This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 running-config | include ip route
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.2
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.6 200
R1# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 192.168.12.1 YES manual administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/1 192.168.12.5 YES manual administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
A network engineer configures a primary default route via Gi0/0 (next-hop 192.168.12.2) and a floating static default route via Gi0/1 (next-hop 192.168.12.6) with AD 200. To test failover, the engineer issues the shutdown command on Gi0/0. After this, the router does not have a default route in the routing table. Which problem explains this behavior?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
R1# show running-config | include ip route
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.2
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.12.6 200
R1# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 192.168.12.1 YES manual administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/1 192.168.12.5 YES manual administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
A
The backup interface Gi0/1 is administratively down, making the next-hop unreachable.
With both interfaces down, the router cannot reach either next-hop, so no default route is installed.
B
The floating static route uses an administrative distance of 200, which is too low to replace the primary route.
Why wrong: Floating static routes require a higher AD than the primary; 200 is higher than the default 1, making it a backup.
C
The primary default route remains in the routing table because shutting down Gi0/0 does not remove the static route.
Why wrong: Shutting down the interface removes the connected route, which causes the router to purge the recursive static route referencing that next-hop.
D
The floating static route is missing a track object, so the router cannot detect the primary path failure.
Why wrong: Floating static routes do not require IP SLA tracking; the AD difference ensures the backup is installed when the primary is removed from 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
✓
The backup interface Gi0/1 is administratively down, making the next-hop unreachable.
A floating static route is installed only if its next-hop is reachable and the primary route (with lower AD) is absent. Shutting down Gi0/0 removes the primary route. However, backup interface Gi0/1 is also administratively down, so the next-hop 192.168.12.6 is unreachable, and the floating route is not installed. Option A correctly identifies the interface status as the root cause. Option B is wrong because a higher AD (200) correctly designates this as a backup; a lower AD would make it primary. Option C is false; shutting down an interface removes connected routes, which causes the recursive static route to be purged. Option D is incorrect because floating static routes do not require a track object—the AD difference alone dictates failover when the primary is removed.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
The backup interface Gi0/1 is administratively down, making the next-hop unreachable.
Why this is correct
With both interfaces down, the router cannot reach either next-hop, so no default route is installed.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The floating static route uses an administrative distance of 200, which is too low to replace the primary route.
Why it's wrong here
Floating static routes require a higher AD than the primary; 200 is higher than the default 1, making it a backup.
✗
The primary default route remains in the routing table because shutting down Gi0/0 does not remove the static route.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down the interface removes the connected route, which causes the router to purge the recursive static route referencing that next-hop.
✗
The floating static route is missing a track object, so the router cannot detect the primary path failure.
Why it's wrong here
Floating static routes do not require IP SLA tracking; the AD difference ensures the backup is installed when the primary is removed from the routing table.
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.
✓The backup interface Gi0/1 is administratively down, making the next-hop unreachable.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
With both interfaces down, the router cannot reach either next-hop, so no default route is installed.
✗The floating static route uses an administrative distance of 200, which is too low to replace the primary route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A lower AD would make it preferred, defeating the purpose of a floating route.
✗The primary default route remains in the routing table because shutting down Gi0/0 does not remove the static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The primary route is removed from the table when the interface goes down.
✗The floating static route is missing a track object, so the router cannot detect the primary path failure.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Track objects are optional enhancements for faster failover but not mandatory for floating static operation.
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: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The backup interface Gi0/1 is administratively down, making the next-hop unreachable. — A floating static route is installed only if its next-hop is reachable and the primary route (with lower AD) is absent. Shutting down Gi0/0 removes the primary route. However, backup interface Gi0/1 is also administratively down, so the next-hop 192.168.12.6 is unreachable, and the floating route is not installed. Option A correctly identifies the interface status as the root cause. Option B is wrong because a higher AD (200) correctly designates this as a backup; a lower AD would make it primary. Option C is false; shutting down an interface removes connected routes, which causes the recursive static route to be purged. Option D is incorrect because floating static routes do not require a track object—the AD difference alone dictates failover when the primary is removed.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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