easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: According to Cisco IOS default behavior, if a…
According to Cisco IOS default behavior, if a router learns the same route via both RIP and OSPF, which route will be installed in the routing table?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the misconception that lower metric wins across protocols; candidates forget that administrative distance is the first tiebreaker when routes come from different sources.
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
✓
The OSPF route, because OSPF has a lower administrative distance.
Cisco IOS selects routes based on administrative distance (AD) before metric when routes come from different routing protocols. OSPF has a default AD of 110, while RIP has a default AD of 120. Because lower AD is preferred, the OSPF route is installed in the routing table, even if RIP's metric is numerically lower.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The RIP route, because RIP has a lower metric.
Why it's wrong here
RIP's administrative distance is 120, higher than OSPF's 110, so Cisco IOS prefers the OSPF route regardless of metric. The metric comparison only applies within a single protocol. RIP would win only if OSPF were absent or its route were filtered out.
- ✓
The OSPF route, because OSPF has a lower administrative distance.
Why this is correct
Cisco IOS compares administrative distance before metric when selecting routes from different protocols. OSPF's default administrative distance of 110 is lower than RIP's 120, so the OSPF route wins and is installed in the routing table.
- ✗
Both routes are installed, and load balancing occurs.
Why it's wrong here
Load balancing requires equal administrative distance and metric across sources; OSPF (110) and RIP (120) differ, so IOS installs only the OSPF route. Equal-cost multipath applies to routes from the same protocol with identical metrics.
- ✗
Neither route is installed; the router will use a default route.
Why it's wrong here
Cisco IOS installs the route with the lowest administrative distance; OSPF's 110 beats RIP's 120, so a route is installed. A default route is used only when no matching route exists in the routing table, not when two protocols offer one.
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.
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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.