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Quick Answer
The correct order for router-on-a-stick inter-VLAN routing configuration steps begins with creating the VLANs on the switch, then assigning switch ports to those VLANs, configuring the trunk port with native VLAN 99, enabling the router’s physical interface, creating subinterfaces for each data VLAN with encapsulation dot1Q and IP addresses, and finally configuring the native VLAN subinterface with the native keyword. This sequence is correct because inter-VLAN routing requires the switch to first segment traffic into separate broadcast domains via VLANs, then the trunk must be established to carry tagged frames for multiple VLANs over a single link, with the native VLAN explicitly matched on both devices to avoid mismatched untagged traffic. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this drag-and-drop task tests your understanding of the logical dependency between switch VLAN creation, trunk configuration, and router subinterface setup—a common trap is placing the native VLAN subinterface configuration before the data VLAN subinterfaces, or forgetting to enable the physical interface. A reliable memory tip is “Switch first, trunk second, router last—native always explicit.”
CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. 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.
Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure inter‑VLAN routing between VLANs 10 and 20, using a router‑on‑a‑stick with VLAN 99 as the native VLAN on the trunk link.
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
✓
Create VLANs 10, 20, and 99 on the switch (e.g., using the 'vlan' global configuration commands).
The correct order is: first create VLANs on the switch to define the VLAN database. Second, assign switch ports to the appropriate VLANs so that end hosts are placed in their correct broadcast domains. Third, configure the switch port facing the router as an 802.1Q trunk and set the native VLAN to 99 – this allows tagged traffic from multiple VLANs to traverse a single link while matching the native VLAN on both sides. Fourth, enable the router's physical interface (no shutdown) so that subinterfaces can pass traffic. Next, create subinterfaces for each data VLAN, specifying the correct 802.1Q encapsulation and IP address for each VLAN's default gateway. Finally, configure the native VLAN subinterface with the native keyword to ensure that untagged frames from the trunk are handled correctly and that the native VLAN is explicitly defined on the router.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Switching and Network Access — study guide chapter
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Switching and Network Access practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create VLANs 10, 20, and 99 on the switch (e.g., using the 'vlan' global configuration commands). — The correct order is: first create VLANs on the switch to define the VLAN database. Second, assign switch ports to the appropriate VLANs so that end hosts are placed in their correct broadcast domains. Third, configure the switch port facing the router as an 802.1Q trunk and set the native VLAN to 99 – this allows tagged traffic from multiple VLANs to traverse a single link while matching the native VLAN on both sides. Fourth, enable the router's physical interface (no shutdown) so that subinterfaces can pass traffic. Next, create subinterfaces for each data VLAN, specifying the correct 802.1Q encapsulation and IP address for each VLAN's default gateway. Finally, configure the native VLAN subinterface with the native keyword to ensure that untagged frames from the trunk are handled correctly and that the native VLAN is explicitly defined on the router.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure a router-on-a-stick topology for inter-VLAN routing between VLANs 10 and 20, using 802.1Q trunking with native VLAN 99 for management traffic.
medium- ✓ A.Create VLANs 10, 20, and 99 on the switch.
- ✓ B.Assign switch access ports to VLANs 10 and 20.
- ✓ C.Configure the switch port connected to the router as an 802.1Q trunk and set the native VLAN to 99.
- ✓ D.Enable the connected router physical interface (no shutdown).
- ✓ E.On the router, create subinterface GigabitEthernet0/0.99 with encapsulation dot1Q 99 native and assign an IP address.
- ✓ F.Create subinterfaces for VLANs 10 and 20 with dot1Q encapsulation and assign IP addresses.
Why A: The sequence follows Cisco's best practices: VLANs are created first, then access ports are assigned to them. The switch trunk is configured with 802.1Q encapsulation and the native VLAN set to 99 before the router end. On the router, the physical interface must be enabled before subinterfaces can operate. The native VLAN subinterface is created first to handle untagged frames, then the data VLAN subinterfaces are configured. This order avoids errors such as missing VLANs, incorrect encapsulation, and physical link down state.
Variation 2. Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure inter-VLAN routing using a router-on-a-stick topology.
medium- ✓ A.On the switch, create the necessary VLANs (e.g., VLAN 10 and VLAN 20) using the 'vlan' command.
- ✓ B.Assign switch access ports to the appropriate VLANs (e.g., interface FastEthernet0/1 in VLAN 10, FastEthernet0/2 in VLAN 20) with the 'switchport access vlan' command.
- ✓ C.Configure the switch trunk port connecting to the router as an 802.1Q trunk, set the native VLAN to 99 (to avoid VLAN 1 issues), and allow the required VLANs using commands like 'switchport mode trunk', 'switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q', 'switchport trunk native vlan 99', and 'switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20'.
- ✓ D.On the router, enable the physical interface connected to the switch (e.g., 'interface GigabitEthernet0/0', 'no shutdown') and ensure it has no IP address.
- ✓ E.Create subinterfaces for each VLAN on the router (e.g., 'interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10'), configure 802.1Q encapsulation with the appropriate VLAN ID ('encapsulation dot1q 10'), and assign an IP address (e.g., 'ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0'). Repeat for other VLANs.
Why A: Inter-VLAN routing via router-on-a-stick requires creating VLANs on the switch, placing access ports in those VLANs, configuring a trunk to the router with the correct native VLAN to avoid mismatch, enabling the physical router interface, and then defining subinterfaces per VLAN with 802.1Q encapsulation and IP addresses. This ensures traffic from different VLANs can be routed.
Last reviewed: Jun 14, 2026
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