This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 HSRP so that R1 becomes the active router for VLAN 10, with a virtual IP of 192.168.10.1. Ensure that R1 preempts if it comes back online after a failure. Also, configure R1 to decrement its HSRP priority by 20 if its GigabitEthernet0/1 interface goes down. The current configuration shows both routers as active — identify and fix the issues.
R1# show standby brief
P indicates configured to preempt.
|
Interface Grp Pri P State Active Standby Virtual IP
Gi0/0.10 10 100 Active local 192.168.10.2 192.168.10.254
Gi0/0.10 10 100 Active 192.168.10.2 local 192.168.10.254
R1# show running-config | section interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10
encapsulation dot1Q 10
ip address 192.168.10.3 255.255.255.0
standby version 2
standby 10 ip 192.168.10.254
standby 10 priority 100
! Note: no 'preempt' configured
! Note: no track interface configured
A
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
This configuration correctly sets R1 as the active router with a higher priority (110 vs default 100), enables preempt so R1 reclaims active role after recovery, and tracks the uplink interface to decrement priority by 20 if it fails, allowing R2 to take over.
B
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 100, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because setting priority to 100 (same as default) does not ensure R1 becomes active; without a higher priority, R1 may not win the election even with preempt enabled.
C
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.254, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the virtual IP must be 192.168.10.1 as specified in the question; using 192.168.10.254 would not match the required gateway address for VLAN 10.
D
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, but do not track any interface.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the question requires R1 to decrement its priority by 20 if GigabitEthernet0/1 goes down; omitting the track command fails to meet this requirement.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
The scenario indicates both routers appear as Active, which is abnormal. This could result from a misconfigured virtual IP or group number mismatch. The required fix is to set the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, assign R1 a higher priority (110 vs R2's default 100), enable preempt so R1 reclaims active role after failure, and track GigabitEthernet0/1 with a decrement of 20 to lower priority if that interface goes down.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
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 virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
Why this is correct
This configuration correctly sets R1 as the active router with a higher priority (110 vs default 100), enables preempt so R1 reclaims active role after recovery, and tracks the uplink interface to decrement priority by 20 if it fails, allowing R2 to take over.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 100, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because setting priority to 100 (same as default) does not ensure R1 becomes active; without a higher priority, R1 may not win the election even with preempt enabled.
✗
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.254, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the virtual IP must be 192.168.10.1 as specified in the question; using 192.168.10.254 would not match the required gateway address for VLAN 10.
✗
Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, but do not track any interface.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the question requires R1 to decrement its priority by 20 if GigabitEthernet0/1 goes down; omitting the track command fails to meet this 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.
✓Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This configuration correctly sets R1 as the active router with a higher priority (110 vs default 100), enables preempt so R1 reclaims active role after recovery, and tracks the uplink interface to decrement priority by 20 if it fails, allowing R2 to take over.
✗Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 100, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
HSRP election uses priority as the primary tie-breaker; equal priority leads to comparison of primary IP addresses, which may not favor R1.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think preempt alone is sufficient to make R1 active, but preempt only triggers re-election after a failure; it does not guarantee R1 wins if priorities are equal.
✗Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.254, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The virtual IP address must be consistent across all HSRP routers and match the configured gateway; a mismatch prevents proper operation.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the virtual IP with the standby IP or assume any unused IP in the subnet works, but the question explicitly requires 192.168.10.1.
✗Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, but do not track any interface.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Without tracking, R1's priority remains unchanged even if the uplink fails, so R1 would remain active despite losing connectivity, causing traffic black-holing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may overlook the tracking requirement or think preempt alone handles failover, but tracking is needed to lower priority and trigger a switchover when the tracked interface goes down.
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: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is incorrect because the question requires R1 to decrement its priority by 20 if GigabitEthernet0/1 goes down; omitting the track command fails to meet this requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
→Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
→Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
→Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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 VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, set priority to 110, enable preempt, and track interface GigabitEthernet0/1 with decrement 20. — The scenario indicates both routers appear as Active, which is abnormal. This could result from a misconfigured virtual IP or group number mismatch. The required fix is to set the virtual IP to 192.168.10.1, assign R1 a higher priority (110 vs R2's default 100), enable preempt so R1 reclaims active role after failure, and track GigabitEthernet0/1 with a decrement of 20 to lower priority if that interface goes down.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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