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.
Network Topology
You are connected to R1. Configure IPv4 and IPv6 static routes so that R1 can reach the loopback networks on R2 and R3 (203.0.113.0/24 and 2001:db8:1::/48) with proper failover. Ensure that the primary link (G0/0 to R2) is preferred over the backup link (G0/1 to R3) using a floating static route with an appropriate administrative distance. Additionally, configure a default route on R1 for IPv4 and IPv6 so that traffic to unknown destinations is forwarded via the primary link. Troubleshoot the existing configuration to identify and fix a recursive routing failure caused by a wrong next-hop address in one of the static routes.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
R1#show running-config | section ip route
ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2
ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.1.2 200
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.0.0.2
!
ipv6 route 2001:db8:1::/48 2001:db8:0:1::2
ipv6 route 2001:db8:1::/48 2001:db8:1:1::2 200
ipv6 route ::/0 2001:db8:0:1::2
!
R1#show ip route 203.0.113.0
% Subnet not in table
R1#show ipv6 route 2001:db8:1::/48
IPv6 Routing Table - 5 entries
...
S 2001:db8:1::/48 [1/0]
via 2001:db8:0:1::2
R1#show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.1 YES manual up up
GigabitEthernet0/1 10.0.1.1 YES manual up up
Loopback0 192.0.2.1 YES manual up up
R1#show ipv6 interface brief
GigabitEthernet0/0 [up/up]
FE80::1
2001:db8:0:1::1
GigabitEthernet0/1 [up/up]
FE80::2
2001:db8:1:1::1
Loopback0 [up/up]
FE80::3
2001:db8:2::1
A
The recursive routing failure is caused by a missing route to the next-hop network; correct by changing the static route to use an exit interface: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`
This is correct because the static route to 203.0.113.0/24 uses next-hop 10.0.0.2, but R1 may not have a route to 10.0.0.0/30 if the interface mask is misconfigured. Using the exit interface (G0/0) along with the next-hop ensures the route is directly connected and avoids recursive lookup failure.
B
The floating static route for IPv4 should have an administrative distance of 1 to ensure it is preferred over the primary route.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the primary route already uses the default administrative distance of 1. A floating static route must have a higher AD (e.g., 200) to serve as a backup; setting it to 1 would make it equal to the primary, causing load balancing or unpredictable behavior.
C
The IPv6 static route to 2001:db8:1::/48 should use a next-hop of 2001:db8:0:1::1 (R1's own interface) to ensure reachability.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the next-hop must be the address of the neighboring router (R2), not the local interface. Using R1's own address would create a recursive loop and the route would not be installed.
D
The default route for IPv4 should be configured with an administrative distance of 200 to match the floating static route.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the default route should use the default AD (1) to be preferred over the floating static route. Setting it to 200 would make it less preferred than the floating route, which is not the intended behavior.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The recursive routing failure is caused by a missing route to the next-hop network; correct by changing the static route to use an exit interface: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`
The recursive routing failure occurs because the static route `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2` requires R1 to have a route to the next-hop network (10.0.0.0/30) in its routing table. Since 10.0.0.0/30 is directly connected via G0/0, the route should install, but if the interface is down or misconfigured, recursion fails. The fix is to specify both the exit interface and next-hop: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`, which avoids recursive lookup. Option B is wrong because an administrative distance of 1 would make the floating static route equal to the default AD of the primary static route, defeating failover; the floating route should have a higher AD (e.g., 200). Option C is wrong because using R1's own interface address (2001:db8:0:1::1) as next-hop would point the route back to itself, not to R2; the correct next-hop is R2's link-local or global address on G0/0. Option D is wrong because the default route for IPv4 should have the default AD of 1 to be preferred over the floating static route; setting it to 200 would make it equally preferred and could cause routing loops.
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.
✓
The recursive routing failure is caused by a missing route to the next-hop network; correct by changing the static route to use an exit interface: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`
Why this is correct
This is correct because the static route to 203.0.113.0/24 uses next-hop 10.0.0.2, but R1 may not have a route to 10.0.0.0/30 if the interface mask is misconfigured. Using the exit interface (G0/0) along with the next-hop ensures the route is directly connected and avoids recursive lookup failure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The floating static route for IPv4 should have an administrative distance of 1 to ensure it is preferred over the primary route.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the primary route already uses the default administrative distance of 1. A floating static route must have a higher AD (e.g., 200) to serve as a backup; setting it to 1 would make it equal to the primary, causing load balancing or unpredictable behavior.
✗
The IPv6 static route to 2001:db8:1::/48 should use a next-hop of 2001:db8:0:1::1 (R1's own interface) to ensure reachability.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the next-hop must be the address of the neighboring router (R2), not the local interface. Using R1's own address would create a recursive loop and the route would not be installed.
✗
The default route for IPv4 should be configured with an administrative distance of 200 to match the floating static route.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the default route should use the default AD (1) to be preferred over the floating static route. Setting it to 200 would make it less preferred than the floating route, which is not the intended behavior.
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 recursive routing failure is caused by a missing route to the next-hop network; correct by changing the static route to use an exit interface: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the static route to 203.0.113.0/24 uses next-hop 10.0.0.2, but R1 may not have a route to 10.0.0.0/30 if the interface mask is misconfigured. Using the exit interface (G0/0) along with the next-hop ensures the route is directly connected and avoids recursive lookup failure.
✗The floating static route for IPv4 should have an administrative distance of 1 to ensure it is preferred over the primary route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that floating static routes require a higher administrative distance than the primary route to act as a backup, not a lower or equal one.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that a lower AD always makes a route more preferred, but they forget that the primary route already uses the lowest possible AD (1), so the backup must be higher.
✗The IPv6 static route to 2001:db8:1::/48 should use a next-hop of 2001:db8:0:1::1 (R1's own interface) to ensure reachability.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that the next-hop in a static route must be the IP address of the next-hop router, not the local router's own interface address.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the next-hop address with the local interface address, especially when configuring static routes with exit interfaces.
✗The default route for IPv4 should be configured with an administrative distance of 200 to match the floating static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that default routes should have a low AD to be used as the primary path for unknown destinations, not a high AD.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that all backup routes should have the same AD, but the default route is a primary route and should have a lower AD than the floating static 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?”
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.
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 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.
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: The recursive routing failure is caused by a missing route to the next-hop network; correct by changing the static route to use an exit interface: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2` — The recursive routing failure occurs because the static route `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2` requires R1 to have a route to the next-hop network (10.0.0.0/30) in its routing table. Since 10.0.0.0/30 is directly connected via G0/0, the route should install, but if the interface is down or misconfigured, recursion fails. The fix is to specify both the exit interface and next-hop: `ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.0.0.2`, which avoids recursive lookup. Option B is wrong because an administrative distance of 1 would make the floating static route equal to the default AD of the primary static route, defeating failover; the floating route should have a higher AD (e.g., 200). Option C is wrong because using R1's own interface address (2001:db8:0:1::1) as next-hop would point the route back to itself, not to R2; the correct next-hop is R2's link-local or global address on G0/0. Option D is wrong because the default route for IPv4 should have the default AD of 1 to be preferred over the floating static route; setting it to 200 would make it equally preferred and could cause routing loops.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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