350-601 Network Practice Question
Which STP variant provides per-VLAN load balancing and is commonly used in data center networks with Cisco Nexus switches?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between per-VLAN (Rapid PVST+) and per-instance (MST) load balancing, where candidates mistakenly choose MST because it reduces STP instances, but the question explicitly asks for per-VLAN load balancing, which only Rapid PVST+ provides.
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
✓
Rapid PVST+
Rapid PVST+ (Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus) is the correct answer because it provides per-VLAN load balancing by running a separate instance of RSTP (802.1w) for each VLAN. This allows different VLANs to use different root bridges and forwarding paths, enabling traffic load sharing across redundant links. Cisco Nexus switches support Rapid PVST+ as a default or commonly configured STP variant in data center environments, offering fast convergence and VLAN-based traffic engineering.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rapid PVST+
Why this is correct
Rapid PVST+ runs a separate RSTP instance per VLAN.
- ✗
MST
Why it's wrong here
MST uses multiple instances but not necessarily per-VLAN.
- ✗
RSTP
Why it's wrong here
RSTP is fast but single-instance.
- ✗
STP
Why it's wrong here
Classic STP is slow and does not support per-VLAN.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-601 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 350-601 exam.