- A
Set a higher weight on the Direct Connect BGP session.
Why wrong: Weight is a Cisco-specific attribute and not used in AWS Direct Connect BGP.
- B
Set a higher local preference on the Direct Connect VIF.
Why wrong: Local preference is used for outbound traffic from the VPC to on-premises, not for inbound traffic.
- C
Change the BGP timers on the Direct Connect VIF to have a lower hold time.
Why wrong: BGP timers do not affect path selection.
- D
Configure AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session.
Why wrong: Prepending on the VPN would make the path longer, but the Direct Connect path should be preferred; this could work but is not the most straightforward.
- E
Configure a lower MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) on the Direct Connect VIF.
Lower MED is preferred for inbound traffic; setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect VIF will make it the preferred path.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a lower Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) on the Direct Connect VIF. The MED is a BGP metric that influences inbound traffic from a neighboring AS, and a lower MED value tells the on-premises router to prefer the Direct Connect path over the VPN when both advertise the same prefix, assuming all other BGP path selection criteria are equal. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP path selection for hybrid networks, specifically how to enforce Direct Connect as the primary path for inbound traffic while keeping VPN as a backup. A common trap is confusing MED with AS path length or local preference—remember that MED is the only attribute that can be set on the AWS side to influence inbound routing. Memory tip: Lower MED = More Preferred, or think “MED goes down to win the crown.”
ANS-C01 Network Implementation Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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 implementing a hybrid network with AWS Direct Connect and a VPN connection as backup. They have a Direct Connect gateway (DXGW) attached to a private VIF and a virtual private gateway (VGW) attached to a VPN connection. The VPC is attached to the VGW. They want to use the Direct Connect connection for all traffic when available. The on-premises router advertises the same prefix over both connections. However, traffic from on-premises to the VPC is using the VPN connection. BGP is configured correctly on both connections. What should the company do to prefer the Direct Connect path?
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 lower MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) on the Direct Connect VIF.
Option E is correct because the Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from an AS to the local AS. By setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect VIF, the on-premises router will prefer the Direct Connect path over the VPN path when both advertise the same prefix, assuming all other BGP path selection criteria are equal. This directly addresses the requirement to prefer the Direct Connect connection for all traffic.
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.
- ✗
Set a higher weight on the Direct Connect BGP session.
Why it's wrong here
Weight is a Cisco-specific attribute and not used in AWS Direct Connect BGP.
- ✗
Set a higher local preference on the Direct Connect VIF.
Why it's wrong here
Local preference is used for outbound traffic from the VPC to on-premises, not for inbound traffic.
- ✗
Change the BGP timers on the Direct Connect VIF to have a lower hold time.
Why it's wrong here
BGP timers do not affect path selection.
- ✗
Configure AS_PATH prepending on the VPN BGP session.
Why it's wrong here
Prepending on the VPN would make the path longer, but the Direct Connect path should be preferred; this could work but is not the most straightforward.
- ✓
Configure a lower MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) on the Direct Connect VIF.
Why this is correct
Lower MED is preferred for inbound traffic; setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect VIF will make it the preferred path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse BGP attributes that influence outbound traffic (weight, local preference) with those that influence inbound traffic (MED), leading them to incorrectly select options A or B instead of the correct MED-based solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MED is an optional non-transitive BGP attribute that is exchanged between ASes to influence inbound traffic; a lower MED value is preferred. In this scenario, the on-premises router receives two routes for the same prefix—one via Direct Connect and one via VPN—and the BGP best path selection algorithm compares MED values (step 4a in the Cisco BGP decision process) after considering weight, local preference, and AS_PATH length. Setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect VIF ensures that the on-premises router selects the Direct Connect path, provided other attributes are equal.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a lower MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) on the Direct Connect VIF. — Option E is correct because the Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) is a BGP attribute used to influence inbound traffic from an AS to the local AS. By setting a lower MED on the Direct Connect VIF, the on-premises router will prefer the Direct Connect path over the VPN path when both advertise the same prefix, assuming all other BGP path selection criteria are equal. This directly addresses the requirement to prefer the Direct Connect connection for all traffic.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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