hardMultiple Select
CCNP Practice Question: Which three statements about virtual networking…
Which three statements about virtual networking and hypervisor switches are true? (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 standard virtual switch (vSwitch) operates at Layer 2 and can forward frames between virtual machines on the same host.
Option A is correct because a standard vSwitch is a Layer 2 software construct that learns MAC addresses and forwards Ethernet frames between VMs connected to it on the same ESXi host. Option B is correct because a distributed virtual switch (DVS/vDS) is managed centrally at the vCenter level and pushes a consistent port group, VLAN, and teaming configuration to all member ESXi hosts in a cluster. Option C is correct because virtual switches support IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging, allowing VLAN IDs to be assigned to port groups or passed through as trunked tagged frames between the hypervisor and the physical switch. Option D is not required: virtual switches do not create the Layer 2 loops that STP solves, and ESXi vSwitches do not run STP by default (the physical network handles loop prevention). Option E is false because a single vSwitch can host many port groups, each with its own VLAN, teaming, and security policies.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A standard virtual switch (vSwitch) operates at Layer 2 and can forward frames between virtual machines on the same host.
Why this is correct
A standard vSwitch is a software Layer 2 bridge inside one hypervisor, forwarding Ethernet frames between VMs on that same host using MAC learning. It satisfies the scenario's on-host switching constraint, since traffic between local VMs never leaves the physical host.
- ✓
A distributed virtual switch (DVS) provides consistent network configuration across multiple ESXi hosts in a cluster.
Why this is correct
A distributed virtual switch spans multiple ESXi hosts, letting an administrator define port groups once and have that configuration propagate consistently cluster-wide. This satisfies the stem's requirement for uniform networking across hosts, unlike per-host standard vSwitches, which must be configured individually.
- ✓
Virtual switches support VLAN tagging using IEEE 802.1Q trunking between the hypervisor and physical switches.
Why this is correct
Virtual switches implement IEEE 802.1Q tagging, adding or stripping VLAN tags so frames traverse trunk links to physical switches while keeping VLAN separation intact. This satisfies the stem's requirement for VLAN segmentation extending from the hypervisor to the physical network.
- ✗
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) must always be enabled on virtual switches to prevent loops in the virtual network.
Why it's wrong here
Hypervisor virtual switches forward frames per their own MAC learning tables and do not participate in STP; loops are prevented by the upstream physical switch topology, so enabling STP is neither required nor always possible. It is tempting because STP is standard on physical switches, where it would be correct for redundant Layer 2 paths.
- ✗
A virtual switch can only be configured with a single port group for all virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
A virtual switch supports many port groups, each carrying its own VLAN ID and security policy, so restricting it to one port group is false. It is tempting because a single port group is the minimal configuration, and would be correct for a simple lab host running one VLAN with no segmentation requirement.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.