- A
Issue the show ip cef <destination> detail command to inspect the CEF FIB entry and verify both adjacencies are present.
Why wrong: show ip cef will display the FIB entry, which already includes both equal‑cost paths because they are in the routing table. It will confirm that CEF has installed both paths but will not reveal why traffic uses only one of them. This step restates what the routing table has already shown, skipping a deeper data‑plane check.
- B
Check the interface output rates with show interface to see if both interfaces are transmitting traffic.
Why wrong: show interface counters would only confirm that one interface is carrying all traffic—the exact symptom already observed. It does not diagnose why CEF is failing to load‑balance. This is a monitoring action, not a troubleshooting step that identifies the cause.
- C
Display the routing table again with show ip route to ensure both static routes are still installed.
Why wrong: The routing table has already been consulted and showed the equal‑cost entries. Re‑checking it adds no new information. The issue is at the CEF data‑plane forwarding level, not the control‑plane RIB.
- D
Verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config.
CEF load‑balances among equal‑cost paths based on the hash of packet headers, but when interface bandwidth values differ, CEF may internally adjust the load‑sharing weight (e.g., by creating unequal‑cost load‑sharing for otherwise equal routes). Confirming the bandwidth values are identical eliminates or identifies a hidden mismatch as the cause.
Quick Answer
The answer is to verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config. This is correct because Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) load balancing relies on the bandwidth value to compute load shares, even when the routing table shows two equal-cost static routes; if one interface has a manually lowered bandwidth, CEF will assign a smaller share to that link, causing all traffic to egress the other interface. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that CEF operates at the data plane and can override routing table equality based on interface parameters—a common trap is to assume equal-cost routes guarantee equal load sharing without checking bandwidth. Remember the memory tip: “Bandwidth breaks balance,” meaning always verify bandwidth values when CEF load balancing troubleshooting bandwidth issues arise, as mismatched bandwidth is the silent culprit.
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 branch router has two equal-cost static routes to the same destination network. Both routes are displayed in the output of the show ip route command, and pings from the router to both next-hop IP addresses succeed. Despite this, all traffic heading toward that destination is egressing only a single interface. The technician suspects Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) is not performing load balancing as expected. What should the technician do next?
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
Verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config.
CEF load balancing can be influenced by the bandwidth values configured on the egress interfaces. Even when the routing table shows equal-cost paths, CEF may assign different load shares if the interfaces have mismatched bandwidth (e.g., if one interface has a manually lowered bandwidth). Verifying the interface bandwidth reveals whether an asymmetric configuration is causing CEF to favor one link over the other. This check targets the data‑plane forwarding behavior directly, before inspecting FIB entries or traffic counters.
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.
- ✗
Issue the show ip cef <destination> detail command to inspect the CEF FIB entry and verify both adjacencies are present.
Why it's wrong here
show ip cef will display the FIB entry, which already includes both equal‑cost paths because they are in the routing table. It will confirm that CEF has installed both paths but will not reveal why traffic uses only one of them. This step restates what the routing table has already shown, skipping a deeper data‑plane check.
- ✗
Check the interface output rates with show interface to see if both interfaces are transmitting traffic.
Why it's wrong here
show interface counters would only confirm that one interface is carrying all traffic—the exact symptom already observed. It does not diagnose why CEF is failing to load‑balance. This is a monitoring action, not a troubleshooting step that identifies the cause.
- ✗
Display the routing table again with show ip route to ensure both static routes are still installed.
Why it's wrong here
The routing table has already been consulted and showed the equal‑cost entries. Re‑checking it adds no new information. The issue is at the CEF data‑plane forwarding level, not the control‑plane RIB.
- ✓
Verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config.
Why this is correct
CEF load‑balances among equal‑cost paths based on the hash of packet headers, but when interface bandwidth values differ, CEF may internally adjust the load‑sharing weight (e.g., by creating unequal‑cost load‑sharing for otherwise equal routes). Confirming the bandwidth values are identical eliminates or identifies a hidden mismatch as the cause.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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.
✓Verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
CEF load‑balances among equal‑cost paths based on the hash of packet headers, but when interface bandwidth values differ, CEF may internally adjust the load‑sharing weight (e.g., by creating unequal‑cost load‑sharing for otherwise equal routes). Confirming the bandwidth values are identical eliminates or identifies a hidden mismatch as the cause.
✗Issue the show ip cef <destination> detail command to inspect the CEF FIB entry and verify both adjacencies are present.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates often believe that a missing FIB adjacency is the root cause, but in this scenario both paths are reachable and installed; the issue lies in how CEF weights the paths, which is influenced by interface parameters.
✗Check the interface output rates with show interface to see if both interfaces are transmitting traffic.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Exam‑takers may confuse verifying the symptom with identifying the root cause. Seeing only one interface transmitting confirms the problem but offers no corrective insight.
✗Display the routing table again with show ip route to ensure both static routes are still installed.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A common reflex is to re‑verify the obvious; however, the question states the routes are present and next‑hops are reachable, so revisiting the RIB is redundant.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
show ip cef will display the FIB entry, which already includes both equal‑cost paths because they are in the routing table. It will confirm that CEF has installed both paths but will not reveal why traffic uses only one of them. This step restates what the routing table has already shown, skipping a deeper data‑plane check.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify the bandwidth configured on the outgoing interfaces using show interfaces or show running-config. — CEF load balancing can be influenced by the bandwidth values configured on the egress interfaces. Even when the routing table shows equal-cost paths, CEF may assign different load shares if the interfaces have mismatched bandwidth (e.g., if one interface has a manually lowered bandwidth). Verifying the interface bandwidth reveals whether an asymmetric configuration is causing CEF to favor one link over the other. This check targets the data‑plane forwarding behavior directly, before inspecting FIB entries or traffic counters.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 14, 2026
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.
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