CCNP Architecture Practice Question
A network architect is evaluating Cisco StackWise Virtual technology for a pair of Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches that will act as a single logical entity at the distribution layer. Which two statements accurately describe Cisco StackWise Virtual? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that StackWise Virtual is simply two independent switches with a redundant link, when it actually merges them into one logical switch with a single control plane and requires matching software and high-speed SVL ports.
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
✓
It supports Multichassis EtherChannel (MEC) so that access switches can dual-home to both stack members.
Cisco StackWise Virtual combines two Catalyst 9000 switches into one logical switch via a StackWise Virtual Link, presenting a single control plane and management IP. It enables Multichassis EtherChannel so downstream devices can dual-home with active-active forwarding. The SVL requires high-speed ports, both switches must run the same IOS XE version, and the pair shares one control plane rather than maintaining independent ones.
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 switch in the StackWise Virtual pair maintains an independent control plane and separate management IP address.
Why it's wrong here
StackWise Virtual creates a single control plane and a single management IP address for the pair. One switch becomes active and the other standby, with the standby ready to take over if the active fails. Maintaining independent control planes and management addresses describes a traditional two-switch design, not StackWise Virtual.
- ✗
It requires that both switches run different IOS XE versions to provide software redundancy.
Why it's wrong here
Both switches in a StackWise Virtual pair must run the same IOS XE software version to form the logical entity. Running different versions is not supported and would prevent the SVL from coming up. Software redundancy is achieved through the active/standby control plane model, not by mismatched software versions.
- ✗
The StackWise Virtual Link can be formed using any two 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the switches.
Why it's wrong here
The SVL requires high-bandwidth links, typically 10G, 25G, 40G, or 100G ports, and often uses multiple physical links in a port-channel for redundancy. Using 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports would not provide sufficient bandwidth for the inter-switch traffic and is not a supported configuration for StackWise Virtual on Catalyst 9000 platforms.
- ✓
It supports Multichassis EtherChannel (MEC) so that access switches can dual-home to both stack members.
Why this is correct
StackWise Virtual supports Multichassis EtherChannel, allowing a downstream access switch to form a port-channel with one link to each stack member. Because the two switches operate as one logical device, the port-channel is seen as a single EtherChannel, providing loop-free redundancy and active-active forwarding without relying on spanning tree to block a link.
- ✓
It combines two physical switches into one logical switch using a StackWise Virtual Link between them.
Why this is correct
Cisco StackWise Virtual merges two Catalyst 9000 switches into a single logical switch by connecting them with a StackWise Virtual Link (SVL), which carries control plane and data plane traffic. This allows the pair to present one management IP, one control plane, and a single spanning-tree instance, simplifying operations and improving high availability at the distribution layer.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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