Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
What is the main operational reason a floating static route is assigned a higher administrative distance than the preferred route source?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
So it remains a standby route and activates only if the preferred route is lost.
This is correct because the higher distance makes the static route float behind the primary route.
B
Distractor review
So it will always override the preferred route immediately.
This is wrong because a higher distance does the opposite.
C
Distractor review
So the router can remove the default route automatically.
This is wrong because floating static routes do not automatically remove defaults.
D
Distractor review
So the route becomes more specific than the primary route.
This is wrong because administrative distance does not change prefix specificity.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is assuming that a floating static route with a higher administrative distance will immediately override the preferred route. This is incorrect because a higher administrative distance means the route is less preferred and only becomes active if the primary route disappears. Another mistake is thinking that administrative distance changes the route’s prefix specificity, which it does not. Candidates may also confuse floating static routes with automatic default route removal, but floating static routes do not remove or alter default routes automatically. Understanding these distinctions is critical to avoid selecting incorrect answers.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router feature that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information sources. Each routing protocol or route type has a default AD value; lower values indicate more preferred routes. Floating static routes are static routes configured with a higher AD than the primary route source, ensuring they do not become the active route unless the preferred route fails. When a router receives multiple routes to the same destination, it compares their AD values and installs the route with the lowest AD into the routing table. By assigning a floating static route a higher AD than the preferred route, the router keeps the static route in the routing table but in a standby state. This design allows the floating static route to activate only if the primary route disappears, providing a backup path without disrupting normal routing. A common exam trap is misunderstanding the purpose of the higher AD on floating static routes. Some candidates mistakenly believe a higher AD causes the route to override the preferred route immediately or that it changes route specificity. In reality, the higher AD defers route activation until necessary, preserving network stability and ensuring backup routes only engage during failures.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing sources and influences route selection on Cisco routers.
- A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance than the preferred route to remain inactive unless the primary route fails.
- Cisco routers install the route with the lowest administrative distance into the routing table as the active path.
- Floating static routes provide backup routing paths that activate only when the preferred route is lost, enhancing network redundancy.
- Administrative distance does not affect route specificity or prefix length; it only influences route preference.
- Static routes with default administrative distance (1) override dynamic routing protocols with higher distances unless manually adjusted.
- Assigning a higher administrative distance to static routes prevents them from competing with dynamic routes during normal operations.
- Backup routes configured as floating static routes ensure seamless failover without manual intervention when primary routes become unavailable.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of routing sources and influences route selection on Cisco routers.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: So it remains a standby route and activates only if the preferred route is lost. — The higher administrative distance makes the static route stay inactive until the preferred source disappears. In practical terms, the administrator wants a backup path, not a competing primary path. By raising the static route’s distance, it remains in reserve and takes over only if the better route is lost. This is the essence of a floating static design. The static route is present, but it is intentionally not the first choice under normal conditions.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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