CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Network Topology
You are connected to R1. Configure static routes so that R1 can reach the IPv4 network 203.0.113.0/24 and the IPv6 network 2001:db8:acad:1::/64 via R2 (G0/0 10.0.0.2/30). Additionally, configure a floating static default route (IPv4) with an administrative distance of 200 via R2, and a fully specified IPv6 default route via R2. Then, verify that the IPv4 static route to 203.0.113.0/24 is correctly installed by checking the routing table. The current configuration has an incorrect next-hop causing recursive routing failure for the IPv4 static route.
⚠ Common exam trap
A common trap is using the local interface IP as the next-hop for a static route, which causes recursive routing failure. Also, remember that IPv6 static routes require IPv6 next-hop addresses; using an IPv4 address is invalid. Floating static routes must have a higher AD than the primary route.
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
✓
Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, change the IPv6 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.2 to 2001:db8:acad:2::2, and change the IPv6 default route to use next-hop 2001:db8:acad:2::2.
The IPv4 static route to 203.0.113.0/24 incorrectly uses next-hop 10.0.0.1 (R1's own interface) instead of 10.0.0.2 (R2), causing recursive routing failure because R1 tries to reach itself. To fix, change the next-hop to 10.0.0.2. The IPv6 static route to 2001:db8:acad:1::/64 also incorrectly uses an IPv4 next-hop; it must be a fully specified IPv6 next-hop (2001:db8:acad:2::2) or an exit interface. The IPv4 default route has AD 200 which is correct for a floating route, but it is not shown in the routing table because there is no route to the next-hop; after fixing the recursive route, the default route will appear. The IPv6 default route uses an IPv4 next-hop which is invalid; it should be a fully specified IPv6 route (e.g., ipv6 route ::/0 2001:db8:acad:2::2).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, change the IPv6 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.2 to 2001:db8:acad:2::2, and change the IPv6 default route to use next-hop 2001:db8:acad:2::2.
Why this is correct
This corrects all errors: the IPv4 route uses the correct next-hop (R2's interface), the IPv6 route uses a valid IPv6 next-hop, and the IPv6 default route is fully specified with an IPv6 next-hop. After these changes, the IPv4 route will be installed in the routing table.
- ✗
Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv6 static route to use exit interface G0/0 instead of a next-hop.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because while the IPv4 fix is correct, the IPv6 static route using an exit interface is not fully specified and may cause issues if the interface goes down; also, the IPv6 default route is not addressed.
- ✗
Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv4 default route administrative distance to 1.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the IPv4 default route is intended to be a floating route with AD 200; changing it to 1 would make it preferred over other routes, defeating the purpose of a floating route.
- ✗
Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv6 default route to use exit interface G0/0.
Why it's wrong here
This option correctly changes the IPv4 static route next-hop to 10.0.0.2, but it incorrectly configures the IPv6 default route with only the exit interface G0/0. A static route that specifies only an exit interface is not fully specified on multi-access Ethernet links, forcing the router to perform a recursive lookup to determine the actual IPv6 next-hop. Furthermore, in IPv6 the next-hop must be a link-local address for Ethernet interfaces; using a global unicast address as next-hop requires it to be on a directly connected network. Most critically, this option does not correct the IPv6 static route, which still has an invalid IPv4 address (10.0.0.2) as its next-hop, leaving that route broken.
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.
✓Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, change the IPv6 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.2 to 2001:db8:acad:2::2, and change the IPv6 default route to use next-hop 2001:db8:acad:2::2.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This corrects all errors: the IPv4 route uses the correct next-hop (R2's interface), the IPv6 route uses a valid IPv6 next-hop, and the IPv6 default route is fully specified with an IPv6 next-hop. After these changes, the IPv4 route will be installed in the routing table.
✗Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv6 static route to use exit interface G0/0 instead of a next-hop.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The IPv6 static route should use a fully specified next-hop (IPv6 address) rather than just an exit interface to avoid recursive routing failures.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think using an exit interface is simpler, but for IPv6 static routes, a fully specified route (next-hop and exit interface) is often required for reliability.
✗Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv4 default route administrative distance to 1.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Floating static routes require a higher administrative distance (e.g., 200) so they are only used when the primary route is unavailable.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think a lower AD is always better, but floating routes specifically need a higher AD to serve as backup.
✗Change the IPv4 static route next-hop from 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.2, and change the IPv6 default route to use exit interface G0/0.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A fully specified IPv6 static route includes both the exit interface and the next-hop IPv6 address to ensure proper routing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may recall that for directly connected networks, an exit interface alone works, but for default routes, a next-hop is required to avoid recursive lookup failures.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Static route
A static route is a manually configured path in a router's routing table that tells the router exactly where to send packets for a specific destination network.
Key term
Routing table
A routing table is a data set stored in a router or host that contains information about network paths and is used to determine where to forward data packets.
About these practice questions
One of 1,389 original 200-301 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.