CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Which TWO statements about floating static routes and default routes are correct?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a floating static route must have a lower AD to be 'faster,' when in fact it requires a higher AD to serve as a backup; candidates also mistakenly think default routes cannot be made floating or that floating routes are IPv6-only.
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
✓
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance (AD) than the primary route. This ensures the floating route remains inactive in the routing table unless the primary route fails, at which point the router installs the floating static route as a backup. The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary dynamic or static route.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.
Why this is correct
A floating static route is configured with an administrative distance (AD) higher than that of the primary route, such as AD 200 instead of the default AD 1 for a directly connected static route. This higher AD makes the route less preferred, so the router uses the primary route as long as it exists in the routing table; if the primary route disappears, the floating static route is installed as a backup and traffic is sent via its next hop.
- ✗
A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route to ensure faster convergence.
Why it's wrong here
Setting a floating static route with a lower administrative distance than the primary route would make it the preferred route, not a backup, because the routing table always selects the route with the lowest AD. Administrative distance is a measure of route preference, not a timer that speeds up convergence; lowering the AD would cause the floating route to be used immediately, defeating its purpose and potentially overriding a more reliable dynamic route. Convergence is determined by routing protocol timers or failure detection, not by the AD value.
- ✓
A default route can be configured as a static route with destination 0.0.0.0/0 for IPv4 and ::/0 for IPv6.
Why this is correct
A default route can indeed be configured as a static route using the all-zeros prefix: 0.0.0.0/0 for IPv4 and ::/0 for IPv6. This route matches any destination that does not have a more specific match in the routing table, and it is commonly used to send Internet-bound traffic toward a service provider or to provide a gateway of last resort. There is no restriction that prevents a default route from being static or from having a non-default administrative distance.
- ✗
Floating static routes are supported only for IPv6, not for IPv4.
Why it's wrong here
Floating static routes are not limited to IPv6; they operate identically for IPv4 and IPv6. The concept of administrative distance applies to any routing information source regardless of address family, so you can configure an IPv4 floating static route using the ip route command with an AD parameter, and an IPv6 floating static route using ipv6 route with the same AD parameter. The mechanism is equally valid for both protocols, and the only requirement is that the floating route's AD exceeds that of the primary route.
- ✗
A default static route cannot be configured as a floating static route.
Why it's wrong here
A default static route can absolutely be configured as a floating static route. For example, you can configure two IPv4 default routes to different next-hop routers, one with the default AD (1) and one with a higher AD such as 200; the higher-AD default route will only be installed if the first default route is removed from the routing table. This is a common design for providing a reliable backup default path toward a secondary ISP or WAN link, so the statement that a default static route cannot be a floating static route is false.
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.
✓A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A floating static route is configured with an administrative distance (AD) higher than that of the primary route, such as AD 200 instead of the default AD 1 for a directly connected static route. This higher AD makes the route less preferred, so the router uses the primary route as long as it exists in the routing table; if the primary route disappears, the floating static route is installed as a backup and traffic is sent via its next hop.
✗A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route to ensure faster convergence.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Floating static routes require a higher AD, not lower, to be less preferred than the primary route.
✗Floating static routes are supported only for IPv6, not for IPv4.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Both IPv4 and IPv6 static routes can be configured as floating routes by setting a higher AD.
✗A default static route cannot be configured as a floating static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
You can have multiple default static routes with different ADs, making the higher AD one a floating backup.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
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Key term
Static route
A static route is a manually configured path in a router's routing table that tells the router exactly where to send packets for a specific destination network.
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.
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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.