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# debug ip policy
Policy routing debugging is on
R1#
*Mar 1 00:10:45.456: IP: s=172.16.1.5 (FastEthernet0/0), d=8.8.8.8, len 64, policy match
*Mar 1 00:10:45.456: IP: s=172.16.1.5 (FastEthernet0/0), d=8.8.8.8, len 64, policy routed
*Mar 1 00:10:45.456: IP: FastEthernet0/0 to Serial0/0 10.1.1.2
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The packet was successfully policy-routed to 10.1.1.2 via Serial0/0.
The debug shows a packet from 172.16.1.5 to 8.8.8.8 that matched the policy and was routed out of Serial0/0 to next-hop 10.1.1.2. This indicates successful PBR operation.
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 packet was successfully policy-routed to 10.1.1.2 via Serial0/0.
Why this is correct
The output shows 'policy routed' and the egress interface and next-hop.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The packet was dropped due to no matching route.
Why it's wrong here
The packet was routed, not dropped.
✗
The next-hop 10.1.1.2 is unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
If unreachable, the packet would be rejected, not routed.
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
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 packet was successfully policy-routed to 10.1.1.2 via Serial0/0. — The debug shows a packet from 172.16.1.5 to 8.8.8.8 that matched the policy and was routed out of Serial0/0 to next-hop 10.1.1.2. This indicates successful PBR operation.
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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