- A
The static route has an administrative distance of 1, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so it is always preferred.
Why wrong: This incorrectly assumes AD overrides prefix length. The static route is chosen because it is more specific, not solely due to its AD.
- B
The router is load-balancing between the two routes, and traffic is being hashed to the backup link for this particular flow.
Why wrong: Load balancing only occurs between equal-cost routes with the same prefix length. A /32 route and a /24 route are not candidates for load balancing.
- C
The OSPF route is not installed in the routing table because the static route has a better AD.
Why wrong: Both routes can be installed in the routing table when they have different prefix lengths. The OSPF /24 route will still be used for destinations like 192.168.10.6.
- D
The static /32 route is a more specific match than the OSPF /24 route, so it is selected regardless of administrative distance.
The router always picks the route with the longest prefix match. The /32 route matches 192.168.10.5 exactly, while the /24 route matches a broader range. Therefore, the /32 route is used.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A network engineer notices that traffic from the router to server 192.168.10.5 is being sent over a slow backup link, even though the primary high-speed link is up. The routing table has an OSPF route for 192.168.10.0/24 via the primary link and a static host route to 192.168.10.5/32 via the backup link. Why is the backup link used for traffic to the server?
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.
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
The static /32 route is a more specific match than the OSPF /24 route, so it is selected regardless of administrative distance.
The router uses the most specific matching route in the routing table to forward traffic. The static host route to 192.168.10.5/32 has a longer prefix length (32 bits) than the OSPF route for 192.168.10.0/24 (24 bits), making it a more specific match. Even though OSPF has a higher administrative distance, the longest prefix match rule takes precedence over administrative distance when both routes are present in the routing table.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 static route has an administrative distance of 1, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so it is always preferred.
Why it's wrong here
This incorrectly assumes AD overrides prefix length. The static route is chosen because it is more specific, not solely due to its AD.
- ✗
The router is load-balancing between the two routes, and traffic is being hashed to the backup link for this particular flow.
Why it's wrong here
Load balancing only occurs between equal-cost routes with the same prefix length. A /32 route and a /24 route are not candidates for load balancing.
- ✗
The OSPF route is not installed in the routing table because the static route has a better AD.
Why it's wrong here
Both routes can be installed in the routing table when they have different prefix lengths. The OSPF /24 route will still be used for destinations like 192.168.10.6.
- ✓
The static /32 route is a more specific match than the OSPF /24 route, so it is selected regardless of administrative distance.
Why this is correct
The router always picks the route with the longest prefix match. The /32 route matches 192.168.10.5 exactly, while the /24 route matches a broader range. Therefore, the /32 route is used.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 static /32 route is a more specific match than the OSPF /24 route, so it is selected regardless of administrative distance.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The router always picks the route with the longest prefix match. The /32 route matches 192.168.10.5 exactly, while the /24 route matches a broader range. Therefore, the /32 route is used.
✗The static route has an administrative distance of 1, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so it is always preferred.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Administrative distance is only compared when two routes have the same prefix length. Here, the /32 route has a longer prefix, so it is chosen first.
✗The router is load-balancing between the two routes, and traffic is being hashed to the backup link for this particular flow.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Load balancing requires routes with identical prefix lengths and metrics. The /32 and /24 routes are treated as different destinations.
✗The OSPF route is not installed in the routing table because the static route has a better AD.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AD is only compared when routes have the exact same prefix length. The routing table can hold multiple overlapping routes as long as they differ in prefix length.
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: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that administrative distance is the sole factor in route selection, when in fact the longest prefix match rule is evaluated first and takes priority over AD for any routes that are already in the routing table.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The longest prefix match rule is fundamental to IP routing: when multiple routes match a destination, the route with the longest subnet mask (highest prefix length) is always preferred, regardless of administrative distance or metric. In this scenario, the /32 host route matches the exact destination IP, while the /24 route covers a broader range; the router performs a bitwise comparison and selects the /32 entry. A real-world example is using a static host route to override a summary route for a specific server, such as for traffic engineering or backup link failover testing.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The static /32 route is a more specific match than the OSPF /24 route, so it is selected regardless of administrative distance. — The router uses the most specific matching route in the routing table to forward traffic. The static host route to 192.168.10.5/32 has a longer prefix length (32 bits) than the OSPF route for 192.168.10.0/24 (24 bits), making it a more specific match. Even though OSPF has a higher administrative distance, the longest prefix match rule takes precedence over administrative distance when both routes are present in the routing table.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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