200-301 - IP Connectivity (25% of the exam) - Section 3.3
Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing, including default routes, network routes, host routes, and floating static routes.
Configure static routes that point a prefix at a next-hop address or exit interface, using a default route (0.0.0.0/0 or ::/0) as the catch-all and a host route (/32 or /128) for a single destination. Set a floating static route with a higher administrative distance so it installs only when the preferred dynamic route fails, providing deterministic backup without a routing protocol.
Static routeDefault routeHost routeFloating static routeNext hop vs exit interface
Practice question for this objective
lock_openFree sampleIP Connectivitymedium
A network already learns the path to 10.20.0.0/16 through OSPF. An administrator wants to add an IPv4 static route to the same prefix that stays out of the routing table while OSPF is healthy and only takes over if the OSPF route is withdrawn. Which administrative distance must be applied to that static route for it to behave as a floating static backup?
AAn administrative distance of 1, because that is the default for a static route and guarantees it is preferred only when needed
BAn administrative distance of 110, so it matches OSPF and shares the load with the dynamic route
CAn administrative distance of 0, because that forces the route to be treated as directly connected and most trustworthy
DAn administrative distance of 130, so it is less preferred than the OSPF route and only installs when OSPF is gonecheck_circle Correct
A floating static route works only when its administrative distance is set higher than the route it is meant to back up. The router installs the lowest administrative distance for a given prefix. OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110, while a static route defaults to 1. To make the static route a standby it must be given a distance above 110, so the OSPF route wins while it exists and the static route is installed only after OSPF withdraws.
Why A is wrong: 1 is indeed the default static administrative distance, but it is lower than OSPF's 110, so this route would always win and replace the OSPF path rather than float behind it.
Why B is wrong: Matching OSPF's distance of 110 is tempting because it sounds like equal standing, but equal administrative distance from different sources is resolved unpredictably and does not produce a clean backup; a floating route must be strictly less preferred.
Why C is wrong: 0 is reserved for connected interfaces and cannot be assigned to a configured static route; even if it could, the most trusted distance would override OSPF entirely, which is the opposite of a backup.
Why D is correct: A floating static route must carry an administrative distance higher than the route it backs up; 130 exceeds OSPF's 110, so the static route is held in reserve and is installed only when the OSPF route disappears.
Answers that look right on this material and are not. Each one is a distractor from a different question in the 200-301 bank for this domain.
ip route 198.51.100.0 255.255.255.0 203.0.113.1 100
errorWhy it is wrong: An AD of 100 is lower than OSPF's 110, so this static route would win immediately and replace the OSPF route instead of floating behind it.
The static route is active because static routes have an administrative distance of 1, which always beats OSPF
errorWhy it is wrong: The trailing 130 in the command overrides the default static distance of 1, raising it to 130; that is deliberately higher than OSPF's 110, so the static route does not win while OSPF is healthy.
A /31 prefix, because it is the smallest usable block and therefore identifies a single host
errorWhy it is wrong: A /31 leaves one host bit and covers two addresses (used for point-to-point links), so it cannot pin down a single host the way a host route must.