CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.1.2 ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.2.2 200 Primary interface remains up/up when upstream device fails.
Exhibit: R1 has a default route pointing to 10.1.1.2. Users lose internet access when that next hop fails, even though a floating static backup exists. Why is the backup not installed?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is believing that a floating static route activates automatically when the primary next hop fails. Many candidates overlook that the router only removes the primary static route if it detects the route is invalid or unreachable. Without IP SLA or object tracking, the router sees the primary route as valid because the interface remains up, so it never installs the backup route. This misunderstanding causes confusion about why users lose internet access despite a floating static backup being configured. The exam tests your knowledge of how Cisco routers handle administrative distance and route tracking, not just static route configuration.
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
✓
The primary static route remains installed because there is no tracking to remove it
A floating static route is used only when the primary route disappears from the routing table. If the primary interface stays up and the next hop becomes unreachable beyond that segment, the route can remain installed unless tracking or another detection mechanism removes it.
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 backup route has a higher administrative distance and therefore is never considered
Why it's wrong here
The backup route's higher administrative distance does not make it 'never considered'; it only makes it less preferred while a lower-AD route exists. When the primary static route is removed from the routing table due to tracking or a change, the router immediately uses the backup as the new best route. In fact, floating static routes are defined precisely by having a higher AD than the primary, so this answer mischaracterizes how route selection works.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question stated that the backup route had an administrative distance of 20 while the primary route had an administrative distance of 10, then option A would be correct, as the backup would never be considered due to the higher administrative distance.
- ✓
The primary static route remains installed because there is no tracking to remove it
Why this is correct
In the absence of IP SLA tracking or a similar object-tracking mechanism, the router continues to install the primary static route even after its next hop becomes unreachable. Static routes do not have built-in liveness detection, so the route remains in the routing table and traffic is sent toward the dead 10.1.1.2 next hop. The floating backup route, having a higher administrative distance, is never selected because the lower-AD primary is still present.
- ✗
Floating statics work only with dynamic routing protocols
Why it's wrong here
Floating static routes are a pure static-routing feature; they operate independently of dynamic routing protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP. The router determines the best route solely by comparing administrative distances among routes for the same prefix, whether those routes were learned statically or dynamically. There is no requirement for a dynamic protocol to be running, so this statement is factually incorrect.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question where the configuration of a router includes both static and dynamic routing protocols, and the scenario specifies that floating static routes are not being utilized due to the presence of a dynamic routing protocol, this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that a floating static route was not being considered because a dynamic protocol was overriding it, then this option would apply.
- ✗
The backup route must use the same next hop as the primary route
Why it's wrong here
A floating backup route does not need to share the same next hop as the primary route; indeed, its purpose is to provide an alternate path when the primary next hop is unreachable. Using the same next hop would defeat the redundancy goal, since a failure of that next hop would also take down the backup. The router only cares about the destination prefix and administrative distance when deciding which route to install.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a question specifies that both the primary and backup static routes must have the same next hop for redundancy to be valid, this option would be correct. For example, if the exam states that both routes are required to point to the same next hop for the floating static to take effect.
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.
✓The primary static route remains installed because there is no tracking to remove itCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
In the absence of IP SLA tracking or a similar object-tracking mechanism, the router continues to install the primary static route even after its next hop becomes unreachable. Static routes do not have built-in liveness detection, so the route remains in the routing table and traffic is sent toward the dead 10.1.1.2 next hop. The floating backup route, having a higher administrative distance, is never selected because the lower-AD primary is still present.
✗The backup route has a higher administrative distance and therefore is never consideredWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the backup route can still be installed if it has a lower administrative distance than the primary route. In this scenario, the backup route is not being utilized due to the primary route remaining active without tracking.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question stated that the backup route had an administrative distance of 20 while the primary route had an administrative distance of 10, then option A would be correct, as the backup would never be considered due to the higher administrative distance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they understand that administrative distance affects route selection, leading them to mistakenly believe that a higher distance always prevents a route from being used, without considering the specific context of the question.
✗Floating statics work only with dynamic routing protocolsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because floating static routes can indeed work alongside dynamic routing protocols, allowing for backup routes to be installed when the primary route fails. The scenario described in the question does not involve dynamic routing protocols, making this option irrelevant.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question where the configuration of a router includes both static and dynamic routing protocols, and the scenario specifies that floating static routes are not being utilized due to the presence of a dynamic routing protocol, this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that a floating static route was not being considered because a dynamic protocol was overriding it, then this option would apply.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how floating static routes interact with dynamic routing protocols, leading them to believe that such routes are incompatible with dynamic routing configurations.
✗The backup route must use the same next hop as the primary routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because a floating static route can exist with a different next hop than the primary route. The backup route does not need to share the same next hop to be considered for installation when the primary fails.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a question specifies that both the primary and backup static routes must have the same next hop for redundancy to be valid, this option would be correct. For example, if the exam states that both routes are required to point to the same next hop for the floating static to take effect.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how floating static routes function, mistakenly believing that they require identical next hops to be valid. This misconception can stem from confusion with dynamic routing protocols that often have stricter requirements.
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
Interpreting HSRP and VRRP Operational Status
Key term
Default route
A default route is a catch-all routing entry that tells a network device where to send packets when no specific route matches the destination address.
Key term
Static route
A static route is a manually configured path in a router's routing table that tells the router exactly where to send packets for a specific destination network.
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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.