Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which static route on R1 sends all unknown IPv4 destinations to next-hop address 192.0.2.1?
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
Distractor review
ip route 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 192.0.2.1
This route would describe only the single host 0.0.0.0, not all unknown destinations.
B
Best answer
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.0.2.1
Correct. 0.0.0.0/0 is the standard IPv4 default route.
C
Distractor review
ip route 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 192.0.2.1
The address and mask are reversed and do not define a valid default route.
D
Distractor review
ip default-gateway 192.0.2.1
ip default-gateway is used on devices that are not routing, such as many Layer 2 switches.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting a static route with the destination 0.0.0.0 but an incorrect subnet mask like 255.255.255.255, which matches only the single host 0.0.0.0 rather than all unknown destinations. Another common mistake is confusing the 'ip default-gateway' command with a default route; the former is used only on devices that do not perform routing, such as Layer 2 switches, and does not influence routing decisions on routers. Candidates must recognize that the default route requires both destination and mask to be 0.0.0.0 to function correctly as a catch-all route for unknown IPv4 destinations.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
A static route in Cisco IOS is a manually configured route that tells the router exactly where to forward packets for a specific destination network. The default route, represented as 0.0.0.0/0, is a special static route that matches any IPv4 destination address not found in the routing table. This route acts as a catch-all path for unknown or unspecified destinations, directing traffic to a next-hop IP address or exit interface. In Cisco routers, the command syntax for a static route is "ip route [destination_network] [subnet_mask] [next_hop_address]". The default route uses the destination network 0.0.0.0 with a subnet mask of 0.0.0.0, meaning it matches all possible IPv4 addresses. When a packet’s destination does not match any more specific route in the routing table, the router forwards the packet to the next-hop IP address specified in the default route. This is essential for routers at the edge of a network or in stub networks to forward traffic toward upstream routers or the internet. The command "ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.0.2.1" configures such a default route pointing to the next-hop 192.0.2.1. A common exam trap is confusing the default route with other static routes that use incorrect destination or mask values, such as 0.0.0.0 with a mask of 255.255.255.255, which matches only a single host address rather than all unknown destinations. Additionally, the "ip default-gateway" command is often mistaken for a default route but is only applicable on non-routing devices like Layer 2 switches. Understanding the exact syntax and purpose of the default route ensures correct routing behavior and avoids misconfiguration in Cisco environments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A static route manually defines a specific path for forwarding packets to a destination network or host in Cisco routers.
- The IPv4 default route uses the destination 0.0.0.0 with a subnet mask of 0.0.0.0 to match all unknown or unspecified IPv4 addresses.
- Cisco routers forward packets to the next-hop IP address specified in the default route when no more specific route exists in the routing table.
- The command syntax for a static route is 'ip route [destination_network] [subnet_mask] [next_hop_address]' in Cisco IOS.
- The 'ip default-gateway' command configures a gateway for non-routing devices and does not create a routing entry for unknown destinations.
- Using an incorrect subnet mask with 0.0.0.0, such as 255.255.255.255, causes the route to match only a single host, not all unknown destinations.
- A default route is essential in stub networks or edge routers to forward traffic toward upstream routers or the internet.
- Routers always prefer the most specific route in the routing table; the default route is the least specific and used only if no other match exists.
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?
A static route manually defines a specific path for forwarding packets to a destination network or host in Cisco routers.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.0.2.1 — A quad-zero route is the IPv4 default route. It matches destinations that do not have a more specific entry in the routing table.
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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