The answer is that the next-hop address is not reachable from R3. This is the most likely cause because a static route with a specified next-hop IP address requires that address to be reachable via an active, directly connected network or another valid route in the routing table; if the next hop is down, missing, or not in the routing table, the router cannot resolve the Layer 2 adjacency needed to forward packets, so they are dropped. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this tests your understanding of how static routes rely on recursive routing—a common trap is assuming the route is valid just because it is configured, when in fact the next hop must be reachable first. A quick memory tip: think of a static route as a GPS destination—if the starting point (the next hop) is off the map, you never leave the driveway.
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: a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.. 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 172.20.8.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.13.2
show ip route 10.1.13.0
% Network not in table
R3 has the static route 'ip route 172.20.8.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1'. Packets destined for 172.20.8.0/24 are being dropped. What is the most likely cause?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The next-hop address is not reachable from R3
A static route can only work if the next-hop address is reachable. If the next hop is down or missing from the routing table, the route cannot forward traffic successfully.
Key principle: A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.
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 destination network mask should be /16 instead of /24
Why it's wrong here
The problem shown is next-hop reachability, not the destination mask.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a static route is configured for a subnet that should indeed be larger, such as 172.20.0.0/16, a candidate might be asked to identify if the subnet mask is incorrectly set, making /16 the correct choice for proper routing.
✓
The next-hop address is not reachable from R3
Why this is correct
If the next hop cannot be resolved, the static route cannot work.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.
✗
Static routes require an outbound access list
Why it's wrong here
They do not.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question, if the context specifies that a static route is being used in a network where security policies are enforced through access lists, and the question asks about the configuration of static routes under such constraints, then this option could be correct.
✗
The route must use administrative distance 255
Why it's wrong here
That would make it unusable.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup where a static route is configured with an administrative distance of 255, the question might ask why the route is not being used. In that case, the correct answer would be that the route is effectively disabled due to the administrative distance being set to 255.
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 next-hop address is not reachable from R3Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
If the next hop cannot be resolved, the static route cannot work.
✗The destination network mask should be /16 instead of /24Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The destination network mask of /24 is correct for the subnet 172.20.8.0/24, and changing it to /16 would incorrectly encompass a larger range of addresses, which is not relevant to the issue of dropped packets.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a static route is configured for a subnet that should indeed be larger, such as 172.20.0.0/16, a candidate might be asked to identify if the subnet mask is incorrectly set, making /16 the correct choice for proper routing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse subnetting concepts and assume that a larger subnet mask would resolve routing issues, leading them to incorrectly believe that adjusting the mask would fix the packet drop problem.
✗Static routes require an outbound access listWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Static routes do not inherently require an outbound access list; they can function without one. The issue in this scenario is related to the reachability of the next-hop address, not access lists.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if the context specifies that a static route is being used in a network where security policies are enforced through access lists, and the question asks about the configuration of static routes under such constraints, then this option could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse static routes with dynamic routing protocols, which often utilize access lists for filtering. This misunderstanding can lead them to incorrectly believe that access lists are a requirement for static routes.
✗The route must use administrative distance 255Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because administrative distance 255 means the route is unreachable, which would not be a plausible configuration for a static route intended to be used. In this scenario, the static route is not the issue; rather, the next-hop address is unreachable.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where a static route is configured with an administrative distance of 255, the question might ask why the route is not being used. In that case, the correct answer would be that the route is effectively disabled due to the administrative distance being set to 255.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might confuse administrative distance settings with route reachability, thinking that a high administrative distance could be a reason for packet drops.
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 assuming that an incorrect subnet mask on the static route causes packets to be dropped. While subnet masks affect routing accuracy, they do not cause next-hop reachability failures. Another trap is believing that static routes require outbound ACLs, which is false; ACLs control traffic filtering but do not impact static route functionality. Additionally, some may think setting the administrative distance to 255 is necessary for static routes, but this actually disables the route, making it unusable. The key mistake is overlooking the requirement that the next-hop IP address must be reachable for the static route to work, which is the actual cause of packet drops in this scenario.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The problem shown is next-hop reachability, not the destination mask.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Static routing is a fundamental routing method where network administrators manually configure routes to specific destination networks. Each static route includes a destination network and a next-hop IP address or exit interface. The router uses this information to forward packets destined for the specified network. However, for the static route to be effective, the next-hop IP address must be reachable, meaning the router must have a valid route to that next-hop address in its routing table. Without this, the static route is considered invalid and will not be installed.
When a router processes a static route, it first checks if the next-hop IP address is reachable either through a directly connected interface or via another routing protocol. If the next-hop is unreachable, the router discards packets destined for the static route’s network because it cannot forward them properly. This behavior ensures that routers do not forward packets into a black hole. The subnet mask in the static route must correctly represent the destination network, but an incorrect mask typically results in routing mismatches rather than next-hop reachability issues.
A common exam trap is confusing subnet mask errors or administrative distance settings with next-hop reachability problems. For example, setting an administrative distance to 255 disables the route, but this is unrelated to next-hop reachability. Similarly, static routes do not require outbound ACLs to function, so assuming ACLs are necessary is incorrect. Practically, network engineers verify next-hop reachability by pinging the next-hop IP and checking the routing table to ensure the next-hop is accessible before relying on static routes for forwarding traffic.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.
If the next-hop address in a static route is not reachable, the router will not install the static route in its routing table, causing packets to be dropped.
The subnet mask in a static route must correctly match the intended destination network to ensure proper routing, but incorrect masks do not cause next-hop reachability failures.
Administrative distance determines route preference but setting it to 255 makes the route unusable, so static routes typically use a default AD of 1.
Static routes do not require outbound access control lists (ACLs) to function; ACLs are used separately for traffic filtering and security.
Routers forward packets based on the routing table entries, and if a static route’s next-hop is unreachable, the router cannot forward packets to that destination network.
Next-hop reachability depends on the router having a valid route to the next-hop IP address, either directly connected or learned via another routing protocol.
Troubleshooting static routes often involves verifying the next-hop IP address reachability using commands like 'ping' and checking the routing table for connected or learned routes.
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
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.
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 a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The next-hop address is not reachable from R3 — A static route can only work if the next-hop address is reachable. If the next hop is down or missing from the routing table, the route cannot forward traffic successfully.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets., 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: "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?
A static route requires the next-hop IP address to be reachable in the routing table for the route to be installed and used for forwarding packets.
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