- A
Verify that the static route's administrative distance is higher than the EIGRP route (e.g., 170 vs 90).
If the static route has an AD lower than EIGRP (e.g., 1), it would be installed even when the primary is up, causing issues. For a floating static, AD must be higher.
- B
Check if the IP SLA probe is configured with a timeout greater than the frequency.
Why wrong: Timeout configuration does not affect route installation; the track is already 'Down'.
- C
Ensure the primary route is removed from the routing table before the static route is installed.
Why wrong: The static route should be installed when the primary route is removed; the issue is likely AD-related.
- D
Reboot the router to clear the routing table.
Why wrong: Rebooting is unnecessary; the issue is configuration-related.
Quick Answer
The answer is to verify that the static route’s administrative distance is higher than the EIGRP route, such as 170 versus 90. This is because a floating static route relies on a higher administrative distance to remain inactive while the primary route exists; when the primary fails, the track object must go down and the static route’s higher AD allows it to be installed as a backup. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of IP SLA administrative distance interaction with floating static routes, often appearing as a troubleshooting trap where the static route’s AD is mistakenly set lower or equal to the primary protocol’s AD, preventing failover. A common memory tip is “floating means higher AD,” so always confirm the backup route’s AD exceeds the primary’s—if EIGRP is 90, set the static to 170 or above.
300-410 IP SLA Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of ip sla. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An engineer configured IP SLA 60 to monitor the reachability of a WAN link's next-hop (203.0.113.1) using ICMP echo. The IP SLA is used in a track object for a floating static route. The engineer notices that the primary route (EIGRP) is present, but the floating static route is not installed when the primary fails. The track object shows 'Down' after the primary fails. What should the engineer check?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Verify that the static route's administrative distance is higher than the EIGRP route (e.g., 170 vs 90).
A floating static route with tracking requires the administrative distance to be higher than the primary route. If the AD is lower or equal, the static route will not be installed as a backup. Also, the track object must be correctly referenced.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Verify that the static route's administrative distance is higher than the EIGRP route (e.g., 170 vs 90).
Why this is correct
If the static route has an AD lower than EIGRP (e.g., 1), it would be installed even when the primary is up, causing issues. For a floating static, AD must be higher.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Check if the IP SLA probe is configured with a timeout greater than the frequency.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout configuration does not affect route installation; the track is already 'Down'.
- ✗
Ensure the primary route is removed from the routing table before the static route is installed.
Why it's wrong here
The static route should be installed when the primary route is removed; the issue is likely AD-related.
- ✗
Reboot the router to clear the routing table.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting is unnecessary; the issue is configuration-related.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
IP SLA — This question tests IP SLA — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify that the static route's administrative distance is higher than the EIGRP route (e.g., 170 vs 90). — A floating static route with tracking requires the administrative distance to be higher than the primary route. If the AD is lower or equal, the static route will not be installed as a backup. Also, the track object must be correctly referenced.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 300-410
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer configured IP SLA 70 to monitor a remote site's LAN gateway (172.16.1.1) using ICMP echo. The IP SLA is linked to a track object that is used in a static route for a backup link. The engineer notices that the IP SLA state is 'Active', but the backup static route is installed in the routing table even when the primary route is available. What is the most likely cause?
medium- ✓ A.The static route is configured without the 'track' keyword, so it is always installed regardless of the IP SLA state.
- B.The IP SLA probe is failing intermittently, causing the track object to flap.
- C.The primary route has a higher administrative distance than the static route.
- D.The track object is configured with a delay that causes the static route to be installed prematurely.
Why A: If the backup static route is installed while the primary route is available, the static route likely has a lower administrative distance than the primary route, or the track object is not being used correctly (e.g., the static route does not have the 'track' keyword).
Variation 2. A network engineer configured IP SLA 90 to monitor a remote router's loopback (10.0.0.1) using ICMP echo. The IP SLA is linked to a track object that is used in a static route. The engineer notices that the IP SLA state is 'Active', but the static route is not installed. The track object shows 'Up'. The engineer checks the routing table and sees a different route to the same destination with a lower administrative distance. What should the engineer do to ensure the IP SLA-tracked route is used when the primary fails?
easy- A.Increase the administrative distance of the IP SLA-tracked static route to be higher than the primary route.
- ✓ B.Remove the primary route from the routing table.
- C.Change the IP SLA probe to use UDP instead of ICMP.
- D.Add a 'set metric' command to the IP SLA configuration.
Why B: If a route with a lower AD exists, the IP SLA-tracked route will not be installed unless the primary route is removed. The engineer must ensure the tracked route has a higher AD than the primary route, or remove the primary route.
Variation 3. An engineer configures IP SLA with an ICMP echo operation and uses it to track a static route. The engineer also configures a backup static route with a higher administrative distance. The engineer notices that when the primary route is removed due to IP SLA failure, the backup route is installed, but when the IP SLA operation recovers, the primary route is not reinstalled. The show ip sla statistics shows the operation is 'Active' and 'Success'. The show track shows the track object is 'Up'. Which is the most likely explanation?
hard- ✓ A.The primary static route has a higher administrative distance than the backup route.
- B.The IP SLA operation has a frequency that is too low, causing a delay in detection of recovery.
- C.The track object has a 'delay up' configured, causing a delay before the primary route is reinstalled.
- D.The backup static route is configured with a permanent keyword, preventing the primary route from being reinstalled.
Why A: When a tracked static route is removed and the backup route is installed, the primary route may not be reinstalled if the primary route's administrative distance is not lower than the backup route. However, in this scenario, the track object is up, so the primary route should be reinstalled. The most likely edge case is that the primary static route has a higher administrative distance than the backup route, which would prevent it from being reinstalled even when the track object is up. This can happen if the engineer misconfigured the AD values.
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Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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