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: a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.. 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
R1(config)# ip route 172.16.40.0 255.255.255.0 10.10.10.2
R1# show ip route 172.16.40.0
% Subnet not in table
R1# show ip route 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 192.0.2.254
Exhibit: A static route to 172.16.40.0/24 is configured, but traffic still follows the default route. Which two explanations are plausible?
R1(config)# ip route 172.16.40.0 255.255.255.0 10.10.10.2
R1# show ip route 172.16.40.0
% Subnet not in table
R1# show ip route 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 192.0.2.254
A
The next hop for the static route may not be reachable
A recursive lookup problem can prevent installation.
B
The exit interface associated with that path may be down
If the route cannot resolve to an active path, it may not be installed.
C
The default route always overrides more specific routes
Why wrong: Longest match wins when the specific route exists.
D
Static routes require a metric lower than 1
Why wrong: That is not how static route installation works.
E
The destination prefix must be configured under router ospf first
Why wrong: Static routes do not depend on OSPF configuration.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The next hop for the static route may not be reachable
If a static route points to an unreachable next hop or the outgoing interface is down, the route may not be installed as usable. In that case the router can still use a less specific route such as the default route.
Key principle: A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
The next hop for the static route may not be reachable
Why this is correct
A recursive lookup problem can prevent installation.
Related concept
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
✓
The exit interface associated with that path may be down
Why this is correct
If the route cannot resolve to an active path, it may not be installed.
Related concept
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
✗
The default route always overrides more specific routes
Why it's wrong here
Longest match wins when the specific route exists.
The destination prefix must be configured under router ospf first
Why it's wrong here
Static routes do not depend on OSPF configuration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is believing that a static route always takes precedence over a default route regardless of network conditions. Candidates may overlook that Cisco routers require the next hop to be reachable and the exit interface to be operational before installing the static route. If these conditions are not met, the router ignores the static route and uses the default route instead. This misunderstanding can lead to incorrect answers, especially when the question involves static route reachability or interface status.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Static routing in Cisco devices involves manually configuring a specific path to a destination network. When a static route is configured, the router uses the next-hop IP address or the exit interface to forward packets. However, for the static route to be installed in the routing table and used for forwarding, the next hop must be reachable and the exit interface must be operational. If the next hop is unreachable or the interface is down, the router will not install the static route as a valid path.
Cisco routers perform a recursive lookup to verify the reachability of the next hop IP address specified in a static route. This means the router checks its routing table to find a route to the next hop. If no route exists or the interface associated with the next hop is down, the static route is considered invalid and is not installed. Consequently, the router falls back to using a less specific route, such as the default route, to forward traffic.
A common exam trap is assuming that a static route will always override a default route regardless of next-hop reachability or interface status. In practice, Cisco routers require the static route to be fully resolvable and the exit interface to be up before using it. If these conditions are not met, the router prefers the default route, which can lead to unexpected routing behavior. Understanding this helps avoid misconfigurations and troubleshooting errors in static routing scenarios.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
Cisco routers perform a recursive lookup to verify the next hop of a static route before installing it.
If the exit interface associated with a static route is down, the router will not install the static route as usable.
When a static route is invalid due to unreachable next hop or down interface, the router prefers a less specific route like the default route.
Static routes do not depend on dynamic routing protocols such as OSPF to be installed or used.
The longest prefix match rule ensures that a specific static route overrides a default route when it is valid and reachable.
Administrative distance and metric values do not prevent a static route from being installed if the next hop is unreachable or interface is down.
Cisco routers require both next-hop reachability and interface operational status to forward traffic via a static route.
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
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The next hop for the static route may not be reachable — If a static route points to an unreachable next hop or the outgoing interface is down, the route may not be installed as usable. In that case the router can still use a less specific route such as the default route.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable for the route to be installed in the routing table.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.