Routing Table Components Explained

H12-811 By islever Editorial Last updated

IP Routing Basics

Short answer

ABCDE All five elements (Destination/Mask, Cost, Interface, Protocol, Next-hop address) are included in a routing table.

Question

Which of the following elements are included in a routing table? (Choose all that apply.)
  1. Destination/Mask Correct Answer
  2. Cost Correct Answer
  3. Interface Correct Answer
  4. Protocol Correct Answer
  5. Next-hop address Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

The main trap is omitting one or more fields; remember that a complete routing entry requires destination, metric, interface, protocol source, and next-hop info.

Learn which elements are included in a routing table. This guide confirms that Destination/Mask, Cost, Interface, Protocol, and Next-hop address are all essential components.

Common mistake: Some candidates might think only Destination, Interface, and Next-hop are needed, forgetting that Cost and Protocol are also stored in the routing table for management and decision-making purposes.

Expert Analysis

The question asks for the elements included in a routing table. In standard IP networking (e.g., Cisco, Huawei), a routing table entry typically includes the Destination/Mask (A) to identify the target network, the Cost/Metric (B) to compare paths, the Outgoing Interface (C) for packet forwarding, and the Next-hop Address (E) if the destination is not directly connected. The Protocol (D) field indicates how the route was learned (e.g., OSPF, Static, RIP). All five options are standard components of a routing table entry.

  • A. Destination/Mask: Essential for identifying the route's scope.
  • B. Cost: Used for path selection among multiple valid routes.
  • C. Interface: Specifies the egress port.
  • D. Protocol: Identifies the source of the route (e.g., 'O' for OSPF).
  • E. Next-hop address: The IP address of the adjacent router to which traffic is forwarded.

All options A, B, C, D, and E are correct.

Exam Strategy

When reviewing routing tables, always check for the presence of protocol-specific metrics and administrative distances. Memorize the standard columns found in show ip route outputs across major vendors to quickly identify all valid components.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'Protocol' column in a routing table indicate?

It shows how the route was learned, such as Static, OSPF, RIP, or Connected.

Is the Next-hop address always present in a routing table entry?

It is present for indirect routes. For directly connected networks, the next-hop may be omitted or implied.

More H12-811 FAQ →

Community Votes

A
25%
B
25%
D
25%
C
19%
E
6%

25% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 6 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 6

  1. 4c4da48 👍 2
    All the options: A, B, C, D, and E are typically included in a routing table. A. Destination/Mask This indicates the destination network and its associated subnet mask, defining the range of IP addresses that belong to that network. B. Cost This represents the cost or metric associated with reaching the destination, which helps the router decide the best path when multiple routes to the same destination exist. C. Interface This is the local interface on the router that will be used to reach the destination network. D. Protocol This indicates the routing protocol that learned the route (e.g., OSPF, EIGRP, RIP), although not all routing tables explicitly show this. E. Next-hop address This is the IP address of the next router (or device) to which packets should be forwarded to reach the destination.
  2. e7f304c 👍 1
    A: Yes - This defines the destination network and subnet mask (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) that the route applies to. B. Yes - The cost or metric is the value used to determine the best path (lower is better). OSPF, RIP, and other protocols use different metrics. C. Yes - This indicates the outgoing interface through which packets should be forwarded (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/0). D. Yes - This shows the source of the route, such as OSPF, RIP, Static, or Direct. E. Yes - This is the IP address of the next router on the path to the destination.
  3. Fmoura17 👍 1
    Answer: A, B, C, D, and E All five are included in a routing table: A. Destination/Mask ✅ — The destination network address and subnet mask. B. Cost ✅ — The metric/cost value used to determine the best path. C. Interface ✅ — The outgoing interface used to forward the packet. D. Protocol ✅ — The routing protocol that learned the route (e.g., OSPF, RIP, Static). E. Next-hop address ✅ — The IP address of the next router to forward the packet to.
  4. cascartillo 👍 1
    ABCDE All aplies. Protocol is visible in the routing table of the devices.
  5. IBB90704 👍 1
    ABCDE todas son correctas
Show 1 more comment
  1. Chleong 👍 1
    Answer is ABCDE

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