On an 802.1Q trunk, which VLAN is sent untagged by default on many Cisco switches unless changed?
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.
Distractor review
VLAN 10
VLAN 10 is not the default native VLAN.
Distractor review
VLAN 20
VLAN 20 is not the default native VLAN.
Best answer
VLAN 1
Correct. VLAN 1 is the default native VLAN on many platforms.
Distractor review
The highest configured VLAN
The highest configured VLAN is unrelated to native VLAN behavior.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
{"title":"Native VLAN Mismatch","description":"If the Native VLAN doesn't match on both ends of a trunk, traffic will leak between different VLANs, creating a major security risk."}
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- An 802.1Q trunk carries multiple VLANs by tagging frames with VLAN identifiers except for the native VLAN, which is sent untagged by default.
- Cisco switches assign VLAN 1 as the default native VLAN, meaning VLAN 1 traffic is transmitted untagged on 802.1Q trunk links unless changed.
- The native VLAN allows compatibility with devices or protocols that do not support VLAN tagging by sending its traffic untagged.
- Changing the native VLAN from VLAN 1 is a common security best practice to prevent VLAN hopping attacks in Cisco networks.
- Frames belonging to VLANs other than the native VLAN are always tagged on an 802.1Q trunk to maintain VLAN separation.
- The native VLAN setting affects how switches handle untagged frames received on trunk ports, associating them with the native VLAN.
- Misunderstanding the native VLAN default can lead to configuration errors and security vulnerabilities in Cisco network designs.
- The exam tests knowledge of default Cisco behaviors, so knowing VLAN 1 is the default native VLAN is essential for the CCNA 200-301 exam.
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.
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
CCNA DHCP practice questions
Practise DHCP scopes, relay, leases and troubleshooting.
CCNA show ip route practice questions
Practise routing-table output, longest-prefix match, AD and route selection.
CCNA show interfaces trunk practice questions
Practise trunk verification and VLAN forwarding across switches.
CCNA wireless security practice questions
Practise WLAN security, authentication and wireless architecture concepts.
CCNA IPv6 practice questions
Practise IPv6 addressing, routes, neighbour discovery and common IPv6 exam traps.
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?
An 802.1Q trunk carries multiple VLANs by tagging frames with VLAN identifiers except for the native VLAN, which is sent untagged by default.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: VLAN 1 — On many Cisco platforms, VLAN 1 is the default native VLAN. Native VLAN traffic is sent untagged unless the native VLAN is changed.
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.
Discussion
Sign in to join the discussion.