This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: a router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.. 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
show ip route 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 192.0.2.2
O*E2 0.0.0.0/0 [110/1] via 198.51.100.2
Exhibit: R1 has a static default route to 192.0.2.2 and also learns a default route from OSPF. Which default route is installed in the routing table?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The static default route because its administrative distance is lower
When two routes to the same prefix are learned from different sources, the router compares administrative distance first. A static route has AD 1 by default, while OSPF has AD 110, so the static default route wins unless its AD was changed manually.
Key principle: A router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.
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 OSPF default route because dynamic routes are preferred
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic routes are not automatically preferred over static routes.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the static route has a higher administrative distance than the OSPFdefault route, such as if the static route was configured with an AD of 200, then the OSPF default route would be installed in the routing table instead of the static one.
✓
The static default route because its administrative distance is lower
A router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.
✗
Both default routes because they have the same prefix length
Why it's wrong here
Equal prefix length is not enough; AD still decides.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question states that both routes are being used for load balancing and the router is configured to support multiple equal-cost routes, this option could be correct, allowing both default routes to be installed in the routing table.
✗
Neither route until a floating static route is configured
Why it's wrong here
A normal static default route is already valid and installable.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the static route has a higher administrative distance than the OSPF route, and there is a configuration that prevents the static route from being installed until a floating static route is defined, this option would be correct. For example, if the static route's administrative distance was set to a higher value than OSPF's.
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 static default route because its administrative distance is lowerCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Static AD 1 beats OSPF AD 110.
✗The OSPF default route because dynamic routes are preferredWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Dynamic routes are not automatically preferred over static routes; the administrative distance determines preference, and static routes have a lower AD (1) than OSPF (110).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the static route has a higher administrative distance than the OSPF default route, such as if the static route was configured with an AD of 200, then the OSPF default route would be installed in the routing table instead of the static one.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that dynamically learned routes are more trustworthy because they reflect current network topology, but static routes have a lower AD by design.
✗Both default routes because they have the same prefix lengthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Equal prefix length is a requirement for load balancing, but when administrative distances differ, the route with the lower AD is installed; both routes having the same prefix length does not override AD.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question states that both routes are being used for load balancing and the router is configured to support multiple equal-cost routes, this option could be correct, allowing both default routes to be installed in the routing table.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse the rule that equal prefix length allows load balancing with the rule that AD is the primary tiebreaker; they may think equal prefix length means both routes are installed.
✗Neither route until a floating static route is configuredWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A floating static route is a static route with a higher AD than the dynamic route, used as a backup. In this scenario, the static route has a lower AD (1) than OSPF (110), so it is immediately installed without any special configuration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the static route has a higher administrative distance than the OSPF route, and there is a configuration that prevents the static route from being installed until a floating static route is defined, this option would be correct. For example, if the static route's administrative distance was set to a higher value than OSPF's.
Why candidates choose this
The term 'floating static route' is often misunderstood; students may think that all static routes require special configuration to be installed, but only those with higher AD than the dynamic route are considered floating.
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 common exam trap is believing that OSPF default routes always override static default routes because dynamic routing protocols are 'more intelligent' or 'preferred.' This misconception leads to selecting the OSPF route as installed, ignoring the fundamental Cisco routing rule that administrative distance determines route preference. Since static routes have a default AD of 1 and OSPF routes have an AD of 110, the static route is preferred unless its AD is manually changed. Misunderstanding this can cause incorrect answers and confusion about route installation behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco routing, when a router learns multiple routes to the same destination prefix from different sources, it uses administrative distance (AD) to determine which route to install in the routing table. Administrative distance is a value that rates the trustworthiness of a routing source; lower values indicate more preferred routes. Static routes have a default AD of 1, making them highly trusted, while OSPF routes have an AD of 110 by default, which is less preferred compared to static routes.
When R1 has both a static default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to 192.0.2.2 and also learns a default route from OSPF, the router compares the AD values of these routes. Since the static route’s AD of 1 is lower than OSPF’s AD of 110, the static default route is installed in the routing table. This behavior ensures that manually configured static routes take precedence over dynamically learned routes unless the static route’s AD is manually increased.
A common exam trap is assuming that dynamic routes like OSPF are always preferred over static routes simply because they are learned dynamically. However, Cisco routers always prioritize routes with the lowest administrative distance regardless of static or dynamic origin. Practically, this means that unless a floating static route (with a higher AD) is configured, the static default route will override the OSPF default route in the routing table, affecting packet forwarding decisions.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.
Static routes have a default administrative distance of 1, making them more preferred than most dynamic routing protocols by default.
OSPF routes have a default administrative distance of 110, which is higher than static routes and thus less preferred.
When a static default route and an OSPF default route coexist, the router installs the static route in the routing table due to its lower administrative distance.
Administrative distance is the primary factor in route selection before considering metrics or prefix length.
Equal prefix length routes do not guarantee both routes will be installed; administrative distance determines which route is preferred.
A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to act as a backup route and is only installed if the primary route fails.
Dynamic routing protocols do not automatically override static routes; manual configuration is required to change route preference.
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 router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.
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 router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — A router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The static default route because its administrative distance is lower — When two routes to the same prefix are learned from different sources, the router compares administrative distance first. A static route has AD 1 by default, while OSPF has AD 110, so the static default route wins unless its AD was changed manually.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
A router compares administrative distance values to select the best route when multiple routes to the same prefix exist from different sources.
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