- A
Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 61440' on the access switch.
Correct because setting the priority to 61440 ensures the access switch will not become root, and Rapid PVST+ provides fast convergence automatically.
- B
Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 0' on the access switch.
Why wrong: Incorrect because priority 0 would make the access switch the root bridge, which is not desired.
- C
Enable UplinkFast on the access switch to provide fast failover.
Why wrong: Incorrect because UplinkFast is not needed with Rapid PVST+ and may cause compatibility issues.
- D
Enable PortFast on the trunk ports to speed up convergence.
Why wrong: Incorrect because PortFast is for access ports, not trunk ports, and enabling it on trunks can cause loops.
CCNP Spanning Tree Protocol Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of spanning tree protocol. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A network engineer is configuring a new switch that will be used as an access layer switch. The switch connects to two distribution switches via trunk links. The engineer wants to ensure that the access switch does not become the root bridge for any VLAN. The engineer also wants to provide redundancy so that if one uplink fails, the other uplink takes over quickly. The engineer is using Rapid PVST+. What configuration should the engineer apply on the access switch?
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
Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 61440' on the access switch.
Option A is correct because setting the spanning-tree priority to 61440 (which is 0xF000 in hex) makes the switch a very unlikely root bridge candidate. In Rapid PVST+, the bridge priority is a 4-bit value (0-15) multiplied by 4096, so 61440 corresponds to priority 15 — the highest possible value. This ensures the access switch will never become the root bridge for any VLAN, while Rapid PVST+ provides fast failover (sub-second convergence) via its alternate/backup port mechanism without needing UplinkFast.
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.
- ✓
Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 61440' on the access switch.
Why this is correct
Correct because setting the priority to 61440 ensures the access switch will not become root, and Rapid PVST+ provides fast convergence automatically.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 0' on the access switch.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because priority 0 would make the access switch the root bridge, which is not desired.
- ✗
Enable UplinkFast on the access switch to provide fast failover.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because UplinkFast is not needed with Rapid PVST+ and may cause compatibility issues.
- ✗
Enable PortFast on the trunk ports to speed up convergence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that UplinkFast is needed with Rapid PVST+ for fast failover, but Rapid PVST+ already includes its own fast convergence (based on the 802.1w standard), making UplinkFast obsolete.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Rapid PVST+, the bridge priority is configured per VLAN using the 'spanning-tree vlan <vlan-list> priority <0-61440>' command, where the value must be a multiple of 4096. Priority 61440 (15 × 4096) is the highest possible, ensuring the switch will never be elected root unless all other switches also have the same priority and a lower MAC address. A real-world scenario: in a campus network with multiple distribution switches, setting access switches to priority 61440 prevents them from becoming root during a distribution switch failure, maintaining a stable root bridge at the distribution or core layer.
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 350-401 question test?
Spanning Tree Protocol — This question tests Spanning Tree Protocol — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure 'spanning-tree vlan vlan-list priority 61440' on the access switch. — Option A is correct because setting the spanning-tree priority to 61440 (which is 0xF000 in hex) makes the switch a very unlikely root bridge candidate. In Rapid PVST+, the bridge priority is a 4-bit value (0-15) multiplied by 4096, so 61440 corresponds to priority 15 — the highest possible value. This ensures the access switch will never become the root bridge for any VLAN, while Rapid PVST+ provides fast failover (sub-second convergence) via its alternate/backup port mechanism without needing UplinkFast.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.
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