- A
Static routing: A network path manually configured by a network administrator.
Health check routing uses periodic probes to verify endpoint health and only sends traffic to endpoints that respond successfully, ensuring high availability.
- B
Dynamic routing: A network path automatically determined by routing protocols based on current topology.
Geolocation routing uses the user's IP address to determine their location and route traffic accordingly, but it is not about endpoint health.
- C
Default route: A catch-all route used when no specific route matches the destination.
Latency routing measures network delay and routes to the fastest responding endpoint, but it does not involve health checks.
- D
Policy-based routing: A routing method that forwards packets based on criteria other than destination IP.
Weighted routing is used for load balancing by proportionally distributing traffic, not for checking endpoint health.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.. 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 routing concept to its most accurate description.
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
Static routing: A network path manually configured by a network administrator.
Administrative distance is used by a router to select the best path when multiple routing protocols provide route information for the same destination; a lower AD is preferred. Metric is a value used by a specific routing protocol (e.g., OSPF cost, EIGRP composite metric) to compare routes within that protocol; a lower metric is preferred. A default route (0.0.0.0/0) is the entry used when no other more specific route matches the destination. A floating static route is a static route configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, so it becomes active only when the primary route fails.
Key principle: Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Static routing: A network path manually configured by a network administrator.
Why this is correct
Health check routing uses periodic probes to verify endpoint health and only sends traffic to endpoints that respond successfully, ensuring high availability.
Related concept
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
- ✓
Dynamic routing: A network path automatically determined by routing protocols based on current topology.
Why this is correct
Geolocation routing uses the user's IP address to determine their location and route traffic accordingly, but it is not about endpoint health.
Related concept
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
- ✓
Default route: A catch-all route used when no specific route matches the destination.
Why this is correct
Latency routing measures network delay and routes to the fastest responding endpoint, but it does not involve health checks.
Related concept
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
- ✓
Policy-based routing: A routing method that forwards packets based on criteria other than destination IP.
Why this is correct
Weighted routing is used for load balancing by proportionally distributing traffic, not for checking endpoint health.
Related concept
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Learners often confuse administrative distance with metric: AD compares trust between protocols, while metric compares path quality within a single protocol.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Routing decisions in Cisco networks rely on multiple concepts to determine the best path for forwarding packets. Administrative distance (AD) is a value assigned to each routing source, such as static routes, OSPF, or EIGRP, to indicate trustworthiness. Lower AD values mean higher preference. Metrics, on the other hand, are used within routing protocols to evaluate the quality of multiple paths to the same destination, considering factors like bandwidth, delay, or hop count. A default route is a special static route that matches all destinations not explicitly listed in the routing table, providing a fallback path. When a router receives multiple routes to the same destination, it first compares administrative distances to select the most trusted routing source. If multiple routes come from the same protocol, it then compares their metrics to choose the best path. Default routes are used when no specific route matches the destination IP, ensuring packets are forwarded rather than dropped. Floating static routes are configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, so they remain inactive until the preferred route fails, enabling seamless failover without dynamic routing protocol involvement. A common exam trap is confusing administrative distance with metric, leading to incorrect route selection understanding. Administrative distance compares route sources globally, while metrics compare paths within a single routing protocol. Another pitfall is misunderstanding floating static routes as primary routes; they only activate when the preferred route is lost. Practically, this design allows network engineers to implement backup routes that do not interfere with normal routing but provide immediate failover, enhancing network reliability and stability.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
- Routing metrics quantify the cost of a path within a routing protocol, influencing route selection based on parameters like bandwidth, delay, or hop count.
- A default route acts as a catch-all path used when no specific route matches a destination IP address in the routing table.
- Floating static routes are manually configured backup routes with higher administrative distance values, remaining inactive until the primary route fails.
- Routing protocols use metrics internally to compare multiple paths to the same destination and select the best one for installation in the routing table.
- Administrative distance is used to choose between routes learned from different routing protocols or sources, not between paths within the same protocol.
- Default routes simplify routing tables by providing a single route for unknown destinations, reducing the need for extensive route advertisements.
- Floating static routes provide network redundancy by enabling automatic failover without dynamic routing protocol intervention.
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 determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
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.
Review administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
IP Routing — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
IP Routing practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 200-301 questions
1,819 questions across all exam domains
- →
CCNA 200-301 v2 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
200-301 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Infrastructure and Connectivity.
Switching and Network Access practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Switching and Network Access.
IP Routing practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to IP Routing.
Network Services and Security practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Services and Security.
AI and Network Operations practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to AI and Network Operations.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-301 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Static routing: A network path manually configured by a network administrator. — Administrative distance is used by a router to select the best path when multiple routing protocols provide route information for the same destination; a lower AD is preferred. Metric is a value used by a specific routing protocol (e.g., OSPF cost, EIGRP composite metric) to compare routes within that protocol; a lower metric is preferred. A default route (0.0.0.0/0) is the entry used when no other more specific route matches the destination. A floating static route is a static route configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, so it becomes active only when the primary route fails.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Administrative distance determines the trustworthiness of a routing source by assigning a numeric value, where lower values indicate more preferred routes.
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 →
Keep practising
More 200-301 practice questions
- A switchport connected to another switch should carry multiple VLANs, but it was manually configured as an access port.…
- What problem is HSRP designed to solve?
- Which TWO statements correctly describe the causes or implications of CRC errors, runts, giants, or output errors as see…
- You are connected to R1. Configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing on R1's interfaces and verify reachability to R2. The curren…
- Which TWO statements accurately describe how AI/ML concepts are applied to network operations in modern enterprise netwo…
- Which TWO switch port configurations are required when connecting a Cisco IP phone and a desktop PC to a single access p…
Last reviewed: Apr 12, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.