300-410 Layer 3 Technologies Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring Policy-Based Routing (PBR) on a Cisco IOS XE router. The engineer wants to forward traffic matching a specific ACL to a next-hop IP address, but only if the next-hop is reachable. Which command should be used in the route map to specify the next-hop and enable tracking?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that set ip next-hop alone will verify reachability; it does not, and requires the verify-availability keyword with a track object.
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
✓
set ip next-hop verify-availability 10.1.1.1 1 track 1
To conditionally forward traffic based on next-hop reachability in PBR, the set ip next-hop verify-availability command is used. It references a tracking object that monitors the next-hop. If the track is up, the next-hop is used; if down, the route map is skipped, and normal routing applies. This provides the required conditional forwarding.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
set ip next-hop 10.1.1.1
Why it's wrong here
The set ip next-hop command simply sets the next-hop IP address for matching traffic. It does not verify reachability. If the next-hop is down, traffic may be dropped or forwarded incorrectly. While it is a basic PBR command, it lacks the tracking capability required to ensure the next-hop is reachable before forwarding. Therefore, it does not meet the scenario's requirement.
- ✗
set ip default next-hop 10.1.1.1
Why it's wrong here
The set ip default next-hop command is used to set a default next-hop when no explicit route exists for the destination. It is typically used in PBR to override the default route. It does not verify next-hop reachability and is not the correct command for conditional forwarding based on tracking. Therefore, it is not suitable for this scenario.
- ✓
set ip next-hop verify-availability 10.1.1.1 1 track 1
Why this is correct
The set ip next-hop verify-availability command allows PBR to verify the reachability of the next-hop using a tracking object. The syntax includes the next-hop IP, a sequence number, and the track keyword followed by the tracking object number. If the tracked object is up, the next-hop is used; if down, the route map is not applied, and normal routing takes over. This meets the requirement of forwarding only if the next-hop is reachable.
- ✗
set ip next-hop recursive 10.1.1.1
Why it's wrong here
The set ip next-hop recursive command allows the next-hop to be resolved recursively using the routing table. It does not provide tracking of the next-hop's availability. While it can be useful when the next-hop is not directly connected, it does not verify reachability via a tracking object. Thus, it does not satisfy the requirement to forward only if the next-hop is reachable.
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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
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.