- A
Each subinterface on the router must be configured with an IP address that belongs to the corresponding VLAN's subnet.
For the router to route traffic for a VLAN, the subinterface must have an IP address in the same subnet as that VLAN. This allows the router to act as the default gateway for hosts in that VLAN.
- B
The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as an access port in VLAN 1.
Why wrong: The switch port must be configured as a trunk port to carry multiple VLANs to the router. An access port would only carry a single VLAN, which would not support inter-VLAN routing.
- C
The native VLAN on the trunk must be the same VLAN as the one used for management traffic.
Why wrong: While the native VLAN can be used for management, there is no requirement that it must be the management VLAN. The native VLAN is simply the VLAN that carries untagged traffic on the trunk.
- D
The router's physical interface must be in 'no shutdown' state, but subinterfaces do not require a separate 'no shutdown' command.
The physical interface must be administratively up for subinterfaces to function. Subinterfaces inherit the 'no shutdown' state from the physical interface and do not have their own 'no shutdown' command.
- E
The router's subinterface for the native VLAN must use the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command.
Why wrong: The native VLAN traffic is untagged, so the subinterface representing the native VLAN should not use encapsulation. The 'native' keyword is used on the switch, not on the router subinterface.
Quick Answer
The correct choices are that the router’s physical interface must be in a 'no shutdown' state, while subinterfaces do not require a separate 'no shutdown' command. This is because subinterfaces inherit the administrative state of the parent physical interface—once the main interface is enabled, all subinterfaces are logically up, and there is no independent shutdown command for them. In a router-on-a-stick inter-VLAN routing setup, the router uses 802.1Q encapsulation on subinterfaces to route between VLANs, with each subinterface assigned an IP address in its corresponding VLAN subnet to serve as the default gateway. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding of trunking and subinterface behavior, often appearing in a multiple-choice trap where candidates mistakenly think subinterfaces need their own 'no shutdown' or that the switch port should be an access port. A solid memory tip: think of subinterfaces as virtual extensions of the physical port—if the main door is open, all the rooms inside are accessible without needing separate keys.
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.
Which TWO statements correctly describe the configuration and behavior of a router-on-a-stick setup for inter-VLAN routing?
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
Each subinterface on the router must be configured with an IP address that belongs to the corresponding VLAN's subnet.
Option A is correct because each subinterface is assigned an IP address in the subnet of its corresponding VLAN, enabling the router to act as the default gateway and route between VLANs using 802.1Q tags. Option D is correct because the physical interface must be 'no shutdown' to pass traffic, and subinterfaces inherit this state; they do not have their own shutdown command. Option B is incorrect because the switch port connecting to the router must be configured as a trunk port, not an access port, to carry multiple VLANs. Option C is incorrect because the native VLAN on the trunk does not have to be the same as the management VLAN; they are separate concepts. Option E is incorrect because the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command is only needed on the subinterface for the native VLAN to tag or untag frames appropriately; it is not required for all native VLAN configurations (e.g., if the native VLAN is left at default 1, the command may be optional).
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Each subinterface on the router must be configured with an IP address that belongs to the corresponding VLAN's subnet.
Why this is correct
For the router to route traffic for a VLAN, the subinterface must have an IP address in the same subnet as that VLAN. This allows the router to act as the default gateway for hosts in that VLAN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as an access port in VLAN 1.
Why it's wrong here
The switch port must be configured as a trunk port to carry multiple VLANs to the router. An access port would only carry a single VLAN, which would not support inter-VLAN routing.
- ✗
The native VLAN on the trunk must be the same VLAN as the one used for management traffic.
Why it's wrong here
While the native VLAN can be used for management, there is no requirement that it must be the management VLAN. The native VLAN is simply the VLAN that carries untagged traffic on the trunk.
- ✓
The router's physical interface must be in 'no shutdown' state, but subinterfaces do not require a separate 'no shutdown' command.
Why this is correct
The physical interface must be administratively up for subinterfaces to function. Subinterfaces inherit the 'no shutdown' state from the physical interface and do not have their own 'no shutdown' command.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The router's subinterface for the native VLAN must use the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command.
Why it's wrong here
The native VLAN traffic is untagged, so the subinterface representing the native VLAN should not use encapsulation. The 'native' keyword is used on the switch, not on the router subinterface.
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.
✓Each subinterface on the router must be configured with an IP address that belongs to the corresponding VLAN's subnet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
For the router to route traffic for a VLAN, the subinterface must have an IP address in the same subnet as that VLAN. This allows the router to act as the default gateway for hosts in that VLAN.
✗The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as an access port in VLAN 1.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as a trunk port, not an access port, to carry traffic for multiple VLANs. An access port would only carry a single VLAN, preventing inter-VLAN routing.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that the router connects to a specific VLAN, like VLAN 1, and thus the port should be an access port. However, the router needs to receive traffic from all VLANs, which requires a trunk.
✗The native VLAN on the trunk must be the same VLAN as the one used for management traffic.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
There is no requirement that the native VLAN on the trunk must be the management VLAN. The native VLAN is simply the VLAN that carries untagged traffic; it can be any VLAN, and management traffic can be on any VLAN.
Why candidates choose this
Many network administrators use VLAN 1 as both the native VLAN and the management VLAN by default, leading to the misconception that they must be the same. However, this is not a requirement.
✗The router's subinterface for the native VLAN must use the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The router subinterface for the native VLAN should not use the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command because native VLAN traffic is untagged. The 'native' keyword is used on the switch side to specify which VLAN is untagged, not on the router.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse the configuration on the router with that on the switch. On the switch, the 'native' keyword is used to define the native VLAN, but on the router, subinterfaces for the native VLAN should not use encapsulation at all, or use 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' only if the router needs to tag native VLAN traffic (which is atypical).
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
The trap here is that candidates often think subinterfaces need a separate 'no shutdown' command, but Cisco tests that the physical interface must be 'no shutdown' and subinterfaces inherit that state, making option D correct.
Trap categories for this question
Keyword trap
The native VLAN traffic is untagged, so the subinterface representing the native VLAN should not use encapsulation. The 'native' keyword is used on the switch, not on the router subinterface.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, each subinterface is associated with a specific 802.1Q VLAN ID using the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id>' command, and the router strips or adds the VLAN tag as frames arrive and leave. A real-world scenario is when a network uses multiple VLANs for security segmentation (e.g., guest and corporate traffic) and a single router interface with subinterfaces routes between them, but the trunk must be configured correctly to avoid VLAN mismatch or native VLAN pruning issues.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Each subinterface on the router must be configured with an IP address that belongs to the corresponding VLAN's subnet. — Option A is correct because each subinterface is assigned an IP address in the subnet of its corresponding VLAN, enabling the router to act as the default gateway and route between VLANs using 802.1Q tags. Option D is correct because the physical interface must be 'no shutdown' to pass traffic, and subinterfaces inherit this state; they do not have their own shutdown command. Option B is incorrect because the switch port connecting to the router must be configured as a trunk port, not an access port, to carry multiple VLANs. Option C is incorrect because the native VLAN on the trunk does not have to be the same as the management VLAN; they are separate concepts. Option E is incorrect because the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id> native' command is only needed on the subinterface for the native VLAN to tag or untag frames appropriately; it is not required for all native VLAN configurations (e.g., if the native VLAN is left at default 1, the command may be optional).
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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