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Quizzes > Computers & Technology > Computers & IT

CCNA Routing & Switching Quiz: Can You Master Static Routes & Switching?

Think you know which characteristic describes cut-through switching? Take the CCNA quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut illustration showing routers switches network cables on teal background inviting CCNA routing and switching quiz

Calling all networking enthusiasts: are you ready to tackle your CCNA Static Routes & Switching knowledge? This engaging CCNA routing quiz is your chance to dive into essentials like why static routes are just another term for trivial routes and how cut-through switching really works. Wondering which characteristic describes cut-through switching or need a refresher on basic route selection? Explore our trivial routing concepts module and sharpen your skills with a quick switching fundamentals exercise . Ready to boost your confidence for CCNA exam questions? Start the quiz now and see how far you can go!

Which command is used to configure a static IPv4 route in Cisco IOS?
ip route destination_network subnet_mask next_hop_ip
route add destination_network mask subnet_mask gateway next_hop_ip
router static destination_network mask subnet_mask next_hop_ip
set static-route destination_network/24 next_hop next_hop_ip
In Cisco IOS, the 'ip route' command followed by the destination network, subnet mask, and next-hop address defines a static route. This command adds the route directly into the routing table without relying on dynamic protocols. Other commands like 'route add' are used in different operating systems (e.g., Windows). For more details, see Cisco IOS Static Routing.
What is the default administrative distance of a static route in Cisco IOS?
1
90
110
120
Cisco assigns an administrative distance of 1 to static routes by default, which makes them more trusted than most dynamic routes. A lower administrative distance indicates higher trust. Routes with AD 90 (EIGRP), 110 (OSPF), or 120 (RIP) are less preferred compared to static routes. For more details, see Administrative Distance.
Which entry in the routing table represents a default route that matches all unknown destinations?
0.0.0.0/0
255.255.255.255/32
192.168.0.0/16
10.0.0.0/8
A default route uses the network 0.0.0.0 with mask 0.0.0.0 (written 0.0.0.0/0) to match any destination not in the routing table. It is commonly pointed to a next-hop or an exit interface. This route is used when no more specific route is found. Further reading at Default Route Configuration.
In a Cisco IOS routing table, which code indicates a static route?
S
C
D
R
In Cisco IOS routing table output, the letter 'S' denotes static routes configured with the 'ip route' command. 'C' indicates directly connected networks, 'D' indicates EIGRP, and 'R' indicates RIP. Recognizing these codes helps in quickly interpreting the table. See Cisco Routing Table Codes.
What is a floating static route?
A static route with an administrative distance higher than a dynamic protocol
A default route pointing to null0
A static route loaded via DHCP
A host route with /32 mask
A floating static route is configured with an administrative distance greater than that of a dynamic routing protocol so it only takes effect if the dynamic route fails. This creates a backup path. By adjusting the AD, you ensure dynamic routes are preferred under normal operation. See Floating Static Routes.
If the next-hop IP of a static route becomes unreachable, what happens to that route entry?
It is removed from the routing table
It remains active but flagged as down
It converts into a dynamic route
It forwards to the null0 interface
Cisco routers perform a reachability check on the next-hop for static routes. If the next-hop is unreachable, the static route is withdrawn and removed from the routing table. This prevents black-holing of traffic. Details at Static Route Reachability.
What does 'recursive lookup' mean in static routing?
Using one route to find another route’s next-hop
Performing an ARP request for the destination IP
Checking ACLs before forwarding
Looking up the route in NVRAM
Recursive lookup occurs when the router uses the next-hop address in a static route and then checks its routing table again to resolve that next-hop to a local interface. This two-step process ensures proper forwarding. Understanding recursion is key to designing multi-hop static routes. More info at Recursive Static Routing.
Which switching method begins forwarding a frame after reading its destination MAC address?
Cut-through
Store-and-forward
Fragment-free
Token-switching
Cut-through switching starts forwarding a frame as soon as the destination MAC is read (first 6 bytes), minimizing latency. It does not wait for the whole frame or perform CRC checks before forwarding. This can lead to forwarding error frames but is very fast. See Cut-through Switching.
Which switching method reads the entire frame and performs a CRC check before forwarding?
Store-and-forward
Cut-through
Fragment-free
Fast-forward
Store-and-forward switching buffers the entire frame, checks it for errors using CRC, and then forwards it. This ensures corrupted frames are dropped, increasing reliability. The trade-off is additional latency. Learn more at Store-and-Forward Switching.
Which switching method checks only the first 64 bytes of a frame to detect fragment errors?
Fragment-free
Cut-through
Store-and-forward
Fast-forward
Fragment-free switching inspects the first 64 bytes of a frame, which covers the collision window, to filter out fragmentation errors. It strikes a balance between latency and error checking. Frames passing this check are forwarded without waiting for the entire frame. More at Fragment-free Switching.
