easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
200-901 Practice Question: A network administrator is deploying a new…
A network administrator is deploying a new application that requires high availability and load balancing across multiple servers. The servers are connected to a pair of switches that use StackWise virtual technology. The application team requests that the servers be configured with NIC teaming in active-active mode. Which two requirements must be met for this configuration to work correctly? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that NIC teaming requires LACP or that PortFast is necessary for active-active operation, but the real key is that the switches must be part of a single logical fabric to avoid loops and MAC flapping.
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
✓
The two switches must be part of a single stack or virtual switch fabric.
StackWise virtual technology logically combines two physical switches into a single control plane, allowing NIC teaming in active-active mode to treat the pair as one logical switch. This ensures that both NIC team members can forward traffic simultaneously without loops, as the stack provides a unified Layer 2 topology and prevents MAC flapping between the two switches.
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 two switches must be part of a single stack or virtual switch fabric.
Why this is correct
This allows the NIC team to see the two switches as one logical switch and use both links simultaneously.
- ✗
Spanning-tree PortFast must be enabled on the switch ports connected to the servers.
Why it's wrong here
PortFast is not required and may cause issues if BPDUs are expected.
- ✓
Both NIC team members must be configured in the same VLAN.
Why this is correct
Active-active teaming requires both links to belong to the same VLAN to avoid traffic asymmetry.
- ✗
The NIC team must use LACP for load balancing.
Why it's wrong here
LACP is optional; static aggregation can also be used.
- ✗
Both NIC team members should connect to the same switch module for consistency.
Why it's wrong here
For redundancy, they should connect to different switch modules.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.