CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Which TWO statements about IPv4 and IPv6 static routing are correct?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route, when in fact it must be higher to serve as a backup.
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
✓
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route.
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance to serve as a backup when the primary route fails. Option D is correct because an IPv6 default static route uses the prefix ::/0 to match all destinations. Option A is incorrect because a default static route can be used independently of whether dynamic routing protocols are configured; it is simply a route with destination 0.0.0.0/0. Option C is incorrect because a floating static route must have a higher AD, not lower, than the primary route. Option E is incorrect because an IPv6 static route cannot specify an IPv4 address as the next-hop; it must use an IPv6 address or an outgoing interface.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A default static route is used when no dynamic routing protocols are configured.
Why it's wrong here
A default static route is used as a gateway of last resort for any destination not in the routing table, regardless of whether dynamic protocols are configured. It is not dependent on the absence of dynamic routing.
- ✓
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route.
Why this is correct
A floating static route is a backup route that is installed in the routing table only when the primary route (with a lower AD) is not available. By assigning a higher AD, the router prefers the primary route when it is reachable.
- ✗
A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route.
Why it's wrong here
A floating static route must have a higher administrative distance than the primary route, not a lower one. The lower the administrative distance, the more preferred the route; if the floating route had a lower AD, it would take precedence over the primary route, making the so-called backup the active route. By assigning a higher AD, the floating static route remains in the routing table only when the primary route is absent or unreachable, which is the correct mechanism for failover.
- ✓
An IPv6 default static route uses the prefix ::/0.
Why this is correct
The IPv6 default static route uses the prefix ::/0, which is the IPv6 equivalent of 0.0.0.0/0 in IPv4. This prefix matches every possible IPv6 destination address, because all 128 bits of the network portion are zeroes and the prefix length is 0. When configured with a next-hop and administrative distance, it serves as the gateway of last resort for any IPv6 traffic that does not match a more specific route in the routing table.
- ✗
An IPv6 static route can specify an IPv4 address as the next-hop.
Why it's wrong here
An IPv6 static route requires an IPv6 next-hop address because the router maintains separate routing tables and next-hop resolution processes for IPv4 and IPv6. Specifying an IPv4 address as the next-hop would be invalid and the command would be rejected, as the router cannot resolve an IPv4 address in the IPv6 routing table. Even on a dual-stack router, the next-hop for an IPv6 prefix must be a valid IPv6 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.
✓A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A floating static route is a backup route that is installed in the routing table only when the primary route (with a lower AD) is not available. By assigning a higher AD, the router prefers the primary route when it is reachable.
✗A default static route is used when no dynamic routing protocols are configured.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A default static route is used as a gateway of last resort for any destination not in the routing table, regardless of whether dynamic routing protocols are configured. It is not dependent on the absence of dynamic routing.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that default routes are only needed when there is no dynamic routing, but in reality, they are often used alongside dynamic routing to provide a backup path or to reach external networks.
✗A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A floating static route is designed to be a backup; therefore, it must have a higher AD than the primary route so that the primary route is preferred.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse administrative distance with metric, thinking that a lower AD means a better route, but for floating static routes, the backup must have a higher AD to be less preferred.
✗An IPv6 static route can specify an IPv4 address as the next-hop.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
IPv6 static routes require an IPv6 next-hop address. Using an IPv4 address would be invalid because the router would not be able to resolve it in the IPv6 routing table.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that since routers can handle both IPv4 and IPv6, they can mix address families in static routes, but the next-hop must match the address family of the route.
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?”
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Interface
An interface is a point of connection or interaction between two systems, devices, or software components that allows them to exchange information or signals.
Key term
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.