table
A routing table is a data set stored in a router or host that contains information about network paths and is used to determine where to forward data packets.
Key term
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
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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.