The answer is 10.1.1.2 because it has the lower metric of 5. When two static routes share the same administrative distance (AD) and the same prefix length, the router uses the metric—also known as the route preference—as the tiebreaker, selecting the path with the smallest metric value. This scenario tests your understanding of static route metric preference, a key concept on the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam where the default AD for static routes is 1, meaning metric becomes the decisive factor only when ADs are equal. A common trap is assuming the router always prefers the route with the lower AD, but here both routes have AD 1, so the metric comparison kicks in. Remember the memory tip: "Same AD, lower metric wins the bid."
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.. 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.
Exhibit
ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.1 10
ip route 192.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.2 5
A router has two static routes to the same 192.168.1.0/24 network: one via next-hop 10.1.1.1 with metric 10, and the other via next-hop 10.1.1.2 with metric 5. Both routes use the default administrative distance of 1. Which next hop does the router use to forward packets to this destination?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
10.1.1.2 because it has the lower metric
Both routes have the same prefix length and the same administrative distance. The route with the lower metric is preferred for a static route when the AD is equal only if different metrics are configured, and here the route via 10.1.1.2 has metric 5 versus metric 10.
Key principle: Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
10.1.1.1 because it appears first in the configuration
Why it's wrong here
Config order does not determine the best route here.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the router uses a first-come, first-served approach for static routes without considering metrics, then the first listed next hop would be chosen, making this option correct.
✓
10.1.1.2 because it has the lower metric
Why this is correct
Among equal-AD statics to the same prefix, the lower metric wins.
Related concept
Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
✗
Both next hops because all static routes always load balance
Why it's wrong here
They load balance only when relevant attributes are equal.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that both static routes have the same administrative distance and metric, and the router is configured to allow load balancing for static routes, then both next hops could be used simultaneously for traffic distribution.
✗
Neither next hop because static routes need tracking to be installed
Why it's wrong here
Tracking is optional, not required.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question specified that static routes were configured with a tracking mechanism (such as IP SLA), then the statement could be correct if the tracked route was down, leading to the conclusion that neither next hop would be used.
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.
✓10.1.1.2 because it has the lower metricCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Among equal-AD statics to the same prefix, the lower metric wins.
✗10.1.1.1 because it appears first in the configurationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The order of static routes in the configuration does not influence route selection; Cisco routers use administrative distance and metric to choose the best route.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the router uses a first-come, first-served approach for static routes without considering metrics, then the first listed next hop would be chosen, making this option correct.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that the first configured route is preferred, similar to how some ACLs or other features process entries sequentially.
✗Both next hops because all static routes always load balanceWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Static routes only load balance if they have equal AD and equal metric (and other attributes like next-hop reachability). Not all static routes automatically load balance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that both static routes have the same administrative distance and metric, and the router is configured to allow load balancing for static routes, then both next hops could be used simultaneously for traffic distribution.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse static routes with equal-cost multipath (ECMP) routing, where multiple routes with equal metrics are used for load balancing.
✗Neither next hop because static routes need tracking to be installedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Static routes are installed in the routing table as long as the next-hop is reachable; tracking (e.g., IP SLA) is optional and used for advanced failover scenarios, not a requirement for route installation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question specified that static routes were configured with a tracking mechanism (such as IP SLA), then the statement could be correct if the tracked route was down, leading to the conclusion that neither next hop would be used.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that static routes require additional mechanisms like tracking to be considered valid, but basic static routes work without tracking.
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: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is believing that the first static route configured to a destination is always preferred, which is incorrect because Cisco routers prioritize routes based on administrative distance and metric, not configuration order. Another common mistake is assuming static routes require tracking to be installed; tracking is optional and used only for failover scenarios. Additionally, some candidates incorrectly think all static routes load balance by default, but load balancing only happens when routes have equal AD and equal metrics. Misunderstanding these details can lead to incorrect answers about route selection behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Static routing is a fundamental routing method where network administrators manually configure routes to specific destinations. Each static route has an administrative distance (AD) value, which Cisco routers use to rank the trustworthiness of routes from different sources. By default, static routes have an AD of 1, making them highly preferred over dynamic routing protocols with higher ADs. However, when multiple static routes to the same destination exist, the router must decide which next hop to use based on additional criteria.
When two static routes share the same AD, the router compares their metrics to determine the best path. The metric in static routes is an optional value that can be manually assigned to influence route selection. The route with the lower metric is preferred and installed in the routing table. This behavior allows network engineers to fine-tune path selection for static routes without changing the AD. If the metrics are equal, the router can perform equal-cost load balancing by installing both routes.
A common exam trap is assuming that the first configured static route or the presence of tracking determines route preference. In reality, configuration order does not affect route selection, and tracking is optional for static routes to be installed. Additionally, load balancing only occurs when routes have equal AD and metrics. Practically, understanding this behavior helps network engineers design static routing with predictable failover and load balancing, ensuring reliable IP connectivity in Cisco networks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
When two static routes share the same AD, the router compares their metrics to select the preferred next hop.
A static route with a lower metric is preferred over one with a higher metric if both have the same AD.
The order of static route configuration does not influence route selection in Cisco IOS routing tables.
Static routes do not require tracking to be installed in the routing table; tracking is optional for failover scenarios.
Load balancing occurs only when multiple routes have equal AD and equal metrics; otherwise, only the best route is installed.
Cisco routers use the metric value in static routes to influence path selection when multiple static routes exist to the same prefix.
Understanding how Cisco IOS prioritizes static routes based on AD and metric is essential for effective IP connectivity troubleshooting.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
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 static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 10.1.1.2 because it has the lower metric — Both routes have the same prefix length and the same administrative distance. The route with the lower metric is preferred for a static route when the AD is equal only if different metrics are configured, and here the route via 10.1.1.2 has metric 5 versus metric 10.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static routes use administrative distance (AD) to determine route preference when multiple routes to the same destination exist.
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