CCNA IP Routing Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✓

  They are static routes configured with higher administrative distance so they act as backups.

  Why this is correct

  A floating static route is a static route manually configured with an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route (e.g., 150 instead of 110 for OSPF). This elevated AD prevents it from being installed in the routing table while the preferred route is present, ensuring it serves solely as a backup entry.

• ✓

  They can become active automatically if the preferred route is lost.

  Why this is correct

  When the preferred route is lost—due to an interface failure, neighbor loss, or route withdrawal—the router removes that route from the RIB. The floating static route, which remains configured and points to a valid next hop, is then automatically installed as the new best route, providing network resilience without requiring administrator intervention.

• ✗

  They always override dynamic routes immediately.

  Why it's wrong here

  This statement is false because a higher administrative distance makes the floating static route less preferred, not more. Dynamic routes, such as OSPF or EIGRP routes, have lower AD values, so they are always selected over the floating static route when both exist; the floating static route never overrides an active dynamic route.

  When this WOULD be correct

  In a question that asks about routing behavior in a scenario where all routes are configured with the same administrative distance, stating that floating static routes always override dynamic routes would be correct if the context specified that the floating static routes were intended to take precedence in all cases, regardless of the primary route's state.

• ✗

  They are identical to equal-cost load balancing.

  Why it's wrong here

  Equal-cost load balancing uses multiple routes with the same AD and same metric to share traffic, whereas a floating static route has a higher AD and is not used for forwarding unless all lower-AD routes disappear. These two mechanisms are fundamentally different: ECMP actively distributes traffic, while floating static routes simply wait in the background as inactive backups.

  When this WOULD be correct

  If the exam question were to ask about routing protocols that utilize equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, then stating that floating static routes are identical to equal-cost load balancing could be considered correct in a context where static routes are being compared to dynamic routing protocols that support ECMP.

• ✗

  They remove the need for routing tables.

  Why it's wrong here

  A floating static route is still a routing entry that must be stored and evaluated in the routing table; it does not eliminate the need for routing tables. The routing table continues to hold both the active primary route and the backup static route, and the router's RIB lookup process determines which entry is used based on AD and metric.

  When this WOULD be correct

  In a question asking about routing protocols that simplify network management by removing the need for routing tables, this option could be correct. For example, if the question specified a scenario where a new routing protocol automatically manages all routes without traditional tables, this statement could apply.

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.

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?”