CCNP Architecture Practice Question
A network engineer is designing a high-availability campus network using Cisco StackWise Virtual technology on two Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches. The engineer wants to ensure that the control plane remains operational if one switch fails, and that the data plane can continue forwarding traffic with minimal disruption. Which statement accurately describes the operation of StackWise Virtual in this scenario?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that StackWise Virtual uses active/active control planes or that only the active switch forwards traffic, when in fact it is active/standby for control and active/active for data.
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
✓
One switch is active for control plane and management, while the other is standby; both switches forward data traffic using a unified data plane.
Cisco StackWise Virtual merges two physical switches into one logical switch. The active switch runs the control plane and management, while the standby switch is ready to take over. Both switches forward data traffic, providing active/active forwarding. This design ensures high availability: if the active switch fails, the standby becomes active, and data forwarding continues on the remaining switch with minimal disruption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
One switch is active for control plane and management, while the other is standby; both switches forward data traffic using a unified data plane.
Why this is correct
StackWise Virtual combines two switches into a single logical entity. One switch is elected active and handles control plane and management functions, while the other is standby and ready to take over. Both switches actively forward data traffic, providing increased bandwidth and redundancy. This active/standby control plane with active/active data plane is the defining characteristic of StackWise Virtual.
- ✗
StackWise Virtual requires a dedicated Layer 3 link for control plane synchronization, and data traffic is forwarded only by the active switch.
Why it's wrong here
StackWise Virtual uses a dedicated link, but it can be a StackWise Virtual Link (SVL) that carries both control and data traffic. It does not require a separate Layer 3 link exclusively for control plane synchronization. Additionally, both switches forward data traffic; the standby switch is not idle. Forwarding only on the active switch would waste bandwidth and defeat the purpose of the technology.
- ✗
The two switches load-balance control plane functions, with each switch managing a subset of VLANs and routing protocols independently.
Why it's wrong here
StackWise Virtual does not distribute control plane functions across both switches. The control plane is centralized on the active switch. While data plane forwarding is distributed, control plane protocols such as routing and spanning tree are managed by the active switch. Load-balancing control plane functions is not a feature of StackWise Virtual and would complicate synchronization and failover.
- ✗
Both switches run independent control planes and synchronize routing tables via a dedicated link, with each switch forwarding traffic independently.
Why it's wrong here
StackWise Virtual does not run independent control planes. Instead, it presents a single logical switch with one control plane shared between the two physical switches. One switch acts as active and the other as standby. Routing tables are synchronized, but the control plane is not independently active on both. This option incorrectly describes a dual-active control plane scenario, which is not how StackWise Virtual operates.
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JA
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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