CCNA Plan

IP Connectivity

25% of the CCNA · blueprint 200-301 v1.1 (effective 2024-08-20)

Short answer

Domain 3.0 is the largest CCNA domain at 25%. It covers reading a routing table (code, prefix, mask, next hop, AD, metric, gateway of last resort), how a router chooses a route (longest prefix match first, then administrative distance, then metric), configuring IPv4 and IPv6 static routes (default, network, host, floating), single-area OSPFv2 (neighbor adjacencies, point-to-point vs broadcast, router ID, DR/BDR), and the purpose of first-hop redundancy protocols.

Why it matters on this exam

One in four points. Almost every question here needs you to compare prefixes, so subnetting fluency is the prerequisite.

Key concepts (objectives 3.1–3.5)

Common mistakes

Worked example

Routing table has O 10.1.0.0/16 via A and S 10.1.4.0/22 via B. A packet to 10.1.5.7 matches both; /22 is longer than /16, so it goes to B even though OSPF (AD 110) vs static (AD 1) never enters the decision.

Original practice questions

IP ConnectivityDifficulty 3/5

A router has routes O 10.1.0.0/16 via A (AD 110) and S 10.1.4.0/22 via B (AD 1). Where does it send a packet to 10.1.5.7?

  1. AIt load-balances between A and B
  2. BVia A, because OSPF routes are preferred for larger networks
  3. CVia B, because the /22 is the longest prefix match
  4. DVia B, because static routes have lower administrative distance
Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. Longest prefix match is evaluated first. 10.1.5.7 is inside 10.1.4.0/22 (10.1.4.0–10.1.7.255) and inside 10.1.0.0/16; the /22 is more specific, so B wins. AD only breaks ties between identical prefixes from different sources.

  • B — Route source is not the first criterion.
  • D — AD would matter only if both routes were for the same prefix.
  • A — Load balancing needs equal prefixes and equal metrics from the same protocol.
IP ConnectivityDifficulty 3/5

Which command configures a floating static default route on a Cisco router that is used only if the OSPF-learned default route disappears?

  1. Aip default-gateway 203.0.113.1
  2. Bip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1
  3. Cip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 5
  4. Dip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 120
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. A floating static route needs an administrative distance higher than the primary route's AD. OSPF is 110, so 120 makes the static route inactive until the OSPF route is withdrawn. AD 1 (default) or 5 would beat OSPF.

  • B — Default AD 1 would always win over OSPF.
  • C — AD 5 is still lower than OSPF's 110.
  • A — ip default-gateway applies when IP routing is disabled (switches), not a routed default.
IP ConnectivityDifficulty 2/5

On a multi-access Ethernet segment running OSPFv2, which router becomes the DR by default?

  1. AThe router with the highest interface priority, then the highest router ID
  2. BThe router with the most interfaces
  3. CThe router that joined the segment last
  4. DThe router with the lowest router ID
Show answer and rationale

Correct: A. DR election uses interface priority (default 1; 0 = never) and then the highest router ID as the tie-breaker. The election is not pre-emptive: an existing DR keeps its role.

  • D — Highest, not lowest, RID wins ties.
  • B — Interface count is irrelevant.
  • C — Late joiners do not pre-empt an existing DR.
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Related areas: Network Fundamentals · Network Access · IP Services · Security Fundamentals

Primary references

  1. CCNA Exam v1.1 (200-301) Exam Topics — Cisco Systems · primary · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21
Last reviewed: 2026-09-21Next review by: 2026-11-20Draft — pending editorial reviewHow we verify facts