- A
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
This is correct because Cisco routers assign default administrative distances as follows: connected routes have the highest preference (0), static routes are next (1), EIGRP summary routes (5), OSPF (110), IS-IS (115), and RIP (120). Lower values indicate more trustworthy routes.
- B
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 90, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5, not 90. The value 90 is the default distance for internal EIGRP routes, not summary routes.
- C
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 130
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for RIP is 120, not 130. RIP has a default AD of 120.
- D
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 100, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for OSPF is 110, not 100. OSPF routes have a default AD of 110.
CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.. 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.
Match each route source to its default administrative distance on a Cisco router.
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
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Default administrative distances on Cisco routers: connected=0, static=1, EIGRP summary=5, OSPF=110, IS-IS=115, RIP=120. Lower value indicates higher preference.
Key principle: Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Why this is correct
This is correct because Cisco routers assign default administrative distances as follows: connected routes have the highest preference (0), static routes are next (1), EIGRP summary routes (5), OSPF (110), IS-IS (115), and RIP (120). Lower values indicate more trustworthy routes.
Related concept
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.
- ✗
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 90, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for an EIGRP summary route is 5, not 90. The value 90 is the default distance for internal EIGRP routes, not summary routes.
- ✗
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 130
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for RIP is 120, not 130. RIP has a default AD of 120.
- ✗
Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 100, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the default administrative distance for OSPF is 110, not 100. OSPF routes have a default AD of 110.
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.
✓Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because Cisco routers assign default administrative distances as follows: connected routes have the highest preference (0), static routes are next (1), EIGRP summary routes (5), OSPF (110), IS-IS (115), and RIP (120). Lower values indicate more trustworthy routes.
✗Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 90, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that EIGRP summary routes have a default AD of 5, while internal EIGRP routes have an AD of 90.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they confuse the AD of EIGRP summary routes (5) with the AD of internal EIGRP routes (90).
✗Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 130Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that RIP's default AD is 120, not 130.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they misremember the AD for RIP, possibly confusing it with other metrics or distances.
✗Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 100, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that OSPF's default AD is 110, not 100.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they might think OSPF has a lower AD than it actually does, or confuse it with other protocols like IGRP (100).
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
The exam trap is that candidates often confuse the administrative distances for different routing protocols, especially EIGRP summary (5) vs. internal EIGRP (90), and OSPF (110) vs. IGRP (100). Remember that EIGRP summary routes are more preferred than internal EIGRP routes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a fundamental concept in Cisco routing that determines the reliability of routing information received from various sources. It is a numeric value assigned to each route source, where a lower AD indicates a more trustworthy route. Cisco routers use AD to decide which route to install in the routing table when multiple routes to the same destination exist from different routing protocols or sources. The AD values are predefined but can be manually adjusted for advanced routing scenarios. The default administrative distances for common route sources are critical to understand for CCNA-level routing knowledge. Connected interfaces have an AD of 0, meaning they are always preferred since they represent directly attached networks. Static routes have an AD of 1, making them the next most trusted after connected routes. External BGP (eBGP) routes have an AD of 20, which is lower than most interior gateway protocols, so eBGP routes are preferred over OSPF (AD 110) and EIGRP external routes (AD 170). OSPF routes have an AD of 110, which is higher than static and eBGP but lower than RIP (AD 120). This hierarchy ensures predictable route selection based on trustworthiness. A common exam trap is confusing administrative distance with routing protocol metrics. While AD compares route sources, metrics determine the best path within the same routing protocol. For example, OSPF uses cost as its metric, but if a static route exists to the same destination, the router prefers the static route due to its lower AD. Misunderstanding this can lead to incorrect assumptions about route selection. Practically, network engineers use AD to manipulate route preferences and implement routing policies, such as preferring static routes over dynamic ones or controlling route redistribution.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.
- Connected routes have the lowest administrative distance of 0, so Cisco routers always prefer directly connected interfaces over other route sources.
- Static routes have an administrative distance of 1, making them more preferred than dynamic routing protocols but less preferred than connected routes.
- External BGP (eBGP) routes have an administrative distance of 20, which is lower than most interior routing protocols, so eBGP routes are preferred over OSPF and EIGRP external routes.
- OSPF routes have a default administrative distance of 110, which is higher than eBGP and static routes, so OSPF routes are less preferred when multiple routes exist.
- When multiple routes to the same destination exist, Cisco routers compare administrative distances first before considering metrics to determine the best path.
- Administrative distance is only compared between routes learned from different routing protocols or sources; routes from the same protocol use metrics for path selection.
- Understanding default administrative distances helps network engineers predict route selection behavior and troubleshoot routing issues effectively.
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
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Connected: 0, Static: 1, EIGRP summary: 5, OSPF: 110, IS-IS: 115, RIP: 120 — Default administrative distances on Cisco routers: connected=0, static=1, EIGRP summary=5, OSPF=110, IS-IS=115, RIP=120. Lower value indicates higher preference.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco router metric that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information from different sources to select the best path.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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