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Review the full routing breakdown →Question 756 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The answer is that when a packet arrives, the router first checks the routing table for the best match, which is the longest prefix match, to determine the next-hop and outgoing interface. This is correct because the Routing Information Base (RIB) holds all known routes, and the router performs a recursive route lookup when the next-hop address in a static route is not directly connected, meaning it must find a route to that next-hop before forwarding. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how the router builds its forwarding decision process, often contrasting the RIB with the Forwarding Information Base (FIB) used in Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) mode for fast, hardware-based switching. A common trap is confusing the RIB lookup with the FIB; remember that the FIB is pre-populated from the RIB for speed, but the initial decision always starts with the routing table. Memory tip: "RIB first, then FIB for speed" — think of the RIB as the master recipe book and the FIB as the quick-reference card.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which three of the following are true regarding the forwarding decision process in a router? (Choose three.)
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
✓
The router performs a recursive route lookup if the next-hop address in a static route is not directly connected.
A router performs a recursive route lookup when the next-hop address in a static route is not directly connected, meaning the router must find a route to that next-hop address before forwarding. The Forwarding Information Base (FIB) is used in Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) mode to provide fast, hardware-based packet switching by pre-populating the forwarding table from the routing table. When a packet arrives, the router first checks the routing table (RIB) for the best matching route, which is the longest prefix match, to determine the next-hop and outgoing interface.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a router always performs an ARP request for every destination IP or that it skips the routing table for directly connected subnets, but in reality, the routing table is always consulted first, and ARP is only used for next-hop addresses on the same subnet.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In CEF, the FIB is built from the Routing Information Base (RIB) and contains all known prefixes with next-hop information, allowing the router to make forwarding decisions without recursive lookups for each packet. The adjacency table in CEF stores Layer 2 rewrite information, such as MAC addresses, so that the router can quickly encapsulate packets without performing ARP for every flow. Recursive static routes require the router to perform an additional lookup in the routing table to resolve the next-hop address, which can impact performance if not optimized with a directly connected next-hop.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The router performs a recursive route lookup if the next-hop address in a static route is not directly connected. — A router performs a recursive route lookup when the next-hop address in a static route is not directly connected, meaning the router must find a route to that next-hop address before forwarding. The Forwarding Information Base (FIB) is used in Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) mode to provide fast, hardware-based packet switching by pre-populating the forwarding table from the routing table. When a packet arrives, the router first checks the routing table (RIB) for the best matching route, which is the longest prefix match, to determine the next-hop and outgoing interface.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
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