Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Goal: - VLAN 10 and VLAN 20 must communicate through a multilayer switch
A multilayer switch must route traffic between VLAN 10 and VLAN 20. Which condition is required for that to happen?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
SVIs for the VLANs plus Layer 3 routing enabled on the switch
This is correct because inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch requires routed VLAN interfaces and IP routing capability.
B
Distractor review
All ports in both VLANs configured as trunks
This is wrong because trunking carries VLAN traffic but does not itself provide Layer 3 routing between VLANs.
C
Distractor review
A separate OSPF process on every access port
This is wrong because access ports do not each need their own OSPF process for simple inter-VLAN routing.
D
Distractor review
Port security disabled on every edge port
This is wrong because port security does not determine whether inter-VLAN routing can occur.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that configuring trunk ports on all VLAN ports automatically enables inter-VLAN routing. Trunking only allows multiple VLANs to traverse a single link but does not provide Layer 3 routing between those VLANs. Another common mistake is thinking that disabling port security or running separate OSPF processes on access ports will enable routing; these are unrelated to inter-VLAN routing. Candidates must recognize that without SVIs configured and IP routing enabled on the multilayer switch, VLANs remain isolated at Layer 2, preventing communication between them.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Inter-VLAN routing is the process that allows traffic to move between different VLANs, which are separate Layer 2 broadcast domains. A multilayer switch can perform both switching and routing functions, enabling it to route traffic internally without needing an external router. To route between VLAN 10 and VLAN 20, the switch must have Layer 3 interfaces assigned to each VLAN, commonly implemented as Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs). These SVIs act as the default gateways for their respective VLANs, providing Layer 3 IP routing capabilities within the switch. The key requirement for inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch is that IP routing must be enabled globally on the device, and SVIs must be configured and up/up for each VLAN involved. Without enabling IP routing, the switch operates purely at Layer 2 and cannot route packets between VLANs. The SVIs provide the Layer 3 interface for each VLAN, allowing the switch to forward traffic between VLANs based on routing logic. This setup eliminates the need for external routers and simplifies network design. A common exam trap is confusing VLAN trunking with routing. While trunk ports carry multiple VLANs’ traffic between switches, trunking alone does not enable routing between VLANs. Also, disabling port security or running separate OSPF processes on access ports does not affect inter-VLAN routing. Understanding that SVIs plus Layer 3 routing enablement are mandatory helps avoid misconfigurations and exam mistakes. Practically, this design improves performance and scalability by consolidating routing and switching in one device.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
- Inter-VLAN routing requires IP routing to be enabled globally on the multilayer switch to forward packets between VLANs.
- VLAN trunk ports carry multiple VLANs’ traffic but do not perform Layer 3 routing between those VLANs.
- Without SVIs and routing enabled, a multilayer switch functions only at Layer 2, preventing inter-VLAN communication.
- Port security settings do not influence the switch’s ability to route between VLANs and are unrelated to inter-VLAN routing.
- Running separate OSPF processes on access ports is unnecessary and does not enable inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch.
- SVIs must be in an up/up state for the multilayer switch to route traffic between the associated VLANs effectively.
- Inter-VLAN routing consolidates routing and switching functions, improving network performance and simplifying design.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SVIs for the VLANs plus Layer 3 routing enabled on the switch — Inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch depends on having functional Layer 3 gateway interfaces for the VLANs and routing enabled on the switch. In plain language, the switch needs a routed brain for each VLAN, usually in the form of SVIs, and it must actually be operating as a Layer 3 device rather than only as a pure Layer 2 switch. Without those conditions, traffic may switch inside a VLAN but cannot be routed between different VLANs. This is a core CCNA design idea because people often assume creating VLANs alone automatically gives them inter-VLAN communication. In reality, VLANs create separation, and routing is what reconnects them under controlled conditions. A trunk between switches can carry VLAN traffic, but it does not itself perform Layer 3 routing between the VLANs. The correct answer is the requirement that makes the switch act as the gateway between VLANs.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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