CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
What problem is HSRP designed to solve?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid confusing HSRP with load balancing or security protocols. Remember, HSRP is about redundancy, not traffic distribution or encryption.
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
✓
Loss of the default gateway if one router fails
HSRP provides a virtual default gateway so hosts continue forwarding traffic even if one physical gateway router fails.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Layer 2 switching loops
Why it's wrong here
Layer 2 switching loops occur when redundant Ethernet paths create broadcast storms and stale MAC table entries, rendering the switched network unusable. These loops are prevented by Spanning Tree Protocol (STP/RSTP/MSTP), which blocks redundant links to create a loop-free logical topology, and are unrelated to Layer 3 gateway redundancy. HSRP only selects an active default gateway and does not alter forwarding paths within the switch fabric, so it neither introduces nor resolves switching loops.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked about protocols designed to prevent Layer 2 issues or improve redundancy at Layer 2, such as STP or Rapid STP, then this option could be correct. For example, a question might ask, 'What protocol is used to prevent Layer 2 switching loops in a network?'
- ✓
Loss of the default gateway if one router fails
Why this is correct
HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) is a Cisco-proprietary First Hop Redundancy Protocol designed to eliminate the single point of failure that a default gateway represents. It allows two or more routers to share a virtual IP address and virtual MAC address, so hosts send traffic to the virtual gateway regardless of which physical router is active. If the active router fails or its upstream link goes down, the standby router assumes the virtual IP/MAC in seconds, preserving seamless connectivity to external networks.
- ✗
Duplicate MAC addresses on trunks
Why it's wrong here
Duplicate MAC addresses on a trunk are a Layer 2 forwarding problem where two endpoints claim the same MAC address, causing the switch CAM table to flap and misdeliver frames. HSRP actually produces a shared virtual MAC but that MAC is intentionally unique and consistently bound to the active router; it does not create duplicates. Such duplicate MAC issues typically stem from manual MAC spoofing, misconfigured port security, or a bridging loop that corrupts the CAM table, and STP or proper VLAN/port configuration addresses them, not HSRP.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about protocols or solutions specifically designed to manage or mitigate issues with MAC address conflicts in a switched environment, such as 'What protocol can help resolve duplicate MAC address issues on a trunk link?', option C would be the correct answer.
- ✗
Wireless interference
Why it's wrong here
Wireless interference is a Layer 1 RF phenomenon caused by signal attenuation, co-channel or adjacent-channel overlap, and multipath fading, all of which degrade 802.11 frame delivery at the physical layer. HSRP operates at Layer 3 and only manages default gateway election between routers; it does not modulate RF signals, adjust antenna patterns, or change channel assignments. Consequently, HSRP cannot mitigate wireless interference because it never touches the air interface or the wireless medium directly.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked about protocols or solutions that mitigate wireless network issues, such as interference from other devices or overlapping channels, then this option could be correct in that context.
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.
✓Loss of the default gateway if one router failsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) is a Cisco-proprietary First Hop Redundancy Protocol designed to eliminate the single point of failure that a default gateway represents. It allows two or more routers to share a virtual IP address and virtual MAC address, so hosts send traffic to the virtual gateway regardless of which physical router is active. If the active router fails or its upstream link goes down, the standby router assumes the virtual IP/MAC in seconds, preserving seamless connectivity to external networks.
✗Layer 2 switching loopsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Layer 2 switching loops are prevented by Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), not by HSRP. HSRP operates at Layer 3 to provide default gateway redundancy, not loop prevention.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked about protocols designed to prevent Layer 2 issues or improve redundancy at Layer 2, such as STP or Rapid STP, then this option could be correct. For example, a question might ask, 'What protocol is used to prevent Layer 2 switching loops in a network?'
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse HSRP with protocols that handle redundancy at Layer 2, such as STP, because both involve failover scenarios. The term 'redundancy' can be misleading.
✗Duplicate MAC addresses on trunksWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Duplicate MAC addresses on trunks are typically caused by misconfigurations or bridging loops, not by HSRP. HSRP uses a virtual MAC address that is unique and does not cause duplication issues.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about protocols or solutions specifically designed to manage or mitigate issues with MAC address conflicts in a switched environment, such as 'What protocol can help resolve duplicate MAC address issues on a trunk link?', option C would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Because HSRP involves virtual MAC addresses, students might think it could lead to duplicate MACs, but HSRP is designed to avoid this by using a standardized virtual MAC format.
✗Wireless interferenceWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Wireless interference is a physical layer issue related to radio frequency signals, not something HSRP addresses. HSRP is a Layer 3 redundancy protocol for routers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked about protocols or solutions that mitigate wireless network issues, such as interference from other devices or overlapping channels, then this option could be correct in that context.
Why candidates choose this
Students might associate 'redundancy' with wireless failover, but HSRP is specifically for wired router redundancy, not wireless connectivity issues.
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?”
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Interpreting HSRP and VRRP Operational Status
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
Key term
HSRP
HSRP stands for Hot Standby Router Protocol, a Cisco proprietary protocol that allows multiple routers to work together as a single virtual router to provide default gateway redundancy.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-301 question from scratch — 1,389 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.