The correct action is to add a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance than OSPF. This works because administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco-specific trustworthiness metric that determines which routing source is preferred when multiple protocols learn the same prefix; OSPF has a default AD of 110, so a static route with an AD of 1 will be chosen over the OSPF-learned route regardless of metric. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding that AD overrides metric when comparing routes from different sources—a common trap is trying to manipulate OSPF metrics or using policy-based routing when a simple static route with a lower AD achieves the same path control. Remember that AD is checked before metric, so a static route with AD 1 always beats OSPF’s AD 110. A handy memory tip: “AD decides the protocol, metric decides the path within that protocol.”
350-401 Network Assurance Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of network assurance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
a - application route
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override
Gateway of last resort is 10.0.0.2 to network 0.0.0.0
O E2 192.168.1.0/24 [110/20] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:34, GigabitEthernet0/0
O E2 192.168.2.0/24 [110/20] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:34, GigabitEthernet0/0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 10.0.0.1
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator needs to ensure that traffic to 192.168.1.0/24 is forwarded via a different path than traffic to 192.168.2.0/24, even though both routes are learned via OSPF with the same metric. Which action should the administrator take?
Refer to the exhibit.
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
a - application route
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override
Gateway of last resort is 10.0.0.2 to network 0.0.0.0
O E2 192.168.1.0/24 [110/20] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:34, GigabitEthernet0/0
O E2 192.168.2.0/24 [110/20] via 10.0.0.2, 00:00:34, GigabitEthernet0/0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 10.0.0.1
A
Configure policy-based routing to match 192.168.1.0/24 and set the next hop to 10.0.0.1.
Why wrong: This is more complex and not the simplest solution; a static route is easier.
B
Add a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance than OSPF.
A static route with AD 1 would override the OSPF route (AD 110) for that prefix.
C
Use the 'distance ospf' command to change the OSPF administrative distance for all routes.
Why wrong: This would affect all OSPF routes, not just the specific prefix.
D
Adjust the OSPF cost on the interface to 10.0.0.2.
Why wrong: This would not differentiate between the two routes if they are both received via the same neighbor.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance than OSPF.
Option B is correct because adding a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance (e.g., 1) than OSPF (default 110) forces the router to prefer the static route over the OSPF-learned route, even though the OSPF metric is the same. This allows traffic to 192.168.1.0/24 to use a different next-hop (e.g., 10.0.0.1) while traffic to 192.168.2.0/24 continues using the OSPF-learned path via 10.0.0.2, achieving the desired path differentiation without altering OSPF metrics or using complex PBR.
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.
✗
Configure policy-based routing to match 192.168.1.0/24 and set the next hop to 10.0.0.1.
Why it's wrong here
This is more complex and not the simplest solution; a static route is easier.
✓
Add a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance than OSPF.
Why this is correct
A static route with AD 1 would override the OSPF route (AD 110) for that prefix.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use the 'distance ospf' command to change the OSPF administrative distance for all routes.
Why it's wrong here
This would affect all OSPF routes, not just the specific prefix.
✗
Adjust the OSPF cost on the interface to 10.0.0.2.
Why it's wrong here
This would not differentiate between the two routes if they are both received via the same neighbor.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that policy-based routing (PBR) is the only way to force traffic to a different next-hop, when in fact a simple static route with a lower administrative distance can achieve the same result more efficiently and is a common technique for path selection without altering routing protocol metrics.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance (AD) is a Cisco-proprietary mechanism used to select the best route when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination; OSPF has a default AD of 110, while a static route defaults to 1. By injecting a static route with a lower AD, the router installs it in the routing table over the OSPF route, but the OSPF route remains in the database and can be used if the static route fails (floating static route). In real-world scenarios, this technique is often used for traffic engineering or backup paths without modifying OSPF link costs, which could affect all OSPF neighbors.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
Network Assurance — This question tests Network Assurance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance than OSPF. — Option B is correct because adding a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 with a lower administrative distance (e.g., 1) than OSPF (default 110) forces the router to prefer the static route over the OSPF-learned route, even though the OSPF metric is the same. This allows traffic to 192.168.1.0/24 to use a different next-hop (e.g., 10.0.0.1) while traffic to 192.168.2.0/24 continues using the OSPF-learned path via 10.0.0.2, achieving the desired path differentiation without altering OSPF metrics or using complex PBR.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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