CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Network Topology
You are connected to R1 via the console. R1 has two directly connected interfaces: G0/0 to R2 (IPv4 only) and G0/1 to a LAN switch (dual stack). Your task: configure IPv4 and IPv6 default routes on R1 pointing to R2 (next-hop 10.0.0.2 and 2001:db8:1::2). Also configure a floating static route to 192.0.2.0/24 via R2 with an administrative distance of 10 (so it is used only if the directly connected route fails). The current running-config shows an incorrect static route that causes recursive routing failure. Identify and fix the issue.
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out for recursive routing failures caused by using the router's own interface IP as the next-hop. Also, remember that floating static routes require a higher administrative distance than the primary route to act 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
✓
Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 10
The static route to 192.0.2.0/24 uses next-hop 10.0.0.1, which is R1's own interface IP, not R2's. This causes recursive routing failure because the router tries to reach itself. The correct next-hop should be 10.0.0.2 (R2's G0/0 IP). Additionally, the floating static route must have a higher AD (10) so it is less preferred than the directly connected route (AD 0). Remove the incorrect route and add the correct floating static route with AD 10.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 10
Why this is correct
This is correct because the existing static route uses 10.0.0.1 (R1's own interface IP), causing recursive routing failure. The correct next-hop is 10.0.0.2 (R2's G0/0 IP). Adding the floating static route with AD 10 ensures it is used only if the directly connected route fails.
- ✗
Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 1
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the administrative distance of 1 is lower than the directly connected route's AD of 0, so the floating static route would be preferred over the directly connected route, defeating its purpose as a backup.
- ✗
Keep the existing static route and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 10
Why it's wrong here
The existing static route cannot remain because it uses 10.0.0.1 — R1's own G0/0 address — as the next hop for the remote 192.0.2.0/24 network. When R1 processes this route, it performs a recursive lookup for 10.0.0.1 and finds itself, causing packets to be looped back out the same interface instead of being forwarded to R2; this route becomes the active route with AD 1, outcompeting the new AD 10 route. Adding the floating static route with next-hop 10.0.0.2 does not remove or override the bad route—the lower-AD bad route remains preferred, so traffic to 192.0.2.0/24 is still black-holed. You must delete the faulty static route first, then add the correct floating route with AD 10.
- ✗
Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 g0/0
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because using an exit interface (g0/0) instead of a next-hop IP address for a static route to a remote network can cause issues if the interface goes down, but more importantly, the question requires a floating static route with AD 10, which is not provided here. Additionally, the route would be directly connected? Actually, using an exit interface makes the route a directly connected static route, which has AD 0? No, static routes with exit interface have AD 1 by default. But the question specifies a floating static route with AD 10, so this does not meet the requirement.
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.
✓Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 10Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the existing static route uses 10.0.0.1 (R1's own interface IP), causing recursive routing failure. The correct next-hop is 10.0.0.2 (R2's G0/0 IP). Adding the floating static route with AD 10 ensures it is used only if the directly connected route fails.
✗Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 1Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The AD of a floating static route must be higher than the primary route's AD to serve as a backup. Here AD 1 is lower than 0? Actually directly connected routes have AD 0, so AD 1 is higher than 0, but the question states the floating static route should be used only if the directly connected route fails, so AD must be higher than 0. AD 1 is higher than 0, so it would still be a backup? Wait, the primary route is directly connected (AD 0). A floating static route with AD 1 would be less preferred than AD 0, so it would only be used if the directly connected route fails. That is correct behavior. However, the question says 'with an administrative distance of 10' so AD 1 is not 10. The error is that the AD is not 10 as specified. Also, the explanation in the stem says 'the floating static route must have a higher AD (10) so it is less preferred than the directly connected route (AD 0).' Actually AD 1 is also higher than 0, so it would also be less preferred. But the question explicitly asks for AD 10. So the answer is wrong because it uses AD 1 instead of 10.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think any AD higher than 0 works, but the question specifies AD 10, so using AD 1 is not compliant with the requirement.
✗Keep the existing static route and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2 10Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The incorrect static route remains in the routing table, causing recursive routing failure. The router will still try to resolve the next-hop 10.0.0.1, which is its own interface, leading to a loop.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that adding a more specific route (with AD 10) will override the existing route, but since both routes have the same prefix and mask, the one with lower AD is preferred. The existing route has AD 1 (default) and the new route has AD 10, so the existing route remains active and causes failure.
✗Remove the incorrect static route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 and add ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 g0/0Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The route does not have an administrative distance of 10, and using an exit interface instead of a next-hop IP is not the intended configuration. Also, the route would be installed with default AD 1, not 10.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that using an exit interface avoids recursive lookup, but the question explicitly requires a floating static route with AD 10, and the next-hop IP is specified as 10.0.0.2.
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?”
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