LFCS Networking Practice Question
A company deploys a new web server with two network interfaces: one for public access (eth0) and one for database access (eth1). The database server is at 10.0.0.10. The web server's default gateway is via eth0, but traffic to 10.0.0.10 is being routed through eth0 instead of eth1. What is the simplest fix?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers think they need to change the default gateway or use complex policy routing, when a simple static route is the most efficient and correct solution for directing traffic to a specific host through a different interface.
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
✓
Add a static route for 10.0.0.10/32 via eth1's gateway.
Adding a static route for 10.0.0.10/32 via eth1's gateway forces traffic destined for the database server to use the eth1 interface, overriding the default route that sends all traffic through eth0. This is the simplest and most direct fix, as it does not alter the default gateway or require complex policy routing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Remove the default gateway on eth0.
Why it's wrong here
Would break internet access.
- ✗
Configure policy routing to use both tables.
Why it's wrong here
Policy routing would require additional routing tables and rules to direct traffic based on source or destination, but the stem’s issue is that the default gateway on eth0 overrides the direct route to 10.0.0.10 via eth1. The simplest fix is adding a static route for 10.0.0.0/24 via eth1, not policy routing. This option tempts because policy routing solves complex multi-homing scenarios where traffic must be selected by attributes like source IP or packet mark, but here only a single destination subnet needs a different next-hop, making a static route sufficient.
- ✓
Add a static route for 10.0.0.10/32 via eth1's gateway.
Why this is correct
Directs only database traffic through eth1.
- ✗
Change the default gateway metric to prefer eth1.
Why it's wrong here
That would route all traffic through eth1, not desired.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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