300-410 Layer 3 Technologies Practice Question
A network technician is configuring a static route on a Cisco router to reach a remote network. The technician wants the route to be used only if the primary path fails. Which type of static route should be configured?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a floating static route with a default static route, thinking that a default route automatically acts as a backup.
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
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Floating static route
A floating static route uses a higher administrative distance to remain inactive until the primary route is lost. This allows it to serve as a backup. Default, recursive, and directly connected static routes do not provide this conditional failover behavior. The floating static route is the correct choice for a backup path.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Floating static route
Why this is correct
A floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance than the primary route, so it is only installed in the routing table if the primary route fails. This makes it ideal as a backup path. The technician can specify an administrative distance greater than that of the dynamic routing protocol or the primary static route.
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Directly connected static route
Why it's wrong here
A directly connected static route specifies an exit interface instead of a next-hop address. It is used when the destination is on a directly connected network. It does not provide conditional backup; it is always active if the interface is up. Thus, it does not serve as a floating backup route.
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Recursive static route
Why it's wrong here
A recursive static route specifies a next-hop IP address that is resolved through another route. It does not provide backup functionality; it simply requires the router to perform a recursive lookup. It is used to simplify configuration but does not act as a floating backup.
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Default static route
Why it's wrong here
A default static route (0.0.0.0/0) is used to forward traffic when no more specific route exists. It is not inherently a backup; it is always used for destinations not in the routing table. It does not provide conditional failover based on the primary path's status, so it does not meet the requirement.
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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.