CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: 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.. 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
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
Two static routes exist for the 203.0.113.0/24 network: one pointing to ISP-A with an administrative distance of 10, and another pointing to ISP-B with an administrative distance of 5. Packets for that subnet are leaving through ISP-B. What explains this behavior?
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
A
The ISP-B route has a lower administrative distance.
AD 5 beats AD 10 for the same prefix.
B
Static routes with a higher next-hop IP are preferred.
Why wrong: Next-hop IP value has nothing to do with preference.
C
The router always prefers the route configured last.
Why wrong: Configuration order is not the deciding factor.
D
The route names force policy-based routing.
Why wrong: Route names are descriptive, not policy controls.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
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.
Key principle: 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.
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 ISP-B route has a lower administrative distance.
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.
✗
Static routes with a higher next-hop IP are preferred.
Why it's wrong here
Next-hop IP value has nothing to do with preference.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a question states that a router has multiple static routes to the same destination with different next-hop IPs, and the exam asks which route would be preferred, this option could be correct if the context specifies that the next-hop IP is a determining factor in the selection process.
✗
The router always prefers the route configured last.
Why it's wrong here
Configuration order is not the deciding factor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a router is configured to prefer the most recently added static route over existing routes with the same administrative distance, a question could ask about the behavior of routes when multiple static routes exist. In this case, the last configured route would indeed be preferred.
✗
The route names force policy-based routing.
Why it's wrong here
Route names are descriptive, not policy controls.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a question specifies that routes are being selected based on named policies or configurations that directly influence routing decisions, such as in a policy-based routing setup, this option could be correct.
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 ISP-B route has a lower administrative distance.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
AD 5 beats AD 10 for the same prefix.
✗Static routes with a higher next-hop IP are preferred.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The preference for a static route is not determined by the next-hop IP address value. Route selection is based on administrative distance and metric, not the numeric value of the next-hop IP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a question states that a router has multiple static routes to the same destination with different next-hop IPs, and the exam asks which route would be preferred, this option could be correct if the context specifies that the next-hop IP is a determining factor in the selection process.
Why candidates choose this
Students might mistakenly think that higher IP addresses are preferred due to some ordering or because of a misunderstanding of how routers compare routes, but IP address values are irrelevant to route preference.
✗The router always prefers the route configured last.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Configuration order does not influence route selection. Routers use administrative distance and metric to choose the best route, not the order in which routes were configured.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a router is configured to prefer the most recently added static route over existing routes with the same administrative distance, a question could ask about the behavior of routes when multiple static routes exist. In this case, the last configured route would indeed be preferred.
Why candidates choose this
Some students might confuse the order of operations in routing tables or think that the last configured route overwrites previous ones, but routing decisions are based on metrics and AD, not configuration sequence.
✗The route names force policy-based routing.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Route names are purely descriptive labels and do not affect routing decisions. Policy-based routing requires explicit configuration using route maps or PBR commands, not route names.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a question specifies that routes are being selected based on named policies or configurations that directly influence routing decisions, such as in a policy-based routing setup, this option could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Students might assume that route names have functional significance, similar to how interface names or ACL names can be used in policy, but route names are only for administrative identification.
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 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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
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.
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 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., 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 — 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?
Review 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., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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.
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