The answer is that the 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' command is invalid for a promiscuous port; the correct command is 'switchport private-vlan mapping primary-vlan-id secondary-vlan-id'. This is because a promiscuous port in a private VLAN must be explicitly mapped to both the primary VLAN and the secondary community VLAN to enable communication with all hosts in that community, whereas the 'association trunk' command is used only for trunk ports carrying private VLANs. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between private VLAN port roles and their specific configuration syntax, often appearing as a troubleshooting scenario where Layer 2 isolation fails due to a single incorrect command. A common trap is confusing the 'mapping' command for promiscuous ports with the 'association' command used for trunks or host ports. Remember the mnemonic: "Promiscuous ports map, trunks associate."
350-601 Security Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
! Output from show running-config | section vlan 100
vlan 100
name TEST
private-vlan community
no ip redirects
!
interface vlan 100
ip address 10.0.0.1/24
private-vlan mapping 101
!
interface ethernet 1/1
switchport mode private-vlan promiscuous
switchport private-vlan association trunk 100
Refer to the exhibit. The configuration is intended to provide Layer 2 isolation within VLAN 100 while allowing the promiscuous port (Ethernet 1/1) to communicate with all ports in the community VLAN. However, hosts in VLAN 100 cannot communicate with each other. What is the most likely misconfiguration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
! Output from show running-config | section vlan 100
vlan 100
name TEST
private-vlan community
no ip redirects
!
interface vlan 100
ip address 10.0.0.1/24
private-vlan mapping 101
!
interface ethernet 1/1
switchport mode private-vlan promiscuous
switchport private-vlan association trunk 100
A
The SVI interface needs 'ip address' to be removed.
Why wrong: The SVI needs an IP address for routing.
B
The SVI interface should have 'private-vlan mapping' to the primary VLAN, not the community VLAN.
Why wrong: The mapping on the SVI is for secondary VLANs; it seems correct.
C
The 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' command on Ethernet 1/1 is incorrect; it should be 'switchport private-vlan association mapping' or similar.
The association command syntax is likely wrong; it should map the secondary VLAN to the promiscuous port.
D
The command 'no ip redirects' should not be applied to the SVI.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' command on Ethernet 1/1 is incorrect; it should be 'switchport private-vlan association mapping' or similar.
The command 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' is invalid for configuring a promiscuous port in a private VLAN. The correct command is 'switchport private-vlan mapping primary-vlan-id secondary-vlan-id' to map the promiscuous port to the primary VLAN and the secondary community VLAN. Without this correct mapping, the promiscuous port cannot forward traffic to hosts in the community VLAN, causing Layer 2 isolation to fail.
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.
✗
The SVI interface needs 'ip address' to be removed.
The SVI interface should have 'private-vlan mapping' to the primary VLAN, not the community VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
The mapping on the SVI is for secondary VLANs; it seems correct.
✓
The 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' command on Ethernet 1/1 is incorrect; it should be 'switchport private-vlan association mapping' or similar.
Why this is correct
The association command syntax is likely wrong; it should map the secondary VLAN to the promiscuous port.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The command 'no ip redirects' should not be applied to the SVI.
Why it's wrong here
'no ip redirects' is harmless.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'private-vlan association' (used on trunk ports) and 'private-vlan mapping' (used on promiscuous or host ports), leading candidates to confuse the two commands and misapply them.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco private VLANs, a promiscuous port (e.g., Ethernet 1/1) must be configured with 'switchport private-vlan mapping primary-vlan-id secondary-vlan-id' to associate it with the primary VLAN and a specific secondary VLAN (community or isolated). The community VLAN allows hosts within it to communicate with each other and with the promiscuous port, but the promiscuous port's mapping is essential for forwarding traffic from the promiscuous port to the community hosts. The 'association trunk' command is used for trunk ports carrying private VLANs, not for access or promiscuous ports, and its misuse here prevents proper traffic flow.
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.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' command on Ethernet 1/1 is incorrect; it should be 'switchport private-vlan association mapping' or similar. — The command 'switchport private-vlan association trunk' is invalid for configuring a promiscuous port in a private VLAN. The correct command is 'switchport private-vlan mapping primary-vlan-id secondary-vlan-id' to map the promiscuous port to the primary VLAN and the secondary community VLAN. Without this correct mapping, the promiscuous port cannot forward traffic to hosts in the community VLAN, causing Layer 2 isolation to fail.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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