Which switching method typically offers the lowest latency?
Cut-through
Fragment-free
Store-and-forward
Adaptive switching
Cut-through switching has the lowest latency because forwarding begins after reading only the destination MAC address. It sacrifices error checking for speed. Fragment-free and store-and-forward add additional latency for error detection. Read more at Cut-through Switching.
What device operates at OSI Layer 2 and uses MAC addresses to forward frames?
Switch
Router
Hub
Repeater
Switches operate at Layer 2, reading MAC addresses to forward frames only out the correct port. Routers operate at Layer 3 using IP, hubs repeat bits, and repeaters amplify signals. Layer 2 switching reduces collisions and segments the network. See Cisco on Switches.
What is the primary function of ARP in a LAN?
Map IP addresses to MAC addresses
Authenticate devices
Segment broadcast domains
Encrypt frame payload
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) resolves Layer 3 IP addresses to Layer 2 MAC addresses, enabling Ethernet frames to be properly addressed. Without ARP, hosts wouldn't know where to send frames on the local subnet. ARP requests and replies populate the ARP table. More at ARP Protocol.
Which port mode on a Cisco switch carries traffic for multiple VLANs using 802.1Q tagging?
Trunk
Access
Dynamic auto
Private VLAN
A trunk port carries frames for multiple VLANs simultaneously, tagging each frame with an 802.1Q header to identify its VLAN ID. Access ports carry untagged frames for a single VLAN. Dynamic auto negotiates trunking, while private VLANs isolate within a VLAN. See Cisco Trunking Guide.
What is the purpose of a VLAN on a switch?
Segment broadcast domains at Layer 2
Provide IP addresses to hosts
Encrypt traffic between ports
Aggregate links for bandwidth
VLANs create separate broadcast domains on the same physical switch, isolating traffic at Layer 2. This improves security and reduces unnecessary broadcast traffic. Host IP addressing still occurs in Layer 3, and link aggregation is a separate feature. More at VLAN Overview.
Which device reduces collision domains by providing a dedicated segment per port?
Switch
Hub
Bridge
Repeater
Switches isolate collision domains on each port, so collisions are local to that port only. Hubs create a single collision domain across all ports. Bridges also segment collisions but are less common in modern networks. See Collision Domain.
How do you configure a floating static route to 192.168.2.0/24 with a next-hop 10.1.1.2 and administrative distance 200?
ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.2 200
ip route 192.168.2.0/24 next-hop 10.1.1.2 distance 200
router static 200 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.2
route add 192.168.2.0 mask 255.255.255.0 gateway 10.1.1.2 metric 200
To create a floating static route, append the desired administrative distance at the end of the 'ip route' command. Here '200' makes it less preferred than any dynamic route with a lower AD. The correct syntax places the AD after the next-hop. See Floating Static Routes.
What is the primary purpose of configuring a static route to the null0 interface?
Black-hole traffic or create a summary route
Test connectivity to an unreachable network
Load-balance traffic across interfaces
Enable NAT on that route
A static route to null0 discards matching traffic, effectively black-holing it. It’s also used for route summarization to ensure summarized prefixes prevent more specific routes from overriding. This avoids routing loops in summarization scenarios. Learn more at Cisco Null0 Summaries.
If a network is both directly connected and statically configured, which route is preferred?
Directly connected (AD 0)
Static (AD 1)
They share equal preference
Depends on route metric
Directly connected networks have an AD of 0, making them more trusted than static routes which default to AD 1. The router will always prefer a connected route over a static one for the same prefix. Administrative distance determines this preference. See Route Selection Process.
How can you configure a summary static route for networks 10.1.0.0/16 and 10.2.0.0/16 into 10.0.0.0/15 pointing at next-hop 192.168.1.1?
ip route 10.0.0.0 255.254.0.0 192.168.1.1
ip route 10.1.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.1
ip route 10.0.0.0/16 255.0.0.0 192.168.1.1
ip route 10.0.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.1.1
Summarization uses the common prefix and mask covering both networks; /15 (255.254.0.0) covers 10.1.0.0 and 10.2.0.0. The command places that summary in the routing table. Incorrect masks will not summarize properly. See Route Summarization.
What is the effect of 'ip route 10.10.10.0 255.255.255.0 null0'?
Drops packets to that network (black-hole)
Creates a default gateway
Redirects traffic to a dynamic protocol
Load-balances among interfaces
Pointing a route to null0 causes matching packets to be discarded, implementing a black hole. This is often used for summarization or to sink unwanted traffic. It prevents loops and undesired reachability. More at Null0 Static Routes.
Which two CEF tables exist for packet forwarding?
FIB and Adjacency
RIB and ARP
CAM and TCAM
MIB and NDP
Cisco Express Forwarding uses the Forwarding Information Base (FIB) and the adjacency table. The FIB is a copy of the routing table optimized for lookups, while the adjacency table holds Layer 2 rewrite information. Process switching and fast switching use different mechanisms. Details at CEF Overview.
What does the adjacency table store in CEF?
Layer 2 header rewrite information
IP to MAC bindings
ARP cache entries
Dynamic VLAN mappings
