Quick Answer
The answer is 110, which represents the administrative distance of OSPF. In Cisco routing table output, the bracketed value [110/20] is always structured as [administrative distance/metric], so the first number indicates the trustworthiness of the routing protocol that installed the route. OSPF’s default administrative distance is 110, meaning the router prefers this route over routes learned via protocols with higher AD values, such as RIP (120) or external EIGRP (170), but less than directly connected (0) or static (1) routes. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your ability to interpret routing table entries and distinguish between AD and metric—a common trap is confusing the metric (20) with the AD, or assuming all OSPF routes have the same metric. Remember the mnemonic: “AD first, metric last—OSPF’s 110 is a trusty cast.”
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. A key principle to apply: administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols.. 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.
A router shows the following route:
O 10.10.40.0/24 [110/20] via 192.0.2.2, 00:00:12, GigabitEthernet0/0
What does the value 110 represent?
The OSPF cost to the destination
Why wrong: The OSPF cost is the second value here, not the first.
The administrative distance of OSPF
Correct. OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110.
The number of hops to the destination
Why wrong: OSPF does not use hop count this way.
The route age in seconds
Why wrong: The age is shown separately after the next-hop information.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The administrative distance of OSPF
In Cisco route output, the value in brackets is [administrative distance/metric].
Key principle: Administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The OSPF cost to the destination
Why it's wrong here
The OSPF cost is the second value here, not the first.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about the OSPF cost to a specific destination, where the context is focused on OSPF metrics and path selection, this option could be correct. For example, if the question provided a route with an OSPF cost value instead of an administrative distance, then option A would be valid.
The administrative distance of OSPF
Why this is correct
Correct. OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110.
Related concept
Administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols.
The number of hops to the destination
The route age in seconds
Why it's wrong here
The age is shown separately after the next-hop information.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question, if it asked for the age of a route in a routing table output that specifically included a field for route age, such as 'Route age: 00:00:12,' then the option could be correct if it explicitly stated that the age was represented in seconds.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
Correct. OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the value 110 in the route indicates the administrative distance of OSPF, not the OSPF cost. The OSPF cost is a different metric used for path selection within OSPF itself.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about the OSPF cost to a specific destination, where the context is focused on OSPF metrics and path selection, this option could be correct. For example, if the question provided a route with an OSPF cost value instead of an administrative distance, then option A would be valid.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the administrative distance with OSPF cost due to their close association in routing protocols, leading them to mistakenly select this option when they recall that OSPF uses costs for path metrics.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the value 110 in the route indicates the administrative distance of OSPF, not the number of hops. OSPF uses a different metric based on link cost rather than simple hop count.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if it asked for the number of hops in a routing protocol that uses hop count as its metric, such as RIP, and provided a route with a hop count value, then this option would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the concept of administrative distance with hop count, especially if they have encountered routing protocols that use hops as a metric, leading them to mistakenly select this option.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the value 110 in the route indicates the administrative distance of OSPF, not the route age. The route age is typically represented separately and is not included in the route metric.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if it asked for the age of a route in a routing table output that specifically included a field for route age, such as 'Route age: 00:00:12,' then the option could be correct if it explicitly stated that the age was represented in seconds.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might confuse route age with the time since the route was last updated, leading them to mistakenly associate the time format with the value 110.
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
A frequent exam trap is mistaking the administrative distance value for the OSPF cost or metric. The number 110 in the route output is the administrative distance, not the cost to reach the destination. The OSPF cost is the second number inside the brackets, which in this example is 20. Confusing these values can lead to incorrect assumptions about route preference and path selection. Remember, administrative distance compares trustworthiness between routing protocols, while the metric determines the best path within a single protocol.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The age is shown separately after the next-hop information.
Detailed technical explanation
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco-specific value used to rate the trustworthiness of routing information received from different routing protocols. It is a numeric value assigned to routes learned from various sources, where a lower AD indicates a more reliable route. In the route entry shown, the value 110 represents the administrative distance of the OSPF routing protocol, which Cisco routers use to select the best path when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination. OSPF uses a default administrative distance of 110, which is higher than directly connected interfaces (0) and static routes (1), but lower than RIP (120). The number in brackets in Cisco route outputs is formatted as [administrative distance/metric]. The metric for OSPF is the cost, which is calculated based on interface bandwidth. The router uses the AD value to compare routes from different protocols and installs the route with the lowest AD into the routing table. A common exam trap is confusing the administrative distance with the OSPF metric or cost. The first number in brackets is the administrative distance, not the OSPF cost. The OSPF cost is the second number inside the brackets. Misinterpreting these values can lead to incorrect conclusions about route selection. Practically, understanding AD helps network engineers troubleshoot routing issues and predict route selection behavior on Cisco devices.
Key takeaway
Administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols.
Real-world example
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
Review administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols..
The correct answer is: The administrative distance of OSPF — In Cisco route output, the value in brackets is [administrative distance/metric].
Review administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Administrative distance is a Cisco router metric that rates the trustworthiness of routing information from different routing protocols.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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