- A
Create two VGWs and attach each to a separate Direct Connect connection. Use a Transit Gateway to connect the VGWs to the VPC.
Why wrong: A VPC can only have one VGW, and a Transit Gateway does not combine VGWs.
- B
Create a Direct Connect Gateway. Attach both Direct Connect connections to the Direct Connect Gateway. Associate the Direct Connect Gateway with the VGW. Configure the on-premises routers to use BGP with equal-cost multipath (ECMP).
This configuration allows both connections to be active-active, using all bandwidth and providing redundancy.
- C
Create two Virtual Private Gateways, one for each Direct Connect connection. Attach each VGW to the VPC. Configure BGP on both connections for active-active.
Why wrong: A VPC can only be associated with one VGW at a time.
- D
Create a single virtual interface and associate it with both Direct Connect connections. Attach the virtual interface to the VGW.
Why wrong: A virtual interface is associated with a single Direct Connect connection.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a Direct Connect Gateway, attach both Direct Connect connections to it, associate the gateway with a single Virtual Private Gateway (VGW), and configure on-premises routers for BGP with equal-cost multipath (ECMP). This configuration is correct because a Direct Connect Gateway allows multiple virtual interfaces (VIFs) from different Direct Connect locations to terminate on the same VGW, enabling active-active traffic flow and full bandwidth utilization across both connections. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to design a highly available hybrid network using Direct Connect Gateway to aggregate multiple connections, with a common trap being the mistaken belief that multiple VGWs can attach to a single VPC—they cannot. A key memory tip is "one VGW, many VIFs, ECMP for active-active," reinforcing that the gateway consolidates connections while BGP ECMP handles load balancing and failover.
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 with multiple AWS Direct Connect connections to multiple on-premises data centers. They want to maximize availability and use all available bandwidth. They have two Direct Connect connections terminated at two different Direct Connect locations. They plan to use a single Virtual Private Gateway (VGW) for each VPC. Which configuration should be used to meet these requirements?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create a Direct Connect Gateway. Attach both Direct Connect connections to the Direct Connect Gateway. Associate the Direct Connect Gateway with the VGW. Configure the on-premises routers to use BGP with equal-cost multipath (ECMP).
Option A is correct because using a Direct Connect Gateway with multiple virtual interfaces (VIFs) to the same VGW enables active-active traffic and failover across the two connections. Option B is wrong because two separate VGWs cannot be associated with the same VPC. Option C is wrong because a single VIF cannot use multiple connections. Option D is wrong because two separate VGWs are not supported for a single VPC.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create two VGWs and attach each to a separate Direct Connect connection. Use a Transit Gateway to connect the VGWs to the VPC.
Why it's wrong here
A VPC can only have one VGW, and a Transit Gateway does not combine VGWs.
- ✓
Create a Direct Connect Gateway. Attach both Direct Connect connections to the Direct Connect Gateway. Associate the Direct Connect Gateway with the VGW. Configure the on-premises routers to use BGP with equal-cost multipath (ECMP).
Why this is correct
This configuration allows both connections to be active-active, using all bandwidth and providing redundancy.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Create two Virtual Private Gateways, one for each Direct Connect connection. Attach each VGW to the VPC. Configure BGP on both connections for active-active.
Why it's wrong here
A VPC can only be associated with one VGW at a time.
- ✗
Create a single virtual interface and associate it with both Direct Connect connections. Attach the virtual interface to the VGW.
Why it's wrong here
A virtual interface is associated with a single Direct Connect connection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Direct Connect Gateway. Attach both Direct Connect connections to the Direct Connect Gateway. Associate the Direct Connect Gateway with the VGW. Configure the on-premises routers to use BGP with equal-cost multipath (ECMP). — Option A is correct because using a Direct Connect Gateway with multiple virtual interfaces (VIFs) to the same VGW enables active-active traffic and failover across the two connections. Option B is wrong because two separate VGWs cannot be associated with the same VPC. Option C is wrong because a single VIF cannot use multiple connections. Option D is wrong because two separate VGWs are not supported for a single VPC.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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