- A
The on-premises router has a static route pointing to the primary connection, overriding BGP learned routes.
Why wrong: If static routes exist, BGP routes may be ignored. However, the stem says they are using BGP, and static routes would conflict.
- B
Both Direct Connect connections are in the same AWS region and use the same VGW, so traffic cannot be load-balanced.
Why wrong: Multiple Direct Connect connections can be used with the same VGW for load balancing if BGP multipath is enabled.
- C
The on-premises router is configured with a higher local preference for one of the BGP sessions, causing it to prefer that path.
BGP path selection can be influenced by local preference. If one session has a higher local preference, all traffic will use that path.
- D
The Direct Connect connections are using different VLANs, causing asymmetric routing.
Why wrong: Different VLANs do not cause asymmetric routing as long as BGP is configured correctly.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the on-premises router is configured with a higher local preference for one of the BGP sessions, causing it to prefer that path. This is correct because local preference is a well-known mandatory BGP attribute that is evaluated before any other path-selection criteria, such as AS-path length or MED; a higher local preference value makes a route more preferred within the local AS, so all traffic is forced over the session with the higher value, defeating load balancing. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of BGP path selection and how it interacts with Direct Connect redundancy—a common trap is assuming that simply having two active BGP sessions automatically distributes traffic, when in fact attributes like local preference, AS-path prepending, or MED must be deliberately tuned. For a memory tip, remember that local preference is the "kingmaker" in BGP: it decides which exit you use, so if you want load balancing, ensure local preference is equal across all paths.
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. 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 uses AWS Direct Connect to connect their on-premises network to AWS. They have a VPC with a virtual private gateway (VGW) and a private VIF attached to it. They recently added a second Direct Connect connection for redundancy. Both connections are active and advertised via BGP. The on-premises network uses BGP with the same AS number. After configuration, they notice that traffic is not load-balanced as expected; instead, all traffic flows through one connection. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The on-premises router is configured with a higher local preference for one of the BGP sessions, causing it to prefer that path.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The on-premises router has a static route pointing to the primary connection, overriding BGP learned routes.
Why it's wrong here
If static routes exist, BGP routes may be ignored. However, the stem says they are using BGP, and static routes would conflict.
- ✗
Both Direct Connect connections are in the same AWS region and use the same VGW, so traffic cannot be load-balanced.
Why it's wrong here
Multiple Direct Connect connections can be used with the same VGW for load balancing if BGP multipath is enabled.
- ✓
The on-premises router is configured with a higher local preference for one of the BGP sessions, causing it to prefer that path.
Why this is correct
BGP path selection can be influenced by local preference. If one session has a higher local preference, all traffic will use that path.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
The Direct Connect connections are using different VLANs, causing asymmetric routing.
Why it's wrong here
Different VLANs do not cause asymmetric routing as long as BGP is configured correctly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related ANS-C01 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
- →
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Network Security, Compliance and Governance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All ANS-C01 questions
1,705 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
ANS-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related ANS-C01 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Network Management and Operations practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to Network Management and Operations.
Network Security, Compliance and Governance practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to Network Security, Compliance and Governance.
Network Design practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to Network Design.
Network Implementation practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to Network Implementation.
ANS-C01 fundamentals practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to ANS-C01 fundamentals.
ANS-C01 scenario practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to ANS-C01 scenario.
ANS-C01 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise ANS-C01 questions linked to ANS-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free ANS-C01 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The on-premises router is configured with a higher local preference for one of the BGP sessions, causing it to prefer that path.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related ANS-C01 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.