200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring a switch and needs to assign an IP address to a VLAN interface for management purposes. The engineer wants to ensure that devices on different VLANs can communicate through the switch. Which feature must be enabled on the switch to allow inter-VLAN routing?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any switch feature that involves multiple VLANs, like trunking or STP, can enable inter-VLAN communication; only Layer 3 routing accomplishes that.
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
✓
IP routing
Inter-VLAN routing requires a Layer 3 device to forward packets between subnets. On a Layer 3 switch, enabling IP routing allows the switch to route between VLAN interfaces (SVIs). Each SVI is configured with an IP address and acts as the gateway for hosts in that VLAN. Without IP routing, the switch would only forward frames within the same VLAN.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
Why it's wrong here
LACP bundles multiple physical links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and redundancy. It operates at Layer 2 and does not provide inter-VLAN routing. While it can be used on trunk links between switches, it does not enable communication between VLANs by itself.
- ✗
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Why it's wrong here
Spanning Tree Protocol prevents loops in a switched network by blocking redundant paths. It does not provide inter-VLAN routing; it operates at Layer 2 and ensures a loop-free topology. Enabling STP is important for network stability but does not allow communication between different VLANs, which requires Layer 3 functionality.
- ✗
Port mirroring
Why it's wrong here
Port mirroring copies traffic from one port to another for analysis, typically used for monitoring or troubleshooting. It does not enable routing between VLANs; it simply duplicates frames. It has no role in Layer 3 forwarding and would not allow devices on different VLANs to communicate.
- ✓
IP routing
Why this is correct
Enabling IP routing on a Layer 3 switch allows it to route packets between VLANs. Each VLAN interface (SVI) acts as a default gateway for hosts in that VLAN, and the switch uses its routing table to forward traffic between subnets. This is the standard method for inter-VLAN routing on modern switches.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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