CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: a multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.. 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.
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
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.
Key principle: A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
SVIs for the VLANs plus Layer 3 routing enabled on the switch
Why this is correct
This is correct because inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch requires routed VLAN interfaces and IP routing capability.
Related concept
A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
✗
All ports in both VLANs configured as trunks
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because trunking carries VLAN traffic but does not itself provide Layer 3 routing between VLANs.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked about ensuring VLAN traffic can traverse between switches without specifying routing, and focused on the physical connection setup, then having all ports configured as trunks would be correct to allow VLAN tagging and traffic flow.
✗
A separate OSPF process on every access port
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because access ports do not each need their own OSPF process for simple inter-VLAN routing.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked about configuring a Layer 3 switch to support dynamic routing protocols for VLANs, and it specified that OSPF should be used for inter-VLAN routing, then having a separate OSPF process on every access port would be relevant to the configuration.
✗
Port security disabled on every edge port
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because port security does not determine whether inter-VLAN routing can occur.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks about ensuring that a switch can handle traffic without any security restrictions, such as in a lab environment where security is not a concern, the requirement to disable port security on edge ports would be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓SVIs for the VLANs plus Layer 3 routing enabled on the switchCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because inter-VLAN routing on a multilayer switch requires routed VLAN interfaces and IP routing capability.
✗All ports in both VLANs configured as trunksWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because configuring all ports as trunks does not facilitate inter-VLAN routing; SVIs and Layer 3 routing are necessary for that functionality.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked about ensuring VLAN traffic can traverse between switches without specifying routing, and focused on the physical connection setup, then having all ports configured as trunks would be correct to allow VLAN tagging and traffic flow.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they associate trunking with VLAN communication and may overlook the requirement for Layer 3 routing to enable inter-VLAN traffic.
✗A separate OSPF process on every access portWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because OSPF is a routing protocol used for dynamic routing, and access ports do not participate in routing processes. Routing between VLANs requires SVIs and Layer 3 capabilities, not OSPF on access ports.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked about configuring a Layer 3 switch to support dynamic routing protocols for VLANs, and it specified that OSPF should be used for inter-VLAN routing, then having a separate OSPF process on every access port would be relevant to the configuration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they associate OSPF with routing and may incorrectly believe that it is necessary for VLANs to communicate, overlooking the need for SVIs and Layer 3 routing instead.
✗Port security disabled on every edge portWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Port security being disabled on every edge port is not a requirement for routing traffic between VLANs; it pertains to security configurations rather than routing functionality. VLAN routing can occur regardless of port security settings.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks about ensuring that a switch can handle traffic without any security restrictions, such as in a lab environment where security is not a concern, the requirement to disable port security on edge ports would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the need for proper VLAN configurations with security settings, mistakenly believing that disabling port security is essential for routing capabilities, especially if they associate VLANs with access control measures.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Don't confuse trunking with routing; trunk ports carry VLAN traffic but don't route it.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review a multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — 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?
Review a multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
A multilayer switch uses Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) as Layer 3 gateway interfaces to route traffic between VLANs.
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