This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is designing a hybrid network using AWS Direct Connect and VPN backup. The company wants to ensure that traffic always uses Direct Connect when it is available. Which TWO configurations should be implemented? (Choose TWO.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session to make the VPN path less preferred.
AS_PATH prepending on the VPNBGP session increases the AS_PATH length for routes advertised over the VPN, making them less preferred compared to the same routes learned over Direct Connect with a shorter AS_PATH. BGP selects the path with the shortest AS_PATH length, so traffic will use Direct Connect when it is available. This is a standard technique for influencing outbound traffic path selection in a hybrid network.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Use AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session to make the VPN path less preferred.
Why this is correct
Longer AS_PATH is less preferred.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Advertise more specific prefixes over Direct Connect and less specific prefixes over VPN.
Why this is correct
More specific routes are preferred.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable BGP on the VPN connection to force traffic to Direct Connect.
Set a lower MED value on the Direct Connect BGP session.
Why it's wrong here
MED is used within an AS, not typically between different AS paths.
✗
Advertise the same prefixes over both connections with the same AS_PATH length.
Why it's wrong here
Equal AS_PATH leads to tie-breaking that may not favor Direct Connect.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the distinction between outbound and inbound traffic manipulation; the trap here is that candidates may incorrectly apply MED (which influences inbound traffic) or think disabling BGP is acceptable, when the correct approach for outbound traffic preference is to manipulate AS_PATH length or local preference.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BGP path selection uses multiple attributes in order: highest weight, highest local preference, locally originated routes, shortest AS_PATH, lowest origin type, lowest MED, and others. AS_PATH prepending artificially lengthens the AS_PATH by repeating the local AS number, making the VPN path less preferred without affecting other attributes. In a Direct Connect + VPN backup design, it is common to also use BGP communities or local preference to further ensure Direct Connect is preferred, but AS_PATH prepending is a simple and effective method for outbound traffic control.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session to make the VPN path less preferred. — AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session increases the AS_PATH length for routes advertised over the VPN, making them less preferred compared to the same routes learned over Direct Connect with a shorter AS_PATH. BGP selects the path with the shortest AS_PATH length, so traffic will use Direct Connect when it is available. This is a standard technique for influencing outbound traffic path selection in a hybrid network.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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