CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.. 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
ip route 172.16.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.2
ip route 172.16.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.2.2.2 5
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.3.3.2
R1 has these static routes configured. When the primary WAN path is up, which route will be installed in the routing table for traffic to 172.16.50.0/24?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The route via 10.1.1.2
The route with the lowest administrative distance wins when multiple routes to the same prefix exist. The route via 10.1.1.2 has AD 1, so it is preferred over the floating static route with AD 5. The default route is less specific and does not beat an exact /24 match.
Key principle: Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
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 clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
✗
The route via 10.2.2.2
Why it's wrong here
That is a floating backup because its AD is higher.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the routing table is configured to prefer the route via 10.2.2.2 due to a higher administrative distance or specific policy routing, the question could state that the primary WAN path is down, making this route the active choice for traffic to 172.16.50.0/24.
✗
The default route via 10.3.3.2
Why it's wrong here
A default route is less specific than the /24 static routes.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where all specific routes are down or unreachable, a question could ask which route would be used for traffic to 172.16.50.0/24. In that case, the default route via 10.3.3.2 would be the only available option, making it the correct answer.
✗
Both routes load-balance automatically because the prefix is identical.
Why it's wrong here
The administrative distances are different, so equal-cost load balancing does not occur here.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified that both routes were configured with equal administrative distances and the router was set to use equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, then option D would be correct, as both routes could be installed in the routing table simultaneously.
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 route via 10.1.1.2Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
It has the lowest AD for that exact prefix.
✗The route via 10.2.2.2Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The route via 10.2.2.2 has an administrative distance of 5, which is higher than the default AD of 1 for the route via 10.1.1.2. Therefore, it is a floating static route that only becomes active when the primary route is removed. It is not installed when the primary path is up.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the routing table is configured to prefer the route via 10.2.2.2 due to a higher administrative distance or specific policy routing, the question could state that the primary WAN path is down, making this route the active choice for traffic to 172.16.50.0/24.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that because both routes have the same prefix length and metric (if configured), they would load-balance. However, they overlook the difference in administrative distance, which prevents equal-cost load balancing.
✗The default route via 10.3.3.2Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A default route (0.0.0.0/0) is less specific than a /24 route. The router always prefers the most specific matching prefix (longest prefix match). Since the static routes for 172.16.50.0/24 are more specific, the default route is not used for this destination.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where all specific routes are down or unreachable, a question could ask which route would be used for traffic to 172.16.50.0/24. In that case, the default route via 10.3.3.2 would be the only available option, making it the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse the concept of administrative distance with prefix length. They might think that because the default route has a lower AD (if configured with a lower AD), it would be preferred, but prefix specificity takes precedence over AD.
✗Both routes load-balance automatically because the prefix is identical.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Equal-cost load balancing requires routes to have the same administrative distance and metric. Here, the two static routes have different administrative distances (1 and 5), so they are not equal-cost. Only routes with identical AD and metric can be load-balanced.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified that both routes were configured with equal administrative distances and the router was set to use equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, then option D would be correct, as both routes could be installed in the routing table simultaneously.
Why candidates choose this
Students often assume that multiple static routes to the same destination automatically load-balance. They forget that load balancing only occurs when the routes are truly equal in terms of administrative distance and metric.
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
A frequent exam trap is believing that both static routes to the same prefix will load-balance traffic simply because they share the same destination network. This misconception ignores the role of administrative distance, which Cisco uses to select a single best route. Since the two static routes have different AD values (1 and 5), the router will not load-balance but will prefer the route with AD 1 exclusively. Misreading the floating static route as an active equal-cost path can lead to incorrect answers and misunderstandings about route failover behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a fundamental concept in Cisco routing that determines the trustworthiness of a route source. Each routing protocol and static route is assigned a default AD value, with static routes typically having an AD of 1. When multiple routes to the same destination prefix exist, the router compares their AD values and installs the route with the lowest AD into the routing table. This ensures that the most reliable and preferred path is used for forwarding traffic.
In the scenario where R1 has two static routes to 172.16.50.0/24, one via 10.1.1.2 with AD 1 and another via 10.2.2.2 with AD 5, the router will install the route with AD 1 as the primary path. The route with AD 5 acts as a floating static route, which serves as a backup and only becomes active if the primary route fails. The default route via 10.3.3.2 is less specific and will not be chosen over the exact /24 static routes, regardless of its AD.
A common exam trap is assuming that multiple static routes to the same prefix automatically load-balance traffic. However, Cisco routers do not perform equal-cost load balancing if the routes have different administrative distances. Only routes with equal AD and equal metrics are candidates for load balancing. Understanding this behavior is critical for designing reliable failover mechanisms using floating static routes and for correctly interpreting routing table entries during troubleshooting and exams.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
A static route with an administrative distance of 1 is considered more reliable and preferred over routes with higher administrative distances.
Floating static routes use a higher administrative distance to act as backup routes that only install when the primary route fails.
Default routes have the least specificity and are only used when no more specific route to the destination prefix exists.
Cisco routing tables install only one best route per prefix based on administrative distance and prefix specificity, preventing automatic load balancing between routes with different ADs.
Administrative distance is a Cisco proprietary value that ranks the trustworthiness of routing information sources, with lower values being preferred.
When two static routes have different administrative distances, the route with the higher AD is ignored unless the lower AD route becomes unavailable.
Exact prefix matches in routing take precedence over less specific routes such as default routes, regardless of administrative distance.
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
Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
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 cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The route via 10.1.1.2 — The route with the lowest administrative distance wins when multiple routes to the same prefix exist. The route via 10.1.1.2 has AD 1, so it is preferred over the floating static route with AD 5. The default route is less specific and does not beat an exact /24 match.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cisco routers prefer static routes with the lowest administrative distance when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
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 →
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.
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.