CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
R1: S* 0.0.0.0/0 [200/0] via 192.0.2.2 (configured) OSPF neighbor advertises 0.0.0.0/0 as O E2 [110/1]
Exhibit: R1 has the static route 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.0.2.2 200' and also learns a default route from OSPF. Which default route will be installed while the OSPF route is present?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is assuming that static routes always override dynamic routes because static routes have a default administrative distance of 1. However, in this question, the static route is configured with an administrative distance of 200, making it less preferred than the OSPF route with an AD of 110. This floating static route is intended as a backup and will not be installed while the OSPF route is present. Misreading the static route’s AD or ignoring it leads to the incorrect conclusion that the static route will be used, which is a frequent mistake in CCNA routing questions.
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 OSPF default route
The OSPF external default route wins because its administrative distance is 110, which is lower than the floating static route's distance of 200. The static route is intentionally given a higher AD so it is used only as a backup.
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 static default route
Why it's wrong here
The static default route is not used because it is a floating static entry created with a deliberately high administrative distance, such as 200, making it less preferred than the OSPF default route (AD 110). In a default configuration without a custom AD, a static route would win, but here the OSPF route is installed as the primary path. The static route quietly remains as a standby and only activates when the OSPF route fails or is withdrawn.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the OSPF route is not present or is down, the static default route would be the only available route to the default gateway, making it the correct answer for a question asking which default route would be installed.
- ✓
The OSPF default route
Why this is correct
The OSPF default route is the preferred route because it has a lower administrative distance (110) than the floating static default route, which is configured with a higher AD (e.g., 200) to serve as a backup. OSPF injects the default via 'default-information originate', and the routing table installs only the OSPF route for 0.0.0.0/0. The static route remains in the configuration but is not used until the OSPF route disappears.
- ✗
Both default routes with per-packet load balancing
Why it's wrong here
Per-packet load balancing between two default routes from different protocols is impossible because load balancing requires equal-cost paths from the same routing protocol with identical administrative distance and metric. The static default route has a different AD from OSPF, so the router elects a single best path; it would never simultaneously use both. Even if both were in the table (which cannot happen without equal AD), per-packet forwarding would require CEF and equal-cost multipath across the same protocol.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance, such as if the static route's distance is changed to match that of OSPF, the router could perform per-packet load balancing between the two default routes.
- ✗
Neither route because floating statics suppress dynamic defaults
Why it's wrong here
The idea that floating statics suppress dynamic defaults is incorrect; a floating static route does nothing more than sit in the running configuration with an elevated administrative distance. It cannot suppress, remove, or block an OSPF default route, and both can coexist without conflict. The router simply ignores the floating static while the OSPF default exists, and it only consults the floating static if the OSPF route is lost.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the static route has an administrative distance lower than the OSPF route (e.g., 110), the static route would take precedence. The question could specify that the static route is configured with a lower administrative distance than the OSPF route, making this option correct.
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 OSPF default routeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The OSPF default route is the preferred route because it has a lower administrative distance (110) than the floating static default route, which is configured with a higher AD (e.g., 200) to serve as a backup. OSPF injects the default via 'default-information originate', and the routing table installs only the OSPF route for 0.0.0.0/0. The static route remains in the configuration but is not used until the OSPF route disappears.
✗The static default routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The static default route will not be installed when a dynamic OSPF default route is present, as OSPF routes have a lower administrative distance than static routes, making the OSPF route preferred.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the OSPF route is not present or is down, the static default route would be the only available route to the default gateway, making it the correct answer for a question asking which default route would be installed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they might overlook the administrative distance concept, mistakenly believing that static routes always take precedence over dynamic routes regardless of the routing protocol's state.
✗Both default routes with per-packet load balancingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because OSPF routes have a lower administrative distance than static routes, meaning only the OSPF default route will be installed when both are present.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance, such as if the static route's distance is changed to match that of OSPF, the router could perform per-packet load balancing between the two default routes.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how routing protocols interact, leading them to believe that multiple default routes can be utilized simultaneously for load balancing.
✗Neither route because floating statics suppress dynamic defaultsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because floating static routes only suppress dynamic routes if they have a higher administrative distance than the dynamic routes. In this case, the static route has an administrative distance of 200, which is higher than the default OSPF route, allowing the OSPF route to be installed.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the static route has an administrative distance lower than the OSPF route (e.g., 110), the static route would take precedence. The question could specify that the static route is configured with a lower administrative distance than the OSPF route, making this option correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might confuse the concept of administrative distances and assume that static routes always take precedence over dynamic routes without considering their specific values.
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?”
Visual reference
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
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol used to find the best path for data packets to travel across IP networks, like a smart GPS that recalculates routes when traffic changes.
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the SPF algorithm to compute the shortest path to each destination within a single autonomous system.
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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.