CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Network Topology
You are connected to R1 via the console. The network currently uses EIGRP as its IGP, but you recently configured a static default route toward R2 (next-hop 203.0.113.2) to reach the Internet. However, traffic from R1 to the Internet is not taking the expected path. Examine the provided routing table and partial configuration, then fix the issue so that the static default route is used only when the EIGRP-learned default route is unavailable.
⚠ Common exam trap
Don't confuse administrative distance with metric. When comparing routes from different sources (static vs. EIGRP), AD is the deciding factor. Also, remember that static routes use AD, not metric, to influence preference. The 'ip route' command syntax does not include a metric parameter.
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
✓
Configure the static route with an administrative distance of 100 using 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.2 100'.
The static default route was configured with an administrative distance (AD) of 10, which is lower than the EIGRP‑learned default route's AD of 90. This made the static route the preferred path, overriding the intended primary EIGRP route. To create a floating static route that only activates when the EIGRP route disappears, the static AD must be raised above 90—using 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.2 100' ensures the EIGRP route is primary. Option B is wrong because removing the EIGRP route eliminates the preferred path entirely, defeating the backup purpose. Option C fails because EIGRP metrics are irrelevant against a lower‑AD static route; AD dictates route source preference. Option D is incorrect because static routes do not accept a metric parameter—the trailing number sets the AD, not a metric.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure the static route with an administrative distance of 100 using 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.2 100'.
Why this is correct
This is correct because the EIGRP default route has an AD of 90, and by setting the static route's AD to 100 (higher than 90), the static route becomes a floating static backup. It will only be installed in the routing table when the EIGRP route is removed, ensuring the intended path selection.
- ✗
Remove the EIGRP default route by configuring 'no network 0.0.0.0' under the EIGRP process.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because removing the EIGRP default route would eliminate the primary path, forcing all traffic to use the static route. The goal is to keep the EIGRP route as primary and use the static route only as a backup.
- ✗
Increase the metric of the EIGRP default route to make it less preferred than the static route.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because route preference is determined by administrative distance, not metric, when comparing routes from different sources. EIGRP uses metric only for internal route selection; a static route and an EIGRP route are compared by AD first.
- ✗
Configure the static route with a next-hop of 203.0.113.2 and a metric of 100.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because static routes do not use a metric in the same way as dynamic protocols. The 'ip route' command does not accept a metric parameter; instead, the administrative distance is used to influence route preference. Specifying a metric would be invalid syntax.
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.
✓Configure the static route with an administrative distance of 100 using 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.2 100'.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the EIGRP default route has an AD of 90, and by setting the static route's AD to 100 (higher than 90), the static route becomes a floating static backup. It will only be installed in the routing table when the EIGRP route is removed, ensuring the intended path selection.
✗Remove the EIGRP default route by configuring 'no network 0.0.0.0' under the EIGRP process.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: EIGRP does not use 'network 0.0.0.0' to advertise a default route; default routes are typically redistributed or generated via 'ip default-network' or redistribution. Removing the EIGRP default route would break the intended primary path.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think removing the EIGRP route would force the static route to be used, but this does not achieve the desired redundancy and violates the requirement to keep the EIGRP route as primary.
✗Increase the metric of the EIGRP default route to make it less preferred than the static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: Administrative distance is the primary factor for route selection between different routing protocols or sources. Changing the EIGRP metric does not affect the comparison with a static route.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often confuse metric with administrative distance, thinking that a higher metric makes a route less preferred. However, metric only applies within the same routing protocol.
✗Configure the static route with a next-hop of 203.0.113.2 and a metric of 100.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The 'ip route' command syntax is 'ip route prefix mask {next-hop | interface} [distance] [name] [permanent] [tag tag]'. There is no metric parameter. The correct way to make a static route less preferred is to set a higher administrative distance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that since EIGRP uses metric, they can set a metric on the static route to make it less preferred, but this is not supported. They might also confuse metric with administrative distance.
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?”
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Administrative distance
Administrative distance is a number that a router uses to decide which routing protocol's route to trust when it learns about the same destination from multiple different routing protocols.
Key term
Metric
A metric is a quantifiable measurement used to assess the performance, health, or status of IT systems, networks, or applications.
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.