The adjacency table holds Layer 2 encapsulation and interface details required to forward packets without additional lookups. It allows CEF to stitch Layer 3 forwarding with Layer 2 framing quickly. ARP cache is separate, though adjacency can reference it. See CEF Adjacency.
How do you configure a static IPv6 default route to link-local next-hop FE80::1 on GigabitEthernet0/0?
ipv6 route ::/0 GigabitEthernet0/0 FE80::1
ipv6 route ::/0 FE80::1 GigabitEthernet0/0
ipv6 default-gateway FE80::1 GigabitEthernet0/0
ipv6 route 0::0/0 GigabitEthernet0/0 FE80::1
IPv6 static route syntax places the destination prefix, outgoing interface, and then the next-hop address. For link-local addresses, you must specify the exit interface before the link-local address. This correctly installs a default IPv6 route. More at IPv6 Static Routing.
Which static route syntax points to an exit interface instead of a next-hop IP?
ip route 192.168.100.0 255.255.255.0 Serial0/0/0
ip route 192.168.100.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 Serial0/0/0
ip route 192.168.100.0 Serial0/0/0 255.255.255.0
ip route exit-interface Serial0/0/0 192.168.100.0/24
When specifying an exit interface, you omit the next-hop IP and list the interface directly. This is common in point-to-point links. Be cautious; recursive lookup rules differ for interface-based routes. See Exit-Interface Static Routes.
Which command displays only static routes in the IPv4 routing table?
show ip route static
show ip route | include S
show ip route summary static
show ip route only static
The 'show ip route static' command filters the routing table to show only static routes. While 'include S' can show static entries, it may also catch other lines beginning with S. This command is precise for administrators tracking configured static routes. Refer to IOS Routing Commands.
What is a primary disadvantage of using static routes versus dynamic routing protocols?
Poor scalability and manual maintenance
High CPU utilization
Inability to route over WAN links
Lack of security
Static routes do not adapt to network topology changes, requiring manual updates for every network change. This manual overhead makes them unsuitable for large or frequently changing networks. Dynamic protocols automatically recalculates routes, improving scalability. More at Static vs Dynamic Routing.
How do you configure a host-specific static route for IPv4 address 192.168.1.100?
ip route 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2
ip route 192.168.1.100/32 10.0.0.2
ip host-route 192.168.1.100 10.0.0.2
ip route host 192.168.1.100 10.0.0.2
A host route uses a /32 mask (255.255.255.255) to specify a single IP address. This command ensures only that host’s traffic follows the defined next hop. Host routes are useful for specific destination reachability. See Host Static Routes.
If a summary static route overlaps with a more specific dynamic route, which route is preferred?
The more specific dynamic route
The summary static route
They are equal; traffic is load-balanced
Depends on interface bandwidth
Routers use the longest prefix match rule, preferring the most specific route irrespective of static or dynamic origin. Thus a /24 dynamic route is chosen over a /16 static summary. This ensures precise delivery based on path specificity. More at Prefix Matching.
Which command reveals the full recursive lookup chain for a static route to 192.168.10.0?
show ip route 192.168.10.0 detail
show ip route static
show ip cef 192.168.10.0
show arp 192.168.10.0
The 'show ip route detail' command displays route sources, administrative distance, metric, and the recursive path if used. This helps verify multi-hop static configurations. It reveals how the router resolves each hop to an interface. Reference: Routing Table Details.
In policy-based routing, which configuration forwards matching traffic to static next-hop 10.0.0.2?
route-map PBR permit 10 set ip next-hop 10.0.0.2
ip policy PBR set next-hop 10.0.0.2
access-list 10 permit ip any any route-map set next-hop 10.0.0.2
policy-route 10 permit set ip next-hop 10.0.0.2
Policy-Based Routing uses route-maps; 'route-map PBR permit 10' defines a policy and 'set ip next-hop' specifies the static next hops. This overrides normal routing decisions for matched traffic. ACLs match the traffic then the route-map applies. More at PBR Configuration.
What is the function of a route tag on redistributed static routes?
Identify and filter redistributed routes
Adjust administrative distance
Modify MTU across hops
Encrypt static route advertisements
Route tags mark routes when redistributing between protocols, enabling filtering or control loops. You assign a numeric tag to static routes during redistribution so you can prevent re-injection or control route preference. This is crucial in complex designs. Details at Route Tagging.
Which command redistributes static routes into OSPF with tag 200?
redistribute static subnets tag 200
redistribute static metric-type 2 tag 200
redistribute static external-tag 200
redistribute static metric 200
Under OSPF router configuration, 'redistribute static subnets tag 200' imports all static routes as external LSAs tagged 200. The 'subnets' keyword ensures networks of all masks are included. Tags help in filtering and route selection post-redistribution. See OSPF Redistribution.
What is the primary difference between fast-forward and fragment-free switching?
Fast-forward begins after MAC read; fragment-free waits 64 bytes
Fast-forward waits entire frame; fragment-free reads only first 6 bytes
Fast-forward does CRC; fragment-free skips CRC
They are identical methods
Fast-forward (a type of cut-through) starts forwarding after reading the destination MAC (~14 bytes). Fragment-free begins forwarding only after the first 64 bytes, protecting against fragments. Neither performs a CRC check on the full frame. More detail at Cut-through Variants.
