CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
A switch shows this output from the "show interfaces trunk" command:
Gi0/1 on 802.1q trunking 1 Gi0/2 auto 802.1q not-trunking 1
Which statement is correct?
⚠ Common exam trap
Beware of confusing 'on' with access mode and misunderstanding dynamic auto's capability to negotiate trunking.
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
✓
Gi0/1 is trunking, and Gi0/2 is waiting for DTP negotiation
Gi0/1 is already operating as an 802.1Q trunk. Gi0/2 is in dynamic auto mode, which waits for the other side to actively negotiate trunking.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Gi0/1 is an access port in VLAN 1
Why it's wrong here
The output explicitly identifies Gi0/1 as 'on 802.1q trunking,' which means the interface is currently operating as an 802.1Q trunk, not as an access port. An access port is configured for a single VLAN, typically VLAN 1 by default, and would show 'access' with a VLAN assignment rather than 'trunking' in the interface status. The presence of 'trunking' in the output contradicts the claim that Gi0/1 is an access port, so this option is incorrect.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that Gi0/1 is configured as an access port and VLAN 1 is the only VLAN present, this option would be correct. The question could state that the switch is set to default configurations without any trunking enabled.
- ✓
Gi0/1 is trunking, and Gi0/2 is waiting for DTP negotiation
Why this is correct
The output shows Gi0/1 with DTP mode 'on' and the operational state 'trunking' with 802.1Q encapsulation, meaning it is actively carrying tagged frames for multiple VLANs. Gi0/2 is in 'auto' mode, a passive DTP setting that neither initiates nor advertises trunking but listens for DTP frames from its neighbor. If the neighbor is set to 'on' or 'desirable', Gi0/2 will successfully negotiate and become a trunk as well; until then, it remains in a waiting/negotiation state.
- ✗
Gi0/2 is forced to trunk mode
Why it's wrong here
The DTP mode 'auto' sets Gi0/2 to dynamic auto, which is strictly passive: it will never send DTP frames and therefore cannot force a trunk link. A truly forced trunk is achieved with the 'switchport mode trunk' (DTP 'on') command, which unconditionally enables trunking regardless of the far end's configuration. Since the output shows 'auto' rather than 'on' or 'trunk', Gi0/2 is not forced into trunking and will only trunk if the neighbor actively initiates the negotiation.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that Gi0/2 is explicitly configured with the 'switchport mode trunk' command, this option would be correct as it would indicate that Gi0/2 is indeed forced into trunk mode regardless of DTP negotiation.
- ✗
Neither interface can carry tagged traffic
Why it's wrong here
This statement is false because Gi0/1 is an operational 802.1Q trunk, and the entire purpose of such a trunk is to carry tagged 802.1Q frames from multiple VLANs across the link. Tagged traffic is essential for inter-switch trunking, allowing VLANs to extend between switches. Gi0/2, while currently in auto mode, may also become a trunk if DTP negotiation succeeds, so claiming that neither interface can carry tagged traffic is completely contradicted by Gi0/1's active trunking state.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to state that both interfaces are configured as access ports and there is no mention of trunking or DTP negotiation, then option D would be correct, as neither interface would be able to carry tagged traffic in that scenario.
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.
✓Gi0/1 is trunking, and Gi0/2 is waiting for DTP negotiationCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The output shows Gi0/1 with DTP mode 'on' and the operational state 'trunking' with 802.1Q encapsulation, meaning it is actively carrying tagged frames for multiple VLANs. Gi0/2 is in 'auto' mode, a passive DTP setting that neither initiates nor advertises trunking but listens for DTP frames from its neighbor. If the neighbor is set to 'on' or 'desirable', Gi0/2 will successfully negotiate and become a trunk as well; until then, it remains in a waiting/negotiation state.
✗Gi0/1 is an access port in VLAN 1Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because Gi0/1 is configured as a trunk port, not an access port, and it is actively trunking VLANs. Access ports do not participate in VLAN tagging and would not show trunking status.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that Gi0/1 is configured as an access port and VLAN 1 is the only VLAN present, this option would be correct. The question could state that the switch is set to default configurations without any trunking enabled.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of port roles; they might confuse trunk ports with access ports, especially if they recall that VLAN 1 is often the default VLAN for access ports.
✗Gi0/2 is forced to trunk modeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because Gi0/2 is set to 'auto' for trunking, meaning it is not forced into trunk mode but is instead waiting for Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) negotiation to determine if it should become a trunk port.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that Gi0/2 is explicitly configured with the 'switchport mode trunk' command, this option would be correct as it would indicate that Gi0/2 is indeed forced into trunk mode regardless of DTP negotiation.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might misinterpret the 'auto' setting as an indication that the port is actively configured to trunk, leading them to assume it is forced into that mode.
✗Neither interface can carry tagged trafficWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because Gi0/1 is configured as a trunk port and can carry tagged traffic, while Gi0/2 is in a state waiting for DTP negotiation, which means it can potentially become a trunk port as well.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to state that both interfaces are configured as access ports and there is no mention of trunking or DTP negotiation, then option D would be correct, as neither interface would be able to carry tagged traffic in that scenario.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of trunking and access port configurations, leading them to incorrectly assume that if an interface is not explicitly set to trunk, it cannot carry tagged traffic.
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?”
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
Switch
A switch is a networking device that connects devices on a local area network and uses MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient.
Key term
VLAN
A VLAN logically segments a physical network into isolated broadcast domains without requiring separate physical switches.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-301 exam.