The answer is that the static route is chosen because it has a longer prefix length of /26 compared to the OSPF route’s /24, making it a more specific match. In route selection, the router always applies the longest prefix match first, meaning a more specific subnet mask takes priority over any administrative distance or metric. This is a critical concept for the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, where questions often present overlapping routes from different sources to test whether you remember that prefix length is checked before AD. A common trap is to assume OSPF’s lower AD of 110 would beat a static route’s AD of 1, but the router never reaches that comparison because the /26 match is more precise. For a memory tip, think “longest wins first” — the router loves the tightest fit, so always check the subnet mask before any other tiebreaker.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 ip route 10.10.10.130
Routing entry for 10.10.10.128/26
Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0
Redistributing via eigrp 100
Advertised by eigrp 100 metric 10000 100 255 1 1500
Last update from 10.1.1.2 on GigabitEthernet0/0, 00:16:45 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.1.1.2, from 10.1.1.2, 00:16:45 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/0
Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
total delay is 10 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 100000 Kbit
reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
loading 1/255, Hops 0
Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer is troubleshooting connectivity to server 10.10.10.130. The routing table contains both a static route and an OSPF route for overlapping prefixes. The engineer examines the specific routing entry for 10.10.10.130. Based on the output, why does the router choose the route via 10.1.1.2 instead of the OSPF route via 10.2.2.2 (for 10.10.10.0/24)?
R1# show ip route 10.10.10.130
Routing entry for 10.10.10.128/26
Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0
Redistributing via eigrp 100
Advertised by eigrp 100 metric 10000 100 255 1 1500
Last update from 10.1.1.2 on GigabitEthernet0/0, 00:16:45 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.1.1.2, from 10.1.1.2, 00:16:45 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/0
Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
total delay is 10 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 100000 Kbit
reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
loading 1/255, Hops 0
A
The static route has a lower administrative distance (1) than the OSPF route (110).
Why wrong: AD is not the deciding factor: route selection priority is longest match, then AD, then metric. The longer /26 prefix is checked first.
B
The OSPF route is inactive because its next-hop 10.2.2.2 is down.
Why wrong: The output provides no information about next-hop reachability. The OSPF route could be valid but is simply less specific.
C
The static route has a longer prefix length (/26) than the OSPF route (/24), making it a more specific match.
The routing entry explicitly shows the subnet mask /26. Longest prefix match is the first rule in IP routing, so the /26 is preferred despite AD or metric.
D
The router prefers the static route because it has a metric of 0, which is better than the OSPF metric.
Why wrong: Metric comparison is only considered after longest prefix match and AD tie-breaking. A more specific route is used regardless of metric differences.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The static route has a longer prefix length (/26) than the OSPF route (/24), making it a more specific match.
The exhibit shows "Routing entry for 10.10.10.128/26", a /26 prefix. The router uses longest prefix match as the first step in route selection, so a /26 is more specific than the OSPF /24 and chosen regardless of AD or metric.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 a lower administrative distance (1) than the OSPF route (110).
Why it's wrong here
AD is not the deciding factor: route selection priority is longest match, then AD, then metric. The longer /26 prefix is checked first.
✗
The OSPF route is inactive because its next-hop 10.2.2.2 is down.
Why it's wrong here
The output provides no information about next-hop reachability. The OSPF route could be valid but is simply less specific.
✓
The static route has a longer prefix length (/26) than the OSPF route (/24), making it a more specific match.
Why this is correct
The routing entry explicitly shows the subnet mask /26. Longest prefix match is the first rule in IP routing, so the /26 is preferred despite AD or metric.
The router prefers the static route because it has a metric of 0, which is better than the OSPF metric.
Why it's wrong here
Metric comparison is only considered after longest prefix match and AD tie-breaking. A more specific route is used regardless of metric differences.
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 route has a longer prefix length (/26) than the OSPF route (/24), making it a more specific match.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The routing entry explicitly shows the subnet mask /26. Longest prefix match is the first rule in IP routing, so the /26 is preferred despite AD or metric.
✗The static route has a lower administrative distance (1) than the OSPF route (110).Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This reflects a common misunderstanding that AD is the sole tie-breaker between routes from different sources, ignoring prefix length priority.
✗The OSPF route is inactive because its next-hop 10.2.2.2 is down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates might assume that if the OSPF route is not used, it must be inactive; however, the exhibit does not show this.
✗The router prefers the static route because it has a metric of 0, which is better than the OSPF metric.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates may mistake metric for the primary selection criterion, not realizing prefix length dominates all other route comparison steps.
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: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The output provides no information about next-hop reachability. The OSPF route could be valid but is simply less specific.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
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 OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The static route has a longer prefix length (/26) than the OSPF route (/24), making it a more specific match. — The exhibit shows "Routing entry for 10.10.10.128/26", a /26 prefix. The router uses longest prefix match as the first step in route selection, so a /26 is more specific than the OSPF /24 and chosen regardless of AD or metric.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A routing table contains these entries for the same destination space: 10.1.0.0/16, 10.1.10.0/24, and 0.0.0.0/0. Which route is used for traffic to 10.1.10.44?
hard
A.10.1.0.0/16
✓ B.10.1.10.0/24
C.0.0.0.0/0
D.No route, because the entries overlap
Why B: The 10.1.10.0/24 route is used because it is the most specific matching prefix. In plain language, even though the /16 route and the default route could also match, the /24 route describes the destination range more precisely. Longest-prefix match therefore selects the /24 entry.
This is a foundational route-selection rule. The default route remains important as a fallback, but it is not used when more specific routes exist. Likewise, the /16 route is less specific than the /24, so it loses for this destination.
Variation 2. A packet is destined for 192.168.40.130. The routing table contains 192.168.40.0/24, 192.168.40.128/25, and 0.0.0.0/0. Which route is used?
hard
A.192.168.40.0/24
✓ B.192.168.40.128/25
C.0.0.0.0/0
D.No route can be used because the entries overlap
Why B: The /25 route is used because it is the most specific matching prefix. In plain language, even though the /24 and the default route also technically match, the router prefers the entry that most precisely describes the destination range. Since 192.168.40.130 falls inside 192.168.40.128/25, that route wins under longest-prefix match.
This is a classic routing-table interpretation pattern. The router does not start with the default route when more specific routes exist, and it does not choose the /24 simply because it is familiar. Specificity comes first.
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