Which switching method on Cisco routers uses both a TCAM-based FIB lookup and adjacency table?
CEF
Fast Switching
Process Switching
CiscoFlow Switching
Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) uses hardware-accelerated TCAM lookups to access the FIB and adjacency table for high-speed packet forwarding. Fast Switching uses route caches and CPU involvement. Process Switching is fully CPU-driven. See CEF Overview.
Which port security violation mode drops frames without disabling the port?
Protect
Restrict
Shutdown
Trap
In 'protect' mode, frames from unauthorized MAC addresses are silently dropped, but the port stays up. 'Restrict' also increments a violation counter and can generate syslog messages. 'Shutdown' disables the port on violation. More at Port Security.
What happens to a static route if you configure 'no ip route x.x.x.x y.y.y.y ...' on a router?
The static route is removed
The route becomes dynamic
It converts to a floating route
It is moved to the FIB but not RIB
Using 'no ip route' followed by the exact static route syntax removes that static route from the running configuration and the routing table. It will no longer influence forwarding decisions. You must reconfigure it to restore. See Removing Static Routes.
Which Cisco feature prevents Layer 2 MAC learning on a port if a BPDU is received?
BPDU Filter
PortFast
Root Guard
Loop Guard
BPDU Filter stops sending or receiving BPDUs on a port, disabling STP on that interface. When applied globally under an interface, it prevents MAC learning upon BPDU receipt. Root Guard and Loop Guard address STP priority/root issues differently. More at BPDU Filter.
How can you verify that a static IPv6 route is installed in the routing table?
show ipv6 route static
show ipv6 route | include S
show ipv6 cef
show ipv6 interface
The 'show ipv6 route static' command filters IPv6 routes to display only those statically configured. Using include filters may catch unrelated lines. 'show ipv6 cef' displays CEF tables, not specifically static routes. See IPv6 Routing Commands.
Which SNMP MIB group would include static route information?
ipRouteTable
ifTable
atTable
ipAddrTable
The SNMP ipRouteTable MIB stores IPv4 route entries, including static routes. ifTable is for interfaces, atTable for ARP, and ipAddrTable for IP addresses. Network management tools use ipRouteTable to monitor static and dynamic routes. Reference: RFC 1213 (MIB-II).
What is a primary advantage of using static routes in small networks?
Low overhead and predictability
Automatic failover
Dynamic route learning
Enhanced security via encryption
Static routes introduce minimal CPU and memory overhead since no protocol computations occur. They provide predictable paths, ideal for small or stable topologies. However, they lack automatic failover unless manually configured as floating routes. More at Static Routing Benefits.
In a Juniper and Cisco dual-vendor environment, what must be considered when redistributing static routes into OSPF?
Match route tagging and LSA types across vendors
Use the same IOS commands on both
Disable all static routes before redistribution
Translate metrics to RIP afterward
Different vendors tag redistributed routes differently and may default to different LSA types (E1/E2). Aligning tags and metric types ensures consistent route preference and prevents loops. Simply sharing IOS commands won’t apply on Juniper. See Redistribution on Juniper.
How does IPv6 static routing differ when pointing to a link-local next-hop on a multi-access network?
You must specify the exit interface before the link-local address
Link-local next-hops are not supported
Use the global IPv6 address instead automatically
Add a zone-based firewall rule first
On multi-access segments, specifying the exit interface ensures the router knows which link-local scope to use. Omitting it causes ambiguity because link-local addresses exist on all interfaces. This requirement is documented in IOS IPv6 routing guides. See IPv6 Route Syntax.
What is the behavior of CEF when an adjacency is in 'punting' state for that prefix?
Packets are sent to the route processor for processing
Packets are silently dropped
CEF reverts to process switching globally
It triggers a full adjacency rebuild
When CEF adjacency is in punt state, packets requiring special handling (e.g., IP options) are sent to the route processor (RP). CEF continues to forward all other traffic using the FIB/adjacency tables. Punting maintains performance while handling exceptions. Reference: CEF Punting.
In cut-through switching, how can a network engineer minimize the risk of propagating bad fragments?
Use fragment-free switching mode instead
Enable jumbo frames
Configure port security
Increase spanning-tree priority
Fragment-free mode waits for the first 64 bytes, bypassing the initial collision window to detect fragments before forwarding. This reduces forwarding of collisions and malformed frames. Pure cut-through lacks this protection. See Fragment-free Switching.
When integrating UDLD and static port-security, which must be considered?
UDLD removal of a neighbor link may trigger port-security shutdown
UDLD automatically re-learns MACs
Port-security disables UDLD
UDLD uses static routes for link negotiation
UDLD can disable a port when it detects a unidirectional link. If port-security is enabled in shutdown mode, learning loss triggers a violation and shuts down the port. Coordination between UDLD and port-security settings avoids unintended outages. See UDLD Configuration.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Static (Trivial) Routes -

