- A
Configure a single BGP session over both Direct Connect connections using the same virtual interface
Why wrong: Single BGP session does not provide redundancy.
- B
Advertise the same prefixes over both Direct Connect connections with equal local preference, and prepend AS path on the VPN routes to make them less preferred
Equal local preference allows load balancing; AS path prepending makes VPN less preferred.
- C
Set a higher MED on one of the Direct Connect connections to make it the primary, and use the VPN as secondary
Why wrong: Higher MED makes one path less preferred, not load-balanced.
- D
Advertise different on-premises prefixes over each Direct Connect connection and use the VPN for all traffic
Why wrong: Different prefixes would not load-balance; VPN should be backup only.
Quick Answer
The correct BGP configuration is to advertise the same on-premises prefixes over both Direct Connect connections with equal local preference, while applying AS_PATH prepending on the VPN routes to make them less preferred. This achieves active/active load balancing across multiple Direct Connect connections because BGP will see both paths as equally attractive when local preference and MED are equal, allowing traffic to be distributed across both links under normal conditions. The VPN backup only becomes active when both Direct Connect paths are unavailable, as the longer AS_PATH makes it significantly less preferred. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP path selection and how to manipulate route preference without breaking active/active design—a common trap is assuming MED or different prefix advertisements can achieve load balancing, but they either create asymmetry or fail to distribute traffic evenly. Remember the key: equal local preference for active/active, AS_PATH prepend for backup only, and never use MED to differentiate primary paths if you want true load sharing.
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
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 expanding its on-premises network to AWS using Direct Connect and VPN backup. They have two Direct Connect connections from different providers to two different Direct Connect locations in the same region. They have configured a private virtual interface (VIF) on each connection to a virtual private gateway (VGW) attached to a VPC. They have also configured a VPN connection as a backup. The company uses BGP to advertise the on-premises prefixes to AWS. They want to ensure that traffic is load-balanced across both Direct Connect connections under normal conditions and that the VPN is used only if both Direct Connect connections fail. They also want to minimize the cost of data transfer. Which BGP configuration should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Advertise the same prefixes over both Direct Connect connections with equal local preference, and prepend AS path on the VPN routes to make them less preferred
Option D is correct. By using BGP with equal local preference for both Direct Connect paths and AS_PATH prepending on the VPN routes, the VPN will be less preferred. To achieve active/active load balancing across Direct Connect connections, the company should advertise the same prefixes with equal MED or local preference. Option A is wrong because advertising different prefixes would not load-balance traffic. Option B is wrong because a single BGP session over one Direct Connect connection creates a single point of failure. Option C is wrong because increasing MED on one Direct Connect connection makes it less preferred, not equal.
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.
- ✗
Configure a single BGP session over both Direct Connect connections using the same virtual interface
Why it's wrong here
Single BGP session does not provide redundancy.
- ✓
Advertise the same prefixes over both Direct Connect connections with equal local preference, and prepend AS path on the VPN routes to make them less preferred
Why this is correct
Equal local preference allows load balancing; AS path prepending makes VPN less preferred.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Set a higher MED on one of the Direct Connect connections to make it the primary, and use the VPN as secondary
Why it's wrong here
Higher MED makes one path less preferred, not load-balanced.
- ✗
Advertise different on-premises prefixes over each Direct Connect connection and use the VPN for all traffic
Why it's wrong here
Different prefixes would not load-balance; VPN should be backup only.
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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Network Design — study guide chapter
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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: Advertise the same prefixes over both Direct Connect connections with equal local preference, and prepend AS path on the VPN routes to make them less preferred — Option D is correct. By using BGP with equal local preference for both Direct Connect paths and AS_PATH prepending on the VPN routes, the VPN will be less preferred. To achieve active/active load balancing across Direct Connect connections, the company should advertise the same prefixes with equal MED or local preference. Option A is wrong because advertising different prefixes would not load-balance traffic. Option B is wrong because a single BGP session over one Direct Connect connection creates a single point of failure. Option C is wrong because increasing MED on one Direct Connect connection makes it less preferred, not equal.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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