200-301 - IP Connectivity - Section 3.5

Describe the purpose, functions, and concepts of first hop redundancy protocols such as HSRP.

Explain how a first hop redundancy protocol lets two or more routers share a single virtual IP and virtual MAC so hosts keep one default gateway even when the active router fails. Describe the active/standby roles, the role of priority and preemption in choosing the forwarder, and how the standby takes over the virtual address transparently to end devices.

First hop redundancy protocolHSRPVirtual IP and virtual MACActive/standby rolesPriority and preemption

Practice question for this objective

Free sampleIP Connectivitymedium

Two distribution routers, R1 and R2, share a single HSRP group on a user VLAN to provide a redundant default gateway. The hosts point at the group's virtual IP address. Which two statements correctly describe how this HSRP group operates? Select TWO.

  • ABoth routers forward host traffic to the virtual IP at the same time, sharing the load equally across the group.
  • BOnly the active router forwards traffic sent to the virtual IP, while the standby router monitors it and takes over on failure. Correct
  • CThe active router answers ARP for the virtual IP with a shared virtual MAC address rather than its own burned-in address. Correct
  • DEach host must be configured with both routers' real interface addresses so it can switch gateways if the active fails.
  • EA router with a lower configured priority value is preferred and becomes the active forwarder for the group.
HSRP runs one active forwarder and one standby, presenting a single virtual IP and virtual MAC so hosts keep a stable default gateway through failover. In an HSRP group the routers elect a single active forwarder by highest priority and a standby that monitors it. Hosts resolve the virtual IP to a shared virtual MAC, so the active router answers traffic for that address; if it fails, the standby adopts the same virtual IP and MAC and forwarding continues without any host-side change. Simultaneous load sharing within one group and lower-is-better priority both misstate HSRP.

Why A is wrong: It sounds efficient because two routers are present, but standard HSRP runs one active forwarder while the other waits as standby; simultaneous forwarding within one group is GLBP behaviour, not HSRP.

Why B is correct: HSRP elects one active router to forward for the virtual IP and one standby that tracks the active via hellos and assumes the role if the active stops responding.

Why C is correct: Hosts resolve the virtual IP to a group virtual MAC, so when the standby takes over it owns that same virtual MAC and host ARP caches need no update.

Why D is wrong: It seems to add resilience, but the whole point of HSRP is that hosts use only the single virtual IP; they never need either router's real address or any reconfiguration on failover.

Why E is wrong: Priority direction is easy to invert, but HSRP prefers the higher priority value for active; the lower-priority router becomes standby, so this reverses the rule.

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