- A
A floating static route must have an administrative distance higher than the primary route's AD to serve as a backup.
Correct. The floating static route is configured with a higher AD so it is only used when the primary route (with lower AD) is not available.
- B
The default administrative distance for a static route is 0.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default AD for a static route is 1. An AD of 0 is reserved for connected routes.
- C
A floating static route will be installed in the routing table immediately after the primary route is removed, even if the next-hop is unreachable.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The floating static route is only installed if the next-hop is reachable (unless configured with 'permanent' keyword). If the next-hop is unreachable, the route will not be added.
- D
The 'ip route' command can be used to configure a floating static route by specifying an administrative distance value.
Correct. The syntax 'ip route prefix mask next-hop [distance]' allows setting a custom AD, enabling the creation of a floating static route.
- E
A floating static route can only be used with OSPF as the primary routing protocol.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Floating static routes can be used with any dynamic routing protocol (EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, etc.) as long as the AD is set appropriately.
300-410 Administrative Distance Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of administrative distance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO statements about the interaction between administrative distance and floating static routes are true? (Choose TWO.)
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 floating static route must have an administrative distance higher than the primary route's AD to serve as a backup.
A floating static route is a static route with an administrative distance greater than the dynamic routing protocol's AD, so it only appears in the routing table when the dynamic route is lost. The default AD for a static route is 1, but it can be changed. The floating static route will be installed when the primary route (with lower AD) is removed. The backup route must have a higher AD than the primary route. The distance command under the routing protocol does not affect the static route's AD.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 floating static route must have an administrative distance higher than the primary route's AD to serve as a backup.
Why this is correct
Correct. The floating static route is configured with a higher AD so it is only used when the primary route (with lower AD) is not available.
Related concept
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- ✗
The default administrative distance for a static route is 0.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default AD for a static route is 1. An AD of 0 is reserved for connected routes.
- ✗
A floating static route will be installed in the routing table immediately after the primary route is removed, even if the next-hop is unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The floating static route is only installed if the next-hop is reachable (unless configured with 'permanent' keyword). If the next-hop is unreachable, the route will not be added.
- ✓
The 'ip route' command can be used to configure a floating static route by specifying an administrative distance value.
Why this is correct
Correct. The syntax 'ip route prefix mask next-hop [distance]' allows setting a custom AD, enabling the creation of a floating static route.
Related concept
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- ✗
A floating static route can only be used with OSPF as the primary routing protocol.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Keyword trap
Incorrect. The floating static route is only installed if the next-hop is reachable (unless configured with 'permanent' keyword). If the next-hop is unreachable, the route will not be added.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
- OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
- A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
- Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
- Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
- Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 300-410 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Administrative Distance — This question tests Administrative Distance — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A floating static route must have an administrative distance higher than the primary route's AD to serve as a backup. — A floating static route is a static route with an administrative distance greater than the dynamic routing protocol's AD, so it only appears in the routing table when the dynamic route is lost. The default AD for a static route is 1, but it can be changed. The floating static route will be installed when the primary route (with lower AD) is removed. The backup route must have a higher AD than the primary route. The distance command under the routing protocol does not affect the static route's AD.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 300-410 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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