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Question 1,349 of 1,052
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CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator is troubleshooting a…
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. 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 10.10.10.10
Routing entry for 10.0.0.0/8
Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0
Last update from 192.168.1.2 on GigabitEthernet0/1
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 192.168.1.2, via GigabitEthernet0/1
Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
Routing entry for 10.10.10.0/24
Known via "ospf 1", distance 110, metric 20
Last update from 192.168.2.2 on GigabitEthernet0/2
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 192.168.2.2, via GigabitEthernet0/2
Route metric is 20, traffic share count is 1A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue where hosts on VLAN 10 (192.168.10.0/24) cannot reach a server at 10.10.10.10. The router (R1) has both a static route and an OSPF-learned route to the 10.0.0.0/8 network. The administrator checks the routing table and notices that traffic is not being forwarded as expected. Based on the output, what is the most likely cause of the problem?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, so the OSPF route is not installed in the routing table, leaving only the static route which is less specific.
The router is using the static route to 10.0.0.0/8 (AD 1) instead of the OSPF route to 10.10.10.0/24 (AD 110) because the static route is more specific? Actually, the static route is less specific (10.0.0.0/8) compared to the OSPF route (10.10.10.0/24). The router performs a longest-prefix match lookup. For destination 10.10.10.10, both routes match, but the OSPF route has a longer prefix length (/24 vs /8), so it should be preferred regardless of AD. However, the output shows that the router is only considering the static route for the destination. This could happen if the OSPF route is not installed due to a higher AD (but it is 110, which is lower than 1? No, 1 is lower than 110, so static wins if prefix lengths are equal? But they are not equal. The key is that the show ip route 10.10.10.10 command output shows two entries, but the asterisk (*) indicates the currently used route. The static route is marked with *, meaning the router is using it for forwarding. This implies that the OSPF route might not be in the routing table for some reason (e.g., OSPF not running, or the route was removed). The most likely cause is that the OSPF route was removed due to a flapping interface or a configuration change, and the static route remains as a backup but is less specific. However, the correct answer is that the router is using the static route because it has a lower administrative distance, but that would only matter if the prefix lengths were the same. Actually, the output shows both routes, so the OSPF route is present. The issue is that the router is using the static route because the OSPF route has a higher metric? No, AD is the tiebreaker for same prefix length. The prefix lengths are different, so longest prefix match should select the OSPF route. The fact that the static route is marked with * indicates that the OSPF route is not being used. This could be because the OSPF route is not active (e.g., the interface is down) or because of a floating static route with a higher AD? But the static AD is 1, OSPF is 110. The correct diagnosis is that the OSPF route is not installed because the OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, causing the router to rely on the less specific static route. The administrator should check OSPF neighbor status.
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), so the router prefers the static route even though it is less specific.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the router uses longest-prefix match first; administrative distance is only a tiebreaker for routes with the same prefix length.
- ✗
The OSPF route has a higher metric (20) than the static route (0), causing the router to prefer the static route.
- ✓
The OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, so the OSPF route is not installed in the routing table, leaving only the static route which is less specific.
Why this is correct
The output shows both routes, but the asterisk (*) indicates the route being used for forwarding. The OSPF route is present but not active (no asterisk), meaning the OSPF neighbor is down or the route is not valid. The router then uses the static route as a less specific match.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- ✗
The router has a floating static route configured with a higher AD than OSPF, causing it to be used only when OSPF fails.
Why it's wrong here
The static route shown has AD 1, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so it is not a floating static 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.
✓The OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, so the OSPF route is not installed in the routing table, leaving only the static route which is less specific.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The output shows both routes, but the asterisk (*) indicates the route being used for forwarding. The OSPF route is present but not active (no asterisk), meaning the OSPF neighbor is down or the route is not valid. The router then uses the static route as a less specific match.
✗The static route has a lower administrative distance (1) than the OSPF route (110), so the router prefers the static route even though it is less specific.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The static route is less specific (/8) than the OSPF route (/24), so the OSPF route should be preferred regardless of AD.
✗The OSPF route has a higher metric (20) than the static route (0), causing the router to prefer the static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The metric is irrelevant here because the prefix lengths differ; the router should use the longest match.
✗The router has a floating static route configured with a higher AD than OSPF, causing it to be used only when OSPF fails.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A floating static route would have an AD higher than the dynamic protocol, but here the static AD is 1, which is lower.
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 static route shown has AD 1, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so it is not a floating static route.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, so the OSPF route is not installed in the routing table, leaving only the static route which is less specific. — The router is using the static route to 10.0.0.0/8 (AD 1) instead of the OSPF route to 10.10.10.0/24 (AD 110) because the static route is more specific? Actually, the static route is less specific (10.0.0.0/8) compared to the OSPF route (10.10.10.0/24). The router performs a longest-prefix match lookup. For destination 10.10.10.10, both routes match, but the OSPF route has a longer prefix length (/24 vs /8), so it should be preferred regardless of AD. However, the output shows that the router is only considering the static route for the destination. This could happen if the OSPF route is not installed due to a higher AD (but it is 110, which is lower than 1? No, 1 is lower than 110, so static wins if prefix lengths are equal? But they are not equal. The key is that the show ip route 10.10.10.10 command output shows two entries, but the asterisk (*) indicates the currently used route. The static route is marked with *, meaning the router is using it for forwarding. This implies that the OSPF route might not be in the routing table for some reason (e.g., OSPF not running, or the route was removed). The most likely cause is that the OSPF route was removed due to a flapping interface or a configuration change, and the static route remains as a backup but is less specific. However, the correct answer is that the router is using the static route because it has a lower administrative distance, but that would only matter if the prefix lengths were the same. Actually, the output shows both routes, so the OSPF route is present. The issue is that the router is using the static route because the OSPF route has a higher metric? No, AD is the tiebreaker for same prefix length. The prefix lengths are different, so longest prefix match should select the OSPF route. The fact that the static route is marked with * indicates that the OSPF route is not being used. This could be because the OSPF route is not active (e.g., the interface is down) or because of a floating static route with a higher AD? But the static AD is 1, OSPF is 110. The correct diagnosis is that the OSPF route is not installed because the OSPF neighbor adjacency is down, causing the router to rely on the less specific static route. The administrator should check OSPF neighbor status.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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