Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What command configures a default route in Cisco CLI?

1. ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 NEXT-HOP IP ADDRESS

2. set default route NEXT-HOP IP ADDRESS

3. default route 0.0.0.0

4. ip route default 0.0.0.0

The correct answer is: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 NEXT-HOP IP ADDRESS

The command utilized to configure a default route in Cisco CLI is indeed "ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 NEXT-HOP IP ADDRESS." This command is designed to create a route that directs any traffic destined for an unknown destination to a specified next-hop IP address. The notation "0.0.0.0" as both the destination and subnet mask signifies that this is a default route, applicable to all IP addresses not explicitly defined in the routing table. Configuring a default route is crucial in scenarios where you want to manage traffic flow more efficiently, especially in networks that do not require static entries for each potential destination. By properly setting a default route, routers can forward packets that do not have a specific route, enabling seamless connectivity to external networks. The other choices do not conform to the correct syntax or conventions used in Cisco CLI for route configuration, leading them to be unsuitable for establishing a default route. This highlights the importance of using the correct command structure in network configurations to ensure effective routing behavior.