- A
1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
This is correct because it follows the exact order of the router's decision process: longest prefix match first to narrow down candidate routes, then administrative distance to select the most trusted source, then metric to choose the best path among equal-AD routes, and finally forwarding.
- B
1. Compare administrative distances of all routes; choose the route with the lowest AD. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because administrative distance is compared only after the longest prefix match has narrowed down the candidate routes. Comparing AD first would ignore the most specific match, which is the primary criterion.
- C
1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because metric is compared only after administrative distance. AD is used to select the best source of routing information; metric is only relevant when comparing routes from the same source (same AD).
- D
1. Compare metrics of all routes; choose the route with the lowest metric. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because metric is not the first criterion; longest prefix match is. Also, metric comparison only makes sense after AD has been used to select routes from the same source.
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.
Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to describe the router's routing table lookup process for a destination IP address, including best-path selection using longest prefix match, administrative distance, and metric.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
The order follows the router's decision process: longest prefix match first, then administrative distance, then metric, leading to the forwarding decision.
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.
- ✓
1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why this is correct
This is correct because it follows the exact order of the router's decision process: longest prefix match first to narrow down candidate routes, then administrative distance to select the most trusted source, then metric to choose the best path among equal-AD routes, and finally forwarding.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
1. Compare administrative distances of all routes; choose the route with the lowest AD. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because administrative distance is compared only after the longest prefix match has narrowed down the candidate routes. Comparing AD first would ignore the most specific match, which is the primary criterion.
- ✗
1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because metric is compared only after administrative distance. AD is used to select the best source of routing information; metric is only relevant when comparing routes from the same source (same AD).
- ✗
1. Compare metrics of all routes; choose the route with the lowest metric. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.
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.
✓1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because it follows the exact order of the router's decision process: longest prefix match first to narrow down candidate routes, then administrative distance to select the most trusted source, then metric to choose the best path among equal-AD routes, and finally forwarding.
✗1. Compare administrative distances of all routes; choose the route with the lowest AD. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that AD is not the first criterion; longest prefix match takes precedence over AD.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think AD is more important because it determines trustworthiness, but they forget that the most specific route is always preferred regardless of AD.
✗1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that metric is compared after AD, not before. AD determines which routing protocol's routes are preferred; metric is a tiebreaker within the same protocol.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the order of AD and metric, thinking metric is more granular and thus compared first, but AD is the higher-level tiebreaker.
✗1. Compare metrics of all routes; choose the route with the lowest metric. 2. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against the remaining routes. 3. If multiple routes have the same metric, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that metric is compared before longest prefix match and AD, which is completely wrong. The router always starts with the most specific match.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think metric is the most important because it directly indicates path cost, but they overlook that prefix length and AD are higher-priority criteria.
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.
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?
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: 1. Perform longest prefix match on the destination IP address against all routes in the routing table. 2. If multiple routes match, compare administrative distances; choose the route with the lowest AD. 3. If multiple routes have the same AD, compare metrics; choose the route with the lowest metric. 4. Forward the packet using the selected route. — The order follows the router's decision process: longest prefix match first, then administrative distance, then metric, leading to the forwarding decision.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 6, 2026
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