300-410 Policy-Based Routing (PBR) Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of policy-based routing (pbr). 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.
A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot a Policy-Based Routing (PBR) issue:
R1# show route-map PBR-MAP
route-map PBR-MAP, permit, sequence 10
Match clauses:
ip address (access-lists): 101
Set clauses:
ip next-hop 10.1.1.2
ip next-hop verify-availability
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The route-map is correctly configured but no traffic has matched it yet.
The output shows that the route-map PBR-MAP has a match clause referencing access-list 101 and a set clause with next-hop 10.1.1.2 and next-hop verify-availability. The packet counter is 0, meaning no packets have been policy-routed yet.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 route-map is correctly configured but no traffic has matched it yet.
Why this is correct
The packet counter shows 0 matches, so no packets have triggered PBR.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The next-hop 10.1.1.2 is unreachable, causing PBR to fail.
Why it's wrong here
The output does not show reachability; the counter is 0, not errors.
✗
The access-list 101 is misconfigured and blocking all traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The route-map shows match clauses, but no indication of ACL misconfiguration.
✗
The verify-availability feature is preventing any matches.
Why it's wrong here
verify-availability does not block matches; it only affects forwarding if next-hop is down.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The output does not show reachability; the counter is 0, not errors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 300-410 question in full detail.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related 300-410 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Policy-Based Routing (PBR) — This question tests Policy-Based Routing (PBR) — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The route-map is correctly configured but no traffic has matched it yet. — The output shows that the route-map PBR-MAP has a match clause referencing access-list 101 and a set clause with next-hop 10.1.1.2 and next-hop verify-availability. The packet counter is 0, meaning no packets have been policy-routed yet.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related 300-410 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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