- A
Create a static route in the VPC route table pointing to the VPN with a metric of 100, and let BGP propagate the Direct Connect route.
Why wrong: Static routes with higher metric are less preferred, but BGP routes are dynamic; this approach may not work as intended.
- B
Configure a BGP local preference of 200 on the Direct Connect VIF and 100 on the VPN connection, and use the same ASN for both.
Higher local preference is preferred; thus Direct Connect will be primary and VPN backup.
- C
Set the MED attribute on the Direct Connect VIF to 100 and on the VPN to 200.
Why wrong: Lower MED is more preferred, so Direct Connect (MED 100) would be primary, but the VPN MED should be higher (200) is actually correct for backup; however, MED is typically used between multiple entry points into the same AS, not for failover order between different connections.
- D
Configure AS path prepend on the Direct Connect side to advertise a longer AS path.
Why wrong: Longer AS path is less preferred, making Direct Connect the backup path.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a BGP local preference of 200 on the Direct Connect VIF and 100 on the VPN connection, using the same ASN for both. This works because BGP local preference is an inbound attribute that influences outbound traffic from the AS; a higher value is more preferred, so setting Direct Connect to 200 ensures it is the primary path for all traffic from the VPC to on-premises, while the VPN with 100 acts as the backup. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP path selection for hybrid networking failover, often appearing in questions about Direct Connect and VPN redundancy. A common trap is confusing local preference with AS path prepend or MED—remember that local preference is evaluated first in the BGP decision process and is the cleanest way to enforce primary/backup routing without manipulating metrics on the remote side. Memory tip: "Higher local preference, higher priority—Direct Connect gets the gold, VPN gets the silver."
ANS-C01 Network Implementation Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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 has a Direct Connect connection with a private virtual interface (VIF) to a VPC. The on-premises network uses BGP to advertise a route for 10.0.0.0/8. The VPC CIDR is 10.1.0.0/16. The company wants to ensure that all traffic from the VPC to on-premises uses the Direct Connect connection, but if the Direct Connect fails, traffic should fail over to a VPN connection. Which configuration achieves this?
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
Configure a BGP local preference of 200 on the Direct Connect VIF and 100 on the VPN connection, and use the same ASN for both.
Option A is correct because a lower BGP local preference on the VPN side makes the Direct Connect route more preferred. Option B is wrong because a higher AS path prepend on the Direct Connect side would make it less preferred. Option C is wrong because a static route with a high metric would be less preferred, not a backup. Option D is wrong because setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect side would make it more preferred, but the question asks for failover order; the VPN should be backup, so VPN MED should be higher.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 a static route in the VPC route table pointing to the VPN with a metric of 100, and let BGP propagate the Direct Connect route.
- ✓
Configure a BGP local preference of 200 on the Direct Connect VIF and 100 on the VPN connection, and use the same ASN for both.
- ✗
Set the MED attribute on the Direct Connect VIF to 100 and on the VPN to 200.
Why it's wrong here
Lower MED is more preferred, so Direct Connect (MED 100) would be primary, but the VPN MED should be higher (200) is actually correct for backup; however, MED is typically used between multiple entry points into the same AS, not for failover order between different connections.
- ✗
Configure AS path prepend on the Direct Connect side to advertise a longer AS path.
Why it's wrong here
Longer AS path is less preferred, making Direct Connect the backup path.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a BGP local preference of 200 on the Direct Connect VIF and 100 on the VPN connection, and use the same ASN for both. — Option A is correct because a lower BGP local preference on the VPN side makes the Direct Connect route more preferred. Option B is wrong because a higher AS path prepend on the Direct Connect side would make it less preferred. Option C is wrong because a static route with a high metric would be less preferred, not a backup. Option D is wrong because setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect side would make it more preferred, but the question asks for failover order; the VPN should be backup, so VPN MED should be higher.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This ANS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ANS-C01 exam.
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