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Open the full VLAN trunking answer →Question 710 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The answer is enabling IP routing on the router with the 'ip routing' command. This is correct because a router-on-a-stick configuration relies on subinterfaces to trunk multiple VLANs over a single physical link, and the router must have global IP routing enabled to forward packets between those subinterfaces. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your understanding of inter-VLAN routing fundamentals, often appearing with distractors like configuring switch ports as access ports or setting the native VLAN—both of which break the trunk link or isolate VLANs. A common trap is assuming the router automatically routes between subinterfaces, but without the 'ip routing' command, it acts as a host and drops inter-VLAN traffic. For a quick memory tip, remember the three pillars of router-on-a-stick: trunk the switch port, create subinterfaces with encapsulation, and enable 'ip routing'—without that last step, your VLANs can’t talk to each other.
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 options are valid steps for configuring a router-on-a-stick inter-VLAN routing setup? (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
✓
Create subinterfaces on the router for each VLAN.
In a router-on-a-stick configuration, the router uses subinterfaces to connect to multiple VLANs over a single physical interface. Each subinterface must be assigned an IP address that serves as the default gateway for its respective VLAN, and the router must have IP routing enabled (via the 'ip routing' command) to forward traffic between these subinterfaces. The three incorrect options fail because: configuring switch ports as access ports in a single VLAN would restrict connectivity to only that VLAN, breaking inter-VLAN routing; setting the native VLAN on the trunk to match the management VLAN is not required and is unrelated to router-on-a-stick functionality; and using 'switchport mode access' on the router-facing switch port would turn the link into a non-trunk access link, preventing multiple VLANs from reaching 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 requirement to explicitly enable IP routing with the 'ip routing' command, as it is disabled by default on some router platforms, leading candidates to assume routing is automatically active.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, each subinterface is associated with a specific VLAN ID using the 'encapsulation dot1q <vlan-id>' command, which tags frames with the appropriate 802.1Q header. The router's IP routing table then uses the subinterface IP addresses to determine the next hop for traffic between VLANs. In real-world scenarios, misconfiguration of the native VLAN or failure to enable 'ip routing' can cause inter-VLAN communication to fail silently.
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.
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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: Create subinterfaces on the router for each VLAN. — In a router-on-a-stick configuration, the router uses subinterfaces to connect to multiple VLANs over a single physical interface. Each subinterface must be assigned an IP address that serves as the default gateway for its respective VLAN, and the router must have IP routing enabled (via the 'ip routing' command) to forward traffic between these subinterfaces. The three incorrect options fail because: configuring switch ports as access ports in a single VLAN would restrict connectivity to only that VLAN, breaking inter-VLAN routing; setting the native VLAN on the trunk to match the management VLAN is not required and is unrelated to router-on-a-stick functionality; and using 'switchport mode access' on the router-facing switch port would turn the link into a non-trunk access link, preventing multiple VLANs from reaching 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
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