300-410 Layer 3 Technologies Practice Question
A network engineer is implementing policy-based routing (PBR) on a Cisco router. The goal is to route traffic from a specific subnet to a next-hop IP address that is not directly connected. Which configuration is required to achieve this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is forgetting that PBR next-hop must be reachable via the routing table, and assuming that PBR can override routing without a route to the next-hop.
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
✓
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the next-hop IP address, and a static route to the next-hop IP address.
PBR with 'set ip next-hop' requires that the next-hop IP address be reachable. If it is not directly connected, a static route must be present to resolve the next-hop. The other options either do not address the reachability requirement or use incorrect syntax.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the interface to the next-hop interface.
Why it's wrong here
Setting the interface as the next-hop using 'set interface' can be used, but it also requires that the interface be point-to-point or that the next-hop be reachable. However, the question specifies a next-hop IP address, not an interface. So this is not the correct approach for a next-hop IP.
- ✓
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the next-hop IP address, and a static route to the next-hop IP address.
Why this is correct
When using PBR with 'set ip next-hop', the next-hop IP address must be reachable via a route in the routing table. If the next-hop is not directly connected, you need a static route to that next-hop. This ensures that the router can forward the packet to the next-hop. Without the static route, the PBR action would fail because the next-hop is not resolvable.
- ✗
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the default next-hop IP address.
Why it's wrong here
There is no command 'set default next-hop' in PBR. The correct command is 'set ip next-hop'. This option is a distractor with incorrect syntax. Even if it existed, it would not solve the reachability issue for a non-directly connected next-hop.
- ✗
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the next-hop IP address.
Why it's wrong here
A route map that matches the source subnet and sets the next-hop IP address is a common PBR configuration, but if the next-hop is not directly connected, the router will not be able to forward the packet unless there is a route to that next-hop. The 'set ip next-hop' command requires that the next-hop be reachable via a connected route or a recursive lookup. Without a route, the PBR action fails.
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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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