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IntermediatePublished 2026-07-02

HSRP Preempt: Reclaiming the Active Role

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Intermediate CCNA lab focused on HSRP preempt behavior. Two routers share a virtual default gateway on a single user VLAN. The baseline already has HSRP group 1 with R1 at higher priority, but HSRP doesn't preempt by default — if R1 reboots, R2 stays active even after R1 returns. The learner enables preempt on R1 so it deterministically reclaims the active role whenever it's up, keeping the intended primary in control. Verification uses show standby on routers and basic host pings to the virtual gateway.

Track
Est. time
30 minutes
Difficulty
Intermediate
Topics

Learning objectives

  • Explain why HSRP does not preempt by default and how that affects gateway control.
  • Configure HSRP group 1 with a virtual IP shared by two routers on a single VLAN.
  • Enable preempt on the higher-priority router so it deterministically reclaims the active role.
  • Verify HSRP state and preemption status using show standby on IOS.
  • Validate host reachability using the virtual default gateway.

Troubleshooting focus

  • Group or virtual IP mismatch prevents HSRP pairing.
  • Preempt configured on the wrong router or missing entirely means the wrong device remains active.
  • Virtual IP accidentally set to a real interface IP (illegal) breaks the gateway.
  • Host default gateway not pointing at the virtual IP leads to asymmetric or failed reachability.

Topology

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Grade your work

How this lab is graded
  • Build it your way. Where a lab lets you choose a value — a VLAN name, an interface description — grading checks that you configured it, not which name you picked. Names that another line has to reference, like an ACL applied with access-class, are stated in the guide and do have to match.
  • Addresses, modes and protocol keywords are exact. An IP address, a subnet mask, switchport mode trunk, an encapsulation — these carry the meaning of the lab, so they are graded as written in the guide.
  • Grading reads your saved configuration. Export the lab from CML after you have configured it, and make sure anything you set is in the running-config — a change that only exists in a terminal session never reaches the grader.
  • You can submit as many times as you like. Your best score stands, and each attempt tells you which checks passed so you can work the gaps.
  • Scored something you believe is correct? Use Report an issue on this page — that is exactly how the grading fixes in the changelog got found.

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