CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
You are configuring a default route on R1 to send all unknown traffic to the next-hop 203.0.113.1. However, you want this route to be used only if the primary default route learned via OSPF is unavailable. Which command should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is using an administrative distance that is too low or equal to the primary route, which would cause the static route to be preferred or create ambiguity.
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
✓
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 200
A floating static route is configured with an administrative distance higher than the primary route's administrative distance. OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110, so setting the static route to 200 ensures it is only used when the OSPF route is not available. This provides a backup path without interfering with normal operation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1
Why it's wrong here
This configures a static default route with the default administrative distance of 1. It would be preferred over the OSPF default route, which has an administrative distance of 110. This would make the static route primary, not a backup. To make it a floating static route, you need to set a higher administrative distance.
- ✓
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 200
Why this is correct
This command configures a floating static default route with an administrative distance of 200. Since OSPF's administrative distance is 110, the static route will not be installed in the routing table as long as the OSPF default route is present. If the OSPF route is lost, the static route becomes active, providing backup connectivity. This is the correct way to configure a backup default route.
- ✗
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 255
Why it's wrong here
An administrative distance of 255 is considered invalid or unreachable. Cisco routers treat administrative distance 255 as a route that should never be installed in the routing table. This would make the static route unusable, even as a backup. The correct administrative distance for a floating static route should be higher than the primary route's distance but less than 255.
- ✗
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 110
Why it's wrong here
Setting the administrative distance to 110 makes the static route equal to OSPF's administrative distance. If both routes are present, the router may load-balance or prefer one based on other factors, but it does not guarantee the static route is only used as a backup. Equal administrative distances can cause unpredictable behavior. A higher value is needed for a floating static route.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: OSPF Area Mismatch
Key term
Static route
A static route is a manually configured path in a router's routing table that tells the router exactly where to send packets for a specific destination network.
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the SPF algorithm to compute the shortest path to each destination within a single autonomous system.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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