Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
show ip route 203.0.113.0 Routing entry for 203.0.113.0/24 Known via "static", distance 5, metric 0 * 198.51.100.2 Configured route: ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 192.0.2.2 10 name ISP-A ip route 203.0.113.0 255.255.255.0 198.51.100.2 5 name ISP-B
Traffic to 203.0.113.0/24 should use the ISP-A link, but packets are leaving through ISP-B instead. Based on the exhibit, why is ISP-B being chosen?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
The ISP-B route has a lower administrative distance.
AD 5 beats AD 10 for the same prefix.
B
Distractor review
Static routes with a higher next-hop IP are preferred.
Next-hop IP value has nothing to do with preference.
C
Distractor review
The router always prefers the route configured last.
Configuration order is not the deciding factor.
D
Distractor review
The route names force policy-based routing.
Route names are descriptive, not policy controls.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that the next-hop IP address or the order in which static routes are configured affects route selection. Candidates might incorrectly believe that a higher next-hop IP or the last configured route is preferred, but Cisco routers do not use these factors in route preference. Another common mistake is thinking that route names or descriptions influence routing decisions or enforce policy-based routing, which they do not. The key is to remember that administrative distance is the primary factor in route selection when multiple routes to the same prefix exist.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Administrative distance is a fundamental concept in Cisco routing that helps the router decide which route to install in the routing table when multiple routes to the same destination exist from different routing sources. Each routing protocol or source is assigned a default administrative distance value, which reflects the trustworthiness of that source. For example, directly connected interfaces have an AD of 0, static routes default to 1, EIGRP internal routes to 90, OSPF to 110, and external routes or less trusted sources have higher values. The router always prefers the route with the lowest AD. When a router receives multiple routes to the same destination prefix and subnet mask, it first compares their administrative distances. The route with the lowest AD is selected and installed in the routing table, regardless of the metric values associated with the routes. Only if two routes have the same AD does the router then compare metrics to choose the best path. This behavior ensures that more trusted routing sources override less trusted ones, providing predictable routing decisions. A common exam trap involves confusing administrative distance with metrics or assuming configuration order or next-hop IP addresses influence route preference. In practice, Cisco routers do not consider the next-hop IP value or the order of route configuration when selecting routes. Additionally, route names or descriptions are purely informational and do not affect routing decisions or enforce policy-based routing. Understanding these distinctions is critical for troubleshooting routing issues and correctly interpreting routing table behavior in Cisco environments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administrative distance (AD) is a value that routers use to select the best path when multiple routing protocols or sources provide routes to the same destination prefix.
- A lower administrative distance is preferred by Cisco routers because it indicates a more reliable or trusted route source.
- When two routes have the same destination prefix and subnet mask, the router compares their administrative distances before considering metrics or other attributes.
- Static routes have a default administrative distance of 1, but this can be manually adjusted to influence route preference.
- Next-hop IP addresses do not affect route preference directly; only administrative distance and metric values influence route selection.
- The order in which routes are configured does not impact route selection; Cisco routers use administrative distance and metrics to determine the best path.
- Route names or descriptions do not enforce policy-based routing; policy-based routing requires explicit configuration using route-maps or similar mechanisms.
- Cisco routers install the route with the lowest administrative distance into the routing table, which determines the outgoing interface for traffic.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Administrative distance (AD) is a value that routers use to select the best path when multiple routing protocols or sources provide routes to the same destination prefix.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The ISP-B route has a lower administrative distance. — The route via ISP-B has a lower administrative distance, so it wins for the identical /24 prefix. For routes to the same destination and mask, the router compares AD before considering anything else between different route sources.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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