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Open the full VLAN trunking answer →Question 705 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The answer is the `switchport mode trunk` command on the switch port connecting to the router. This is required because a router-on-a-stick configuration relies on a single physical link carrying traffic for multiple VLANs, which demands an 802.1Q trunk between the switch and the router. Without the trunk, the switch port would only forward traffic for a single VLAN, defeating the purpose of inter-VLAN routing. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your understanding that the router’s subinterfaces need tagged frames from the switch to differentiate VLANs, and a common trap is thinking a trunk is needed on the router side—it is actually the switch port that must be configured with `switchport mode trunk`. For a quick memory tip, remember: “Switch side trunk, router side subinterface.”
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. 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 three of the following are required to implement inter-VLAN routing on a Cisco switch using a router-on-a-stick configuration? (Choose three.)
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
✓
A trunk link between the switch and the router, carrying multiple VLANs.
In a router-on-a-stick configuration, inter-VLAN routing is achieved by connecting a single router to a switch via a trunk link. The trunk carries multiple VLANs (using 802.1Q tagging), and the router uses subinterfaces—each configured with an IP address in the respective VLAN subnet—to route traffic between VLANs. The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as a trunk (e.g., with the `switchport mode trunk` command) to allow all VLAN traffic to reach the router.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between router-on-a-stick (which requires a trunk and subinterfaces on an external router) and inter-VLAN routing using a Layer 3 switch (which requires IP routing enabled on the switch and SVIs), leading candidates to incorrectly select options that apply to the Layer 3 switch method.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Router-on-a-stick relies on 802.1Q trunking to encapsulate frames from different VLANs with a VLAN tag, allowing the router to demultiplex traffic by subinterface. The router's subinterfaces must be configured with the `encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id>` command to match the VLAN tag, and the native VLAN (usually VLAN 1) must be handled carefully to avoid untagged frame mismatches. In real-world scenarios, this design is often used in small-to-medium networks where a single router can handle inter-VLAN routing, but it can become a bottleneck if the trunk link is saturated.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A trunk link between the switch and the router, carrying multiple VLANs. — In a router-on-a-stick configuration, inter-VLAN routing is achieved by connecting a single router to a switch via a trunk link. The trunk carries multiple VLANs (using 802.1Q tagging), and the router uses subinterfaces—each configured with an IP address in the respective VLAN subnet—to route traffic between VLANs. The switch port connecting to the router must be configured as a trunk (e.g., with the `switchport mode trunk` command) to allow all VLAN traffic to reach the router.
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
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.
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