How is the HSRP active router determined in terms of priority?

In Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), the determination of the active router is primarily based on the highest priority value. Each router participating in an HSRP group can be assigned a priority value, with the default being 100. When the routers establish HSRP, they compare their priority values, and the router with the highest priority is elected as the active router, responsible for forwarding traffic for the virtual IP address.

If there is a tie in priority, such as when two or more routers have the same highest priority, the router with the highest IP address among these tied routers will become the active router. This hierarchical decision-making process ensures that the router best suited to handle the traffic load becomes the designated router, enhancing network reliability and performance. Thus, the correct choice hinges on understanding this principle of prioritization in HSRP operations.