The answer is that a static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route. This is the most likely cause because the output of the show ip route command displays "Gateway of last resort is not set" and lacks any entry for 0.0.0.0/0, meaning R1 has no path for unknown destinations like internet hosts. Without a missing default route, the router cannot forward traffic beyond its known networks, even though OSPF has established a neighbor and learned the 192.168.2.0/24 route. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret routing table output and understand the difference between dynamic routing and default route propagation—a common trap is assuming OSPF automatically provides a default route, which it does not without the default-information originate command. Remember the memory tip: "No gateway, no glory"—if the gateway of last resort is not set, the router is isolated from the internet.
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. 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
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, H - NHRP, l - LISP
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override
Gateway of last resort is not set
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L 192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
O 192.168.2.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.1.2, 00:05:03, GigabitEthernet0/1
Refer to the exhibit. A network technician is troubleshooting router R1, which cannot reach hosts on the internet. R1 is connected to an ISP router at 203.0.113.1. The exhibit shows the output of the show ip route command. What is the most likely cause of the issue?
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
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, H - NHRP, l - LISP
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override
Gateway of last resort is not set
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L 192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
O 192.168.2.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.1.2, 00:05:03, GigabitEthernet0/1
A
A static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route.
The output explicitly shows 'Gateway of last resort is not set' and no 0.0.0.0/0 route. A default route is required to reach external networks like the internet. The OSPF-learned route proves OSPF adjacency, but the absence of O*E2 or similar default route indicates default-information originate is not configured.
B
The OSPF neighbor relationship with the ISP router is down.
Why wrong: The presence of the OSPF route 192.168.2.0/24 learned from 192.168.1.2 indicates the OSPF neighbor adjacency is up. A down adjacency would cause all OSPF routes to be missing, not just the default route.
C
The interface connecting to the ISP router is in a shutdown state.
Why wrong: No interface in the exhibit shows an 'administratively down' state. Both GigabitEthernet0/0 and 0/1 are directly connected and up. If the ISP-facing interface were shut down, its directly connected route would be missing or show as down.
D
An incorrect next-hop address was specified in the static default route, making the route invalid.
Why wrong: The routing table would still display a static default route with an invalid next-hop, but it would be listed with a status like 'S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via [invalid]'. The exhibit shows no S* entry at all, and the gateway of last resort is not set, confirming no static default route exists.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route.
The exhibit shows 'Gateway of last resort is not set' and no route entry for 0.0.0.0/0 (default route). Without a default route, R1 has no path to forward unknown destinations, such as internet hosts. The OSPF neighbor is active (192.168.2.0/24 learned via OSPF), but no default route is being originated by OSPF. Therefore, a static default route or OSPF default-information originate command is missing.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route.
Why this is correct
The output explicitly shows 'Gateway of last resort is not set' and no 0.0.0.0/0 route. A default route is required to reach external networks like the internet. The OSPF-learned route proves OSPF adjacency, but the absence of O*E2 or similar default route indicates default-information originate is not configured.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
The OSPF neighbor relationship with the ISP router is down.
Why it's wrong here
The presence of the OSPF route 192.168.2.0/24 learned from 192.168.1.2 indicates the OSPF neighbor adjacency is up. A down adjacency would cause all OSPF routes to be missing, not just the default route.
✗
The interface connecting to the ISP router is in a shutdown state.
Why it's wrong here
No interface in the exhibit shows an 'administratively down' state. Both GigabitEthernet0/0 and 0/1 are directly connected and up. If the ISP-facing interface were shut down, its directly connected route would be missing or show as down.
✗
An incorrect next-hop address was specified in the static default route, making the route invalid.
Why it's wrong here
The routing table would still display a static default route with an invalid next-hop, but it would be listed with a status like 'S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via [invalid]'. The exhibit shows no S* entry at all, and the gateway of last resort is not set, confirming no static default route exists.
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.
✓A static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The output explicitly shows 'Gateway of last resort is not set' and no 0.0.0.0/0 route. A default route is required to reach external networks like the internet. The OSPF-learned route proves OSPF adjacency, but the absence of O*E2 or similar default route indicates default-information originate is not configured.
✗The OSPF neighbor relationship with the ISP router is down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates often assume OSPF is not working at all when a default route is missing, ignoring other OSPF routes in the table.
✗The interface connecting to the ISP router is in a shutdown state.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates may assume any connectivity failure means an interface is disabled, but the routing table would show no connected network if the interface were shut down.
✗An incorrect next-hop address was specified in the static default route, making the route invalid.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates might think a misconfigured static route would cause the problem, but they overlook that the route would still appear in the table, just with a different next-hop.
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: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
No interface in the exhibit shows an 'administratively down' state. Both GigabitEthernet0/0 and 0/1 are directly connected and up. If the ISP-facing interface were shut down, its directly connected route would be missing or show as down.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
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 OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A static default route is not configured on R1, and OSPF is not advertising a default route. — The exhibit shows 'Gateway of last resort is not set' and no route entry for 0.0.0.0/0 (default route). Without a default route, R1 has no path to forward unknown destinations, such as internet hosts. The OSPF neighbor is active (192.168.2.0/24 learned via OSPF), but no default route is being originated by OSPF. Therefore, a static default route or OSPF default-information originate command is missing.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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