- A
Packet arrival, longest prefix match, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision
This sequence accurately describes the router's routing table lookup process: first the packet arrives, then the router performs a longest prefix match to find the most specific route, then if multiple routes exist, it uses administrative distance and metric to select the best path, and finally forwards the packet.
- B
Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, longest prefix match, forwarding decision
Why wrong: This is incorrect because tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric occurs after the longest prefix match, not before. The router first finds the most specific route, then applies tie-breaking if multiple routes exist.
- C
Packet arrival, longest prefix match, forwarding decision, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the forwarding decision is made after tie-breaking, not before. If multiple routes exist, the router must select the best path before forwarding.
- D
Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision, longest prefix match
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the longest prefix match is the first step after packet arrival, not the last. The router must find the most specific route before any tie-breaking or forwarding.
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 from receiving a packet with a destination IP address to making the forwarding decision, including best-path selection criteria.
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
Packet arrival, longest prefix match, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision
The process starts with packet arrival, then longest prefix match, followed by tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, culminating in forwarding.
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.
- ✓
Packet arrival, longest prefix match, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision
Why this is correct
This sequence accurately describes the router's routing table lookup process: first the packet arrives, then the router performs a longest prefix match to find the most specific route, then if multiple routes exist, it uses administrative distance and metric to select the best path, and finally forwards the packet.
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.
- ✗
Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, longest prefix match, forwarding decision
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric occurs after the longest prefix match, not before. The router first finds the most specific route, then applies tie-breaking if multiple routes exist.
- ✗
Packet arrival, longest prefix match, forwarding decision, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the forwarding decision is made after tie-breaking, not before. If multiple routes exist, the router must select the best path before forwarding.
- ✗
Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision, longest prefix match
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the longest prefix match is the first step after packet arrival, not the last. The router must find the most specific route before any tie-breaking or forwarding.
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.
✓Packet arrival, longest prefix match, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decisionCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This sequence accurately describes the router's routing table lookup process: first the packet arrives, then the router performs a longest prefix match to find the most specific route, then if multiple routes exist, it uses administrative distance and metric to select the best path, and finally forwards the packet.
✗Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, longest prefix match, forwarding decisionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that the order of operations is reversed: longest prefix match must come before tie-breaking.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that administrative distance is considered first because it is a primary selection criterion, but the longest prefix match is always evaluated first.
✗Packet arrival, longest prefix match, forwarding decision, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metricWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that forwarding decision is placed before tie-breaking, which is logically impossible as the router needs to choose a path first.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that once a longest prefix match is found, the router immediately forwards, forgetting that multiple routes may exist requiring tie-breaking.
✗Packet arrival, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision, longest prefix matchWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that longest prefix match is placed last, which is completely out of order.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the order of operations, thinking that tie-breaking happens first because it is a key concept, but the routing table lookup always starts with longest prefix match.
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: Packet arrival, longest prefix match, tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, forwarding decision — The process starts with packet arrival, then longest prefix match, followed by tie-breaking using administrative distance and metric, culminating in forwarding.
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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