hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: A network uses PBR to route traffic from a…
A network uses PBR to route traffic from a specific subnet (192.168.1.0/24) through a WAN link (next-hop 10.10.10.2). After a routing change, traffic from this subnet is being sent to the WAN link but is being dropped. Router R1 shows: 'show route-map' shows the route-map is applied, 'debug ip policy' shows traffic being forwarded to 10.10.10.2, but 'show ip route 10.10.10.2' shows a route via a different interface (GigabitEthernet0/1). What is the root cause?
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 next-hop 10.10.10.2 is not directly connected to the interface where PBR is applied. PBR requires the next-hop to be directly connected. Use a directly connected next-hop or configure a static route to make it directly connected.
PBR requires that the next-hop specified in the 'set ip next-hop' command be directly connected to the router. If the next-hop is reachable via a route through another interface (as in this case where 10.10.10.2 is reachable via GigabitEthernet0/1), the router will attempt to forward the packet but will drop it because the next-hop is not on the same subnet as the outgoing interface. The debug output showing 'forwarding to 10.10.10.2' indicates that the route-map matched and the next-hop was set, but the actual packet is dropped. To fix this, ensure the next-hop is directly connected or use a different next-hop.
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 next-hop 10.10.10.2 is not directly connected to the interface where PBR is applied. PBR requires the next-hop to be directly connected. Use a directly connected next-hop or configure a static route to make it directly connected.
Why this is correct
PBR's 'set ip next-hop' command requires the next-hop to be on a directly connected subnet. If it is reachable via a route, PBR will drop the packet. This is a common misconfiguration when the next-hop is on a remote subnet.
- ✗
The route-map is missing a 'set ip next-hop verify-availability' command, causing PBR to use the next-hop even when it is not reachable.
Why it's wrong here
The debug output shows traffic being forwarded to 10.10.10.2, indicating the next-hop is reachable. The issue is that it is not directly connected, not that it is unreachable.
- ✗
The routing table on R1 has a better route to the destination via a different next-hop, overriding PBR.
Why it's wrong here
PBR overrides the routing table for matched traffic. The debug output shows PBR is forwarding traffic, so the routing table is not the issue.
- ✗
The interface where PBR is applied is in a different VRF, causing the next-hop to be unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
Although PBR operates within a single VRF by default, the scenario’s root cause is a recursive routing failure: the next-hop 10.10.10.2 is reachable via a different interface (GigabitEthernet0/1) than the WAN link where PBR directs traffic, so packets are forwarded out the wrong interface and dropped. This option is tempting because VRF misconfiguration can indeed cause next-hop unreachability in other contexts, such as when PBR is applied in a VRF that lacks a route to the next-hop in its routing table, but here the route to 10.10.10.2 exists—it simply points to an unintended egress interface.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.