350-601 Network Practice Question
Which of the following is a requirement for VPC peer keepalive to function correctly?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that VPC peer keepalive must be a direct Layer 2 connection or share the same subnet as the peer-link, when in fact it requires a Layer 3 interface with a unique VRF to ensure fault isolation.
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
✓
Must be a Layer 3 interface with unique VRF
VPC peer keepalive requires a Layer 3 interface with a unique VRF to ensure that keepalive messages are sent over a dedicated, isolated path that is independent of the peer-link. This prevents the keepalive from being disrupted by issues on the peer-link and allows the VPC peers to detect failures even when the peer-link is down. The keepalive uses UDP port 3200 and must be routed through a separate VRF to avoid conflicts with the management or default routing tables.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Must use the same IP subnet as peer-link
Why it's wrong here
Keepalive uses separate IPs, often in management VRF.
- ✓
Must be a Layer 3 interface with unique VRF
Why this is correct
Recommended to use a dedicated VRF for keepalive.
- ✗
Must be a direct Layer 2 connection
Why it's wrong here
Keepalive is Layer 3 and can be routed.
- ✗
Must be in the same VLAN as peer-link
Why it's wrong here
Keepalive uses Layer 3, not Layer 2.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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