mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: Runs the following command on Router R1: R1# show…
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show ip policy Interface Route-map
GigabitEthernet0/0 PBR-TRACK
R1# show route-map PBR-TRACK
route-map PBR-TRACK, permit, sequence 10 Match clauses:
ip address (access-lists): 170
Set clauses:
ip next-hop verify-availability 10.0.0.2 10 track 2
Policy routing matches: 100 packets, 8000 bytes
R1# show track 2 Track 2 IP SLA 2 reachability
Reachability is Up 2 changes, last change 00:01:30 Latest operation return code: ok
Tracked by:
ROUTE-MAP 0
R1# show ip route 10.0.0.2
Routing entry for 10.0.0.2/32 Known via "eigrp 1", distance 90, metric 28160 Last update from 192.168.1.2 on GigabitEthernet0/1
Based on this output, what is the most likely behavior for packets matching ACL 170?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the interpretation of show track and show route-map outputs, and candidates may incorrectly assume the next-hop is unreachable or that PBR load-balances when only one next-hop is configured.
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
✓
Packets are forwarded to 10.0.0.2.
The route-map PBR-TRACK sets the next-hop to 10.0.0.2 with verify-availability and track 2. The show track 2 output indicates that IP SLA 2 reachability is Up, meaning the tracked object is available. Therefore, the policy-based routing will forward matching packets to 10.0.0.2. The route to 10.0.0.2 exists via EIGRP, confirming reachability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Packets are forwarded to 10.0.0.2.
Why this is correct
The route-map sets the next hop to 10.0.0.2 with verify-availability tied to track 2, which reports IP SLA reachability as Up. Because the tracked object is up, the set clause remains valid, so matching packets are policy-routed to 10.0.0.2.
- ✗
Packets are forwarded using the routing table because the next-hop is not reachable.
Why it's wrong here
The next hop 10.0.0.2 is reachable via EIGRP through GigabitEthernet0/1, and track 2 confirms reachability is Up, so PBR sets the next hop rather than falling back to the routing table. Fallback occurs only when the tracked object reports Down.
- ✗
Packets are dropped because the track object is not configured correctly.
Why it's wrong here
The track object is configured correctly: IP SLA 2 reports reachability Up with return code ok, and the route-map references track 2 properly. This distractor tempts engineers who assume any PBR tracking anomaly causes drops, but tracking is functioning as designed here.
- ✗
Packets are load-balanced between the next-hop and the routing table.
Why it's wrong here
The route-map uses verify-availability with a single tracked next-hop, so it is not a load-balancing construct; it either sets that next-hop or falls through to normal routing. Load balancing would require multiple set clauses with tracking, as in policy-based routing with two next-hops.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
EIGRP Route Summarization and Filtering
Key term
IP SLA for Path Control
IP SLA for Path Control is a Cisco technology that uses active network measurements to dynamically influence routing decisions and redirect traffic along a preferred path when network conditions change.
Key term
Policy Based Routing
Policy Based Routing (PBR) is a technology that allows network traffic to be forwarded based on user-defined policies rather than just the destination IP address in the routing table.
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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
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