What defines a floating static route?

A floating static route is characterized by having a higher administrative distance than other routes, effectively positioning it as a backup route. This means that it will only be used if the primary route—typically a dynamically learned route from a routing protocol—becomes unavailable. The purpose of a floating static route is to provide redundancy without interfering with the primary route during normal network operations.

By configuring a floating static route with a higher administrative distance, network administrators ensure that the dynamic routing protocol continues to handle traffic under normal circumstances, while the floating static route serves as a safety net that kicks in if the primary route fails. This design enhances network reliability and provides a seamless failover mechanism, allowing for quick recovery from route failures.

Other options refer to primary routes or dynamically created routes, which do not align with the concept of a backup route, further distinguishing the floating static route's functionality as an auxiliary routing option.