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CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure and verify HSRP on a router interface.
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
✓
Enter interface configuration mode for the target interface.
The correct order begins by entering interface configuration mode, because all HSRP commands are applied at the interface level. Next, assign a physical IPv4 address to the interface, as HSRP requires a Layer 3 interface with an IP address to function. Set HSRP version 2 before defining the HSRP group to ensure compatibility with extended group numbers and newer features. Then configure the HSRP group number and virtual IP address to create the standby group. After that, set the router’s priority and enable preemption; these steps customize the active/standby election process. Finally, verify the configuration with the show standby command to confirm HSRP operation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enter interface configuration mode for the target interface.
Why this is correct
Entering interface configuration mode (e.g., interface GigabitEthernet0/0) is mandatory because HSRP parameters are applied on a per-interface basis. Without this step, the standby commands would either be rejected or would fall under a global context, which does not support HSRP. The interface must also be operational (no shutdown) and already have a real IPv4 address to participate.
- ✓
Configure the IPv4 address and subnet mask on the interface.
Why this is correct
An IPv4 address and subnet mask must be configured on the physical interface before HSRP can function, because the virtual IP is merely an alias within the same subnet. Without a real interface address, the router cannot determine the correct subnet boundary, and the HSRP virtual IP would be meaningless. Additionally, HSRP uses the interface's routing table to respond to ARP requests and forward traffic, so a valid address is a prerequisite.
- ✓
Set the HSRP version to 2 using the standby version 2 command.
Why this is correct
Setting HSRP version to 2 is required for expanded group numbering (0-4095) and IPv6 support, and it changes the multicast address to 224.0.0.102 with a distinct packet format. Version 1 and version 2 routers cannot form an HSRP adjacency, so both routers must be configured identically. This command can be issued globally or per interface, but the per-interface scope is often preferred to avoid unintentional mismatches.
- ✓
Assign the HSRP virtual IP address and group number with the standby group-number ip virtual-ip command.
Why this is correct
The command standby group-number ip virtual-ip actually instantiates the HSRP group and assigns the virtual IPv4 address that end hosts will use as their default gateway. The group number must match on all routers in the same HSRP group, and the virtual IP must belong to the same subnet as the interface's real IP. Without this command, HSRP is not active and will not respond to ARP requests for the virtual address.
- ✓
Configure the router’s HSRP priority using the standby group-number priority value command.
Why this is correct
The priority command (default 100) influences which router becomes the active HSRP device: higher priority wins. This allows network administrators to deterministically control traffic flow, such as routing traffic through a preferred upstream link. However, priority alone is ineffective without preemption, because a higher-priority router will not seize the active role from an existing lower-priority router unless preemption is enabled.
- ✓
Enable preemption with the standby group-number preempt command.
Why this is correct
Enabling preemption with standby group-number preempt ensures that a router with a higher priority can immediately take over the active role from a lower-priority router that is already active. This is critical for deterministic behavior, especially when the preferred router recovers after a failover. Without preemption, the active role remains with the lower-priority router until it fails, which can lead to asymmetric routing or suboptimal traffic paths.
- ✓
Verify the HSRP configuration using the show standby command.
Why this is correct
The show standby command is essential for verifying the state of each HSRP group, including active/standby roles, virtual IP address, priority, preemption settings, and timer values. It also reveals common issues such as version mismatches, group number inconsistencies, or virtual IP address conflicts. A robust verification step ensures that the HSRP configuration is working as intended before relying on it for gateway redundancy.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
Key term
First Hop Redundancy Protocol
A First Hop Redundancy Protocol provides automatic backup for the default gateway router on a network so that devices keep working if the primary router fails.
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