The answer is that the router is using longest prefix match static routes, and the /26 route is more specific than the /24 route, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2. This occurs because the router always selects the route with the longest matching prefix length, regardless of administrative distance or metric when both are equal. In the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how static routes with different prefix lengths compete in the routing table; a common trap is assuming the router will use the route with the lower administrative distance or the one the engineer intended, but longest prefix match always takes precedence. Remember that a /26 covers a smaller range of addresses (0–63) than a /24 (0–255), so any destination within that narrower range will match the more specific route. A helpful memory tip: “Longest prefix wins the packet—think of it as the most precise address match, not the most preferred administrative distance.”
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2, E - EGP
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is not set
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 3 subnets, 2 masks
S 10.10.10.0/24 [1/0] via 10.1.1.2
S 10.10.10.0/26 [1/0] via 10.2.2.2
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
C 10.2.2.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
L 10.2.2.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
Refer to the exhibit. An engineer expects all traffic destined to the 10.10.10.0 network to be forwarded via 10.1.1.2. However, when testing connectivity to host 10.10.10.64, traffic is being sent to 10.2.2.2 instead. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2, E - EGP
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is not set
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 3 subnets, 2 masks
S 10.10.10.0/24 [1/0] via 10.1.1.2
S 10.10.10.0/26 [1/0] via 10.2.2.2
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
C 10.2.2.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
L 10.2.2.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
A
The static route to 10.10.10.0/24 has a higher administrative distance than the /26 route, making the /26 preferred.
Why wrong: Both static routes display [1/0] in the output, indicating an administrative distance of 1. There is no difference in AD, so this cannot be the cause.
B
The router is using longest prefix matching; the /26 route is more specific, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2.
The exhibit shows two overlapping static routes. The /26 prefix length is longer (more specific) than the /24. According to IP routing logic, the router selects the route with the longest matching prefix. The destination 10.10.10.64 falls within the /26 subnet, making it the preferred route.
C
The /26 static route was configured as a floating static route with an administrative distance of 5, overriding the /24 route.
Why wrong: A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than 1 (such as 5) and would appear as [5/0] in the routing table. The exhibit shows [1/0] for the /26 route, confirming it is not a floating static route.
D
The next-hop 10.1.1.2 for the /24 route is unreachable, causing the router to fall back to the /26 route.
Why wrong: If the next-hop 10.1.1.2 were unreachable, the static route would not be installed in the routing table at all. Because it appears in the output, the next-hop is reachable, and the route is valid. No fallback is occurring; both routes are active.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The router is using longest prefix matching; the /26 route is more specific, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2.
The show ip route output contains two static routes for destination 10.10.10.0, one with a /24 prefix and one with a /26 prefix. Both routes have an administrative distance of 1 and a metric of 0, as indicated by the [1/0] in the output. The router always performs longest prefix matching; a packet destined to 10.10.10.64 falls within the range 10.10.10.0 – 10.10.10.63 of the /26 route, making the /26 the more specific match. Therefore, traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2 despite the engineer's intent.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 to 10.10.10.0/24 has a higher administrative distance than the /26 route, making the /26 preferred.
Why it's wrong here
Both static routes display [1/0] in the output, indicating an administrative distance of 1. There is no difference in AD, so this cannot be the cause.
✓
The router is using longest prefix matching; the /26 route is more specific, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2.
Why this is correct
The exhibit shows two overlapping static routes. The /26 prefix length is longer (more specific) than the /24. According to IP routing logic, the router selects the route with the longest matching prefix. The destination 10.10.10.64 falls within the /26 subnet, making it the preferred route.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The /26 static route was configured as a floating static route with an administrative distance of 5, overriding the /24 route.
Why it's wrong here
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than 1 (such as 5) and would appear as [5/0] in the routing table. The exhibit shows [1/0] for the /26 route, confirming it is not a floating static route.
✗
The next-hop 10.1.1.2 for the /24 route is unreachable, causing the router to fall back to the /26 route.
Why it's wrong here
If the next-hop 10.1.1.2 were unreachable, the static route would not be installed in the routing table at all. Because it appears in the output, the next-hop is reachable, and the route is valid. No fallback is occurring; both routes are active.
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 router is using longest prefix matching; the /26 route is more specific, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The exhibit shows two overlapping static routes. The /26 prefix length is longer (more specific) than the /24. According to IP routing logic, the router selects the route with the longest matching prefix. The destination 10.10.10.64 falls within the /26 subnet, making it the preferred route.
✗The static route to 10.10.10.0/24 has a higher administrative distance than the /26 route, making the /26 preferred.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Misreading the administrative distance value in the routing table; candidates may overlook that both are the same.
✗The /26 static route was configured as a floating static route with an administrative distance of 5, overriding the /24 route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Assuming that any backup route must be a floating static, without verifying the actual AD value in the exhibit.
✗The next-hop 10.1.1.2 for the /24 route is unreachable, causing the router to fall back to the /26 route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Misconception that a route can be displayed yet be in a 'down' state; in reality, an invalid next-hop prevents the route from being installed.
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: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Both static routes display [1/0] in the output, indicating an administrative distance of 1. There is no difference in AD, so this cannot be the cause.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The router is using longest prefix matching; the /26 route is more specific, so traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2. — The show ip route output contains two static routes for destination 10.10.10.0, one with a /24 prefix and one with a /26 prefix. Both routes have an administrative distance of 1 and a metric of 0, as indicated by the [1/0] in the output. The router always performs longest prefix matching; a packet destined to 10.10.10.64 falls within the range 10.10.10.0 – 10.10.10.63 of the /26 route, making the /26 the more specific match. Therefore, traffic to 10.10.10.64 is forwarded via 10.2.2.2 despite the engineer's intent.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Why does traffic to 172.31.80.10 use the RIP route (172.31.80.0/24) instead of the static route (172.31.0.0/16)?
hard
✓ A.Because the RIP /24 route is more specific than the static /16 route.
B.Because RIP always overrides static routing.
C.Because static routes cannot be used for private IPv4 space.
D.Because the static route is automatically removed whenever RIP is enabled.
Why A: Traffic uses the RIP route because the static route is less specific than the RIP route. In practical terms, longest-prefix match is always evaluated first. Even though the static route is manually configured, the more specific RIP prefix wins because it describes the destination more precisely.
This is a strong route-selection item because it tests whether you can prioritize specificity ahead of route source preference.
Last reviewed: Jun 14, 2026
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