Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
interface g0/0 ip address 192.0.2.1 255.255.255.252 ip route 172.16.60.0 255.255.255.0 198.51.100.9
Exhibit: A static route was added, but traffic to 172.16.60.0/24 still fails. Which detail in the exhibit best explains why?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
The route should use UDP instead of IP
Static routes do not specify transport protocols.
B
Best answer
The next-hop address is not reachable on the connected link
A next hop must be resolvable through a connected network.
C
Distractor review
The destination mask should be /16 for static routes
A /24 route is perfectly valid.
D
Distractor review
Static routes cannot point to public IP addresses
They can.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is assuming that the next-hop IP address in a static route can be any valid IP address, regardless of subnet placement. Many candidates overlook that the next-hop must be reachable on a directly connected subnet, causing the router to fail ARP resolution and drop traffic. Another tempting mistake is confusing routing with transport protocols, such as thinking static routes require UDP or TCP specification, which is incorrect because routing operates at Layer 3 independently of Layer 4 protocols. Misunderstanding subnet masks as always needing to be /16 or avoiding public IPs for next hops also leads to incorrect answers.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Static routing is a fundamental routing method where network administrators manually configure routes to specific destination networks. A static route includes a destination network, subnet mask, and a next-hop IP address or exit interface. The router uses this information to forward packets destined for the specified network. For the static route to function, the next-hop IP address must be reachable via a directly connected interface, allowing the router to resolve the next-hop MAC address through ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and forward the packet at Layer 2. When configuring a static route, the next-hop IP address must reside within the subnet of a directly connected interface. This requirement ensures the router can successfully send ARP requests to resolve the next-hop MAC address. If the next-hop IP is outside the connected subnet, the router cannot resolve it, and the static route will not be used for forwarding traffic. This behavior is critical in Cisco IOS routing and is a common troubleshooting point when static routes appear configured correctly but traffic fails. A frequent exam trap involves misconfiguring the next-hop IP address outside the connected subnet, leading to unreachable routes despite correct static route syntax. Candidates might incorrectly assume that static routes can use any IP address as the next hop or confuse routing with transport protocols like UDP. Practically, network engineers must verify the next-hop IP address is within the subnet of an active interface to ensure proper forwarding. This understanding prevents routing black holes and supports reliable static route deployment in Cisco networks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable on a directly connected subnet for the router to forward packets correctly.
- Routers use the outgoing interface and next-hop IP address to resolve Layer 2 addresses before forwarding packets to the destination network.
- If the next-hop IP address is outside the subnet of the outgoing interface, the router cannot resolve it via ARP, causing the static route to fail.
- Static routes do not specify transport protocols like UDP or TCP because routing decisions operate at Layer 3, independent of Layer 4 protocols.
- The subnet mask in a static route must accurately reflect the destination network; however, a /24 mask is valid and commonly used for specific subnets.
- Static routes can point to any valid IP address, including public IPs, as long as the next-hop is reachable and correctly configured.
- Routers do not forward packets to unreachable next hops, so verifying next-hop reachability is critical when troubleshooting static route failures.
- Misconfiguring the next-hop address outside the connected interface subnet is a common cause of static route failures in Cisco routing environments.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable on a directly connected subnet for the router to forward packets correctly.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The next-hop address is not reachable on the connected link — A static route is only useful if the next-hop address is reachable. The configured next hop here is in a different subnet than the outgoing interface, so the router cannot resolve it correctly on that link.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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