350-401 Infrastructure Practice Question
A network engineer is deploying a new Cisco Catalyst 9000 switch stack. The engineer wants to ensure that the stack uses the most efficient use of stack ports and provides the highest possible bandwidth between stack members. Which stacking technology and topology should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse StackPower with StackWise; StackPower is for power redundancy, while StackWise is for data stacking.
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
✓
Cisco StackWise with a ring topology
Cisco StackWise uses a ring topology to connect stack members, providing high bandwidth and redundancy. If a cable fails, the ring can still function. StackWise-480 and StackWise-1T are used on Catalyst 9000 switches, offering up to 480 Gbps or 1 Tbps of stacking bandwidth. StackPower is for power sharing, not data stacking.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cisco StackWise with a star topology
Why it's wrong here
Cisco StackWise does not use a star topology. A star topology would require a central stack member, which would create a single point of failure and is not how StackWise operates. StackWise uses a ring to ensure redundancy and equal bandwidth among members. Therefore, a star topology is not applicable.
- ✗
Cisco StackPower with a ring topology
Why it's wrong here
Cisco StackPower is a separate feature used for power sharing and redundancy among switches, not for data stacking. While it can use a ring topology for power, it does not provide the data stacking bandwidth required for inter-switch communication. The question asks for stacking technology for data, so StackPower is incorrect.
- ✗
Cisco StackWise with a full mesh topology
Why it's wrong here
Cisco StackWise typically uses a ring topology for redundancy and does not support a full mesh. A full mesh would require more cabling and does not represent the standard StackWise implementation. StackWise-480 and StackWise-1T use ring topologies to provide resiliency and high bandwidth, but not full mesh.
- ✓
Cisco StackWise with a ring topology
Why this is correct
Cisco StackWise uses a ring topology to connect stack members. This provides redundancy because if one stack cable fails, the ring can still forward traffic in the opposite direction. StackWise-480 and StackWise-1T are common on Catalyst 9000 switches, offering high bandwidth (480 Gbps or 1 Tbps) and efficient use of stack ports. A ring topology is the standard and most efficient for StackWise.
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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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