Default and floating static routes
Default routes and the gateway of last resort, host routes, and floating statics that appear only when the primary route fails.
Send all unmatched traffic to the ISP at 203.0.113.1 — Privileged EXEC → Global configuration
Cisco IOS / IOS XE
configure terminal ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.0.113.1 ipv6 route ::/0 2001:db8:ffff::1 end
show ip route show ipv6 route
- 'Gateway of last resort is 203.0.113.1 to network 0.0.0.0' appears.
- S* route marks the default candidate.
Changes device configuration.
A floating static is a normal static route given an AD higher than the dynamic protocol's so it stays out of the table while the primary route exists. ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 10.9.9.2 150 installs only if the better source (say OSPF at 110, or another static at 1) withdraws its /8 — an elegant failover without protocols.
Choosing a floating AD
| Primary source | Primary AD | Floating AD should be | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static | 1 | Any usable value 2–254 (255 marks unreachable) | ip route ... <nh> 10 |
| EIGRP internal | 90 | 91+ | ip route ... <nh> 95 |
| OSPF | 110 | 111+ | ip route ... <nh> 130 |
| RIP | 120 | 121+ | ip route ... <nh> 150 |
The floating route must match the SAME prefix as the primary — AD compares identical prefixes only.
Gateway of last resort is 203.0.113.1 to network 0.0.0.0Router's chosen default.S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 203.0.113.1The static that provides it — the asterisk marks the default candidate.Related resources
Sources
- Cisco CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Exam Topics (official PDF) — reviewed 2026-11-02
- Cisco — IP Addressing Services Command Reference — reviewed 2026-11-02
Targets CCNA 200-301 v1.1 objectives. Supplemental blocks are labeled beyond exam scope.