    Explain why static routes are just another term for trivial routes and differentiate them from dynamic routing protocols.

  2. Identify Cut-Through Switching Features -

    Learn which characteristic describes cut-through switching and understand its impact on forwarding speed and latency.

  3. Configure Static Routes on Cisco Devices -

    Apply command syntax to add, modify, and verify static route entries for precise traffic control in your network.

  4. Analyze Routing Table Entries -

    Interpret key fields in routing tables to troubleshoot static route behaviour and ensure correct path selection.

  5. Compare Switching Methods -

    Evaluate cut-through switching against store-and-forward and fragment-free methods to choose the optimal forwarding mode.

  6. Reinforce CCNA Exam Readiness -

    Test your knowledge with CCNA routing quiz questions that mirror real CCNA exam questions for certification confidence.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Static Routes as Trivial Routes -

    In CCNA theory, static routes are manually entered paths and, in fact, static routes are just another term for trivial routes, since they remain in the routing table until explicitly removed. According to Cisco documentation, trivial routes are perfect for small or stub networks where dynamic routing overhead isn't justified.

  2. IOS Static Route Configuration Syntax -

    When configuring a static route on Cisco IOS, use the command format "ip route <destination> <mask> <next-hop>" (e.g., ip route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2). This clear syntax, outlined in official Cisco guides, makes it easy to establish predictable paths with minimal commands.

  3. Remembering Administrative Distance -

    Static routes carry an administrative distance (AD) of 1 by default, making them preferred over most dynamic routes. A simple mnemonic - "AD 1: I'm number one!" - helps recall that static entries outrank even EIGRP's internal routes (AD 90).

  4. Cut-Through Switching Characteristic -

    When asked which characteristic describes cut-through switching, remember it begins forwarding a frame immediately after reading the destination MAC address, reducing latency significantly. Unlike store-and-forward (IEEE 802.3 standard), it defers error checking until after transmission starts.

  5. Switching Method Comparison Mnemonic -

    To differentiate store-and-forward, fragment-free, and cut-through, use "Store Full, Chop First, Check Partial." Store-and-forward buffers the full frame (max latency), fragment-free checks the first 64 bytes, and cut-through chops delay by forwarding early after MAC extraction.

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