CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
R1# show run | include ^ip route ip route 198.51.100.0 255.255.255.0 192.0.2.2 R1# show ip route O 198.51.100.64/26 [110/20] via 192.0.2.6, GigabitEthernet0/1 S 198.51.100.0/24 [1/0] via 192.0.2.2 Destination being tested: 198.51.100.70
Based on the exhibit, why is traffic to host 198.51.100.70 using the OSPF route instead of the static route?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is believing that static routes always take precedence over OSPF routes because static routes have a lower administrative distance. This misconception ignores the fundamental routing principle of longest-prefix match, which prioritizes the most specific subnet mask regardless of route source. Candidates may incorrectly select the static route simply because it is static, missing that the OSPF route’s /26 mask is more specific than the static /24. This leads to incorrect answers and confusion about route selection behavior in Cisco routers.
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 OSPF /26 route is more specific than the static /24 route.
The traffic uses the OSPF route because it is the more specific match. In practical terms, the router evaluates destination-prefix specificity before comparing route source preference. The static route points to a broader /24, while the OSPF entry points to a narrower /26 that still contains the destination. Because longest-prefix match comes first, the /26 route wins. This is a good reminder that static routes do not automatically beat dynamic routes when the prefixes are different. Specificity matters first, then source preference only when the prefix length is the same.
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 /26 route is more specific than the static /24 route.
Why this is correct
The OSPF route to 198.51.100.64/26 is chosen because it provides the longest prefix match for the destination 198.51.100.70, which falls within the .64 through .127 range. Although the static /24 route also contains this address, the /26 has more bits set in its network mask, making it more specific in the forwarding table. For traffic matching both a longer and a shorter prefix, routers always prefer the longer prefix, so the OSPF route is used.
- ✗
Because OSPF always overrides static routing, regardless of prefix length.
Why it's wrong here
The premise that OSPF automatically overrides static routing is false; routing decisions prioritize longest prefix match first, and only when prefix lengths are equal does administrative distance break the tie. A static route has an administrative distance of 1, which is far lower than OSPF's 110, so a static /24 would be preferred for that prefix. The real reason the OSPF route wins here is that the /26 route has a longer prefix length than the static /24, not because of the protocol type.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different exam scenario where the question states that OSPF routes are configured with a higher administrative distance than static routes, this option would be correct. For example, if the static route had an administrative distance of 1 and the OSPF route had an administrative distance of 110, OSPF would not override the static route.
- ✗
Because the static route must have an administrative distance of 255 to be considered.
Why it's wrong here
The static route does not need to have an administrative distance of 255 to be considered; in fact, an AD of 255 is treated as unreachable and would not be installed in the routing table. The static route is indeed valid and present, but its /24 prefix is less specific than the OSPF /26 route. Cisco IOS selects routes based on the longest prefix match first, so the more specific /26 route wins regardless of the static route's administrative distance.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that a static route has been configured with an administrative distance of 255, the option could be correct if the question asks why the static route is not being used at all, as it would be ignored due to its unreachable status.
- ✗
Because the destination 198.51.100.70 is outside both listed routes.
Why it's wrong here
The destination 198.51.100.70 is not outside both routes—it lies within the static /24 range of 198.51.100.0 through 198.51.100.255 and also within the OSPF /26 range of 198.51.100.64 through 198.51.100.127. Since .70 is between .64 and .127, it is covered by the more specific OSPF route. Therefore, the claim that it is outside either network is incorrect.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup where the static route is defined as 198.51.100.0/24 and the OSPF route is not configured correctly, leading to a scenario where the destination is indeed outside the defined routes, this option could be correct. For example, if the static route was incorrectly configured to point to a different subnet entirely.
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 /26 route is more specific than the static /24 route.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The OSPF route to 198.51.100.64/26 is chosen because it provides the longest prefix match for the destination 198.51.100.70, which falls within the .64 through .127 range. Although the static /24 route also contains this address, the /26 has more bits set in its network mask, making it more specific in the forwarding table. For traffic matching both a longer and a shorter prefix, routers always prefer the longer prefix, so the OSPF route is used.
✗Because OSPF always overrides static routing, regardless of prefix length.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
OSPF does not always override static routing; the decision is based on administrative distance and prefix length. Static routes typically have a lower administrative distance (1) than OSPF (110), so they are preferred unless a more specific route exists. In this case, the OSPF route is chosen because it is more specific, not because OSPF inherently overrides static routes.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different exam scenario where the question states that OSPF routes are configured with a higher administrative distance than static routes, this option would be correct. For example, if the static route had an administrative distance of 1 and the OSPF route had an administrative distance of 110, OSPF would not override the static route.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse the concept of administrative distance with route selection priority, thinking that a dynamic protocol like OSPF always takes precedence over static routes. However, static routes usually have a lower AD and are preferred unless overridden by a longer prefix match.
✗Because the static route must have an administrative distance of 255 to be considered.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The static route does not need an administrative distance of 255 to be considered; an AD of 255 means the route is not considered reliable and is not installed in the routing table. The static route in the exhibit is already in the routing table (as indicated by 'S*'), so its AD is not 255. The issue is that the OSPF route has a longer prefix length, not that the static route has a high AD.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that a static route has been configured with an administrative distance of 255, the option could be correct if the question asks why the static route is not being used at all, as it would be ignored due to its unreachable status.
Why candidates choose this
Test-takers might think that a static route must have a specific AD to be considered, or they may confuse the concept of administrative distance with prefix length. They might also recall that routes with AD 255 are not installed, but that is not the case here.
✗Because the destination 198.51.100.70 is outside both listed routes.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The destination 198.51.100.70 is within both the /24 and /26 prefixes. The /24 prefix covers 198.51.100.0–198.51.100.255, and the /26 prefix covers 198.51.100.64–198.51.100.127. Since 198.51.100.70 falls in the /26 range, it is inside both routes, so this statement is factually incorrect.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where the static route is defined as 198.51.100.0/24 and the OSPF route is not configured correctly, leading to a scenario where the destination is indeed outside the defined routes, this option could be correct. For example, if the static route was incorrectly configured to point to a different subnet entirely.
Why candidates choose this
A student might misread the exhibit or incorrectly calculate the subnet ranges, thinking that 198.51.100.70 is outside the /26 range. They might also confuse the destination IP with the network address or broadcast address, leading to the mistaken belief that it is not covered.
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?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
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.
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol used to find the best path for data packets to travel across IP networks, like a smart GPS that recalculates routes when traffic changes.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-301 question from scratch — 1,389 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.