CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
R1# show ip route 192.168.50.0 Routing entry for 192.168.50.0/24 Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0 Routing Descriptor Blocks: * 10.1.1.2 Candidate sources seen on R1: - static via 10.1.1.2 - eBGP via 10.2.2.2 metric 0 - OSPF via 10.3.3.3 metric 20 - RIP via 10.4.4.4 metric 2
Exhibit: R1 learns 192.168.50.0/24 from multiple sources. Which two statements are correct about the route that will be installed in the routing table?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is assuming that the routing protocol with the lowest metric always wins, regardless of administrative distance. For example, candidates might incorrectly believe that OSPF with a cost of 20 beats eBGP with an AD of 20 or that RIP’s hop count of 2 beats OSPF’s cost of 20. This mistake arises from confusing metrics with administrative distance. Metrics are only compared within the same routing protocol, while administrative distance is the primary factor when routes come from different sources. Ignoring this can lead to selecting incorrect answers about route preference.
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 static route is preferred because its administrative distance is lowest
The router chooses the route with the lowest administrative distance first. If administrative distance ties, it then compares the metric within that routing source. In this case the static route wins because AD 1 beats eBGP 20, OSPF 110, and RIP 120.
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 route is preferred because its administrative distance is lowest
Why this is correct
The static route is preferred because it has the lowest administrative distance (AD) of any source for this prefix. By default, Cisco assigns a static route an AD of 1, while eBGP, OSPF, and RIP have AD values of 20, 110, and 120 respectively. A router selects the route with the lowest AD; metrics are only compared within the same routing source, so the static route wins decisively.
- ✗
The OSPF route is preferred because cost 20 is lower than RIP metric 2
Why it's wrong here
This reasoning wrongly attempts to compare OSPF's cost (20) with RIP's metric (2), but metrics are only meaningful within the same routing protocol. The router first selects the routing source by administrative distance, so OSPF's AD of 110 beats RIP's AD of 120, and only then would the OSPF cost be evaluated against other OSPF routes. A RIP hop count of 2 and an OSPF cost of 20 are not interchangeable values, making this direct comparison invalid.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked which route is preferred when comparing OSPF and RIP routes for the same prefix, and both have the same administrative distance (e.g., both are redistributed into each other), then OSPF with cost 20 would be preferred over RIP with hop count 2 because OSPF has a lower metric.
- ✗
The eBGP route would win over the static route because BGP is more dynamic
Why it's wrong here
This option confuses the dynamic nature of BGP with route prioritization, but the router's decision rule is administrative distance, not whether the source is dynamic or static. A static route has an AD of 1, while eBGP has an AD of 20, so the static route is always preferred as long as it exists. Even though eBGP can attempt to dynamically reconverge, it cannot override a lower-AD static route for the same prefix.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the static route had a higher administrative distance (e.g., configured with 'ip route 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 200'), then eBGP (AD 20) would be preferred over that static route.
- ✓
If the static route were removed, the eBGP route would beat OSPF and RIP
Why this is correct
If the static route were removed, the eBGP route would be selected because its AD of 20 is significantly lower than OSPF's 110 and RIP's 120. Administrative distance is the first tie-breaker for routes from different protocols, and the eBGP-learned route is considered more trustworthy by the router. Thus, even though OSPF and RIP provide valid paths, eBGP's lower AD makes it the best candidate.
- ✗
RIP would be chosen before OSPF because hop count is simpler
Why it's wrong here
This choice incorrectly assumes that protocol simplicity influences route selection, but routing decisions are not based on how easy a metric is to calculate. Instead, the router first compares administrative distance, and OSPF's AD of 110 is lower than RIP's AD of 120, so OSPF's route wins regardless of hop count. The hop count is merely RIP's metric, and metrics from different protocols are never compared directly, so simplicity is irrelevant.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that all routes have the same administrative distance (e.g., all are learned via the same routing protocol), then RIP would be chosen over OSPF only if the metric (hop count) is lower than OSPF's cost. However, this scenario is unlikely because OSPF and RIP have different ADs.
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 route is preferred because its administrative distance is lowestCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The static route is preferred because it has the lowest administrative distance (AD) of any source for this prefix. By default, Cisco assigns a static route an AD of 1, while eBGP, OSPF, and RIP have AD values of 20, 110, and 120 respectively. A router selects the route with the lowest AD; metrics are only compared within the same routing source, so the static route wins decisively.
✗The OSPF route is preferred because cost 20 is lower than RIP metric 2Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
OSPF cost 20 is not directly comparable to RIP metric 2 because they use different metrics; administrative distance determines route preference, not metric values.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked which route is preferred when comparing OSPF and RIP routes for the same prefix, and both have the same administrative distance (e.g., both are redistributed into each other), then OSPF with cost 20 would be preferred over RIP with hop count 2 because OSPF has a lower metric.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates mistakenly compare metric values across different routing protocols, not realizing that administrative distance is the primary tiebreaker when routes from different protocols compete.
✗The eBGP route would win over the static route because BGP is more dynamicWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In Cisco routers, the administrative distance of a static route (default 1) is lower than that of eBGP (default 20), so the static route is preferred regardless of BGP being more dynamic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the static route had a higher administrative distance (e.g., configured with 'ip route 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 200'), then eBGP (AD 20) would be preferred over that static route.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe that dynamic protocols always override static routes, or they confuse the concept of 'more dynamic' with lower administrative distance.
✗RIP would be chosen before OSPF because hop count is simplerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
RIP uses hop count as metric, but OSPF uses cost (based on bandwidth). Administrative distance is the primary tiebreaker; OSPF has AD 110, RIP has AD 120, so OSPF is preferred regardless of metric values.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that all routes have the same administrative distance (e.g., all are learned via the same routing protocol), then RIP would be chosen over OSPF only if the metric (hop count) is lower than OSPF's cost. However, this scenario is unlikely because OSPF and RIP have different ADs.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse metric with administrative distance, or assume that a simpler metric like hop count is always preferred over a more complex one like cost.
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
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
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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.