- A
Three-tier hierarchical design with access, distribution, and core layers, using redundant links and VRRP for gateway redundancy
This design separates failure domains, provides high availability via redundancy, and scales by adding distribution or access switches.
- B
Collapsed core design with core and distribution combined into one layer
Why wrong: Collapsed core reduces the number of layers but can create a larger failure domain and may not scale well for 10,000+ users.
- C
Flat Layer 2 design with all switches in a single VLAN
Why wrong: Flat Layer 2 designs have large failure domains, poor scalability, and slow convergence due to spanning tree.
- D
Leaf-spine design with all switches acting as leafs and spines
Why wrong: Leaf-spine is optimized for data center east-west traffic; in a campus, it can be complex and may not align with typical north-south traffic patterns.
Quick Answer
The three-tier hierarchical design with access, distribution, and core layers is the correct choice because it provides clear separation of failure domains, allows easy scaling by adding access switches, and supports high availability through redundant links and VRRP for gateway redundancy. For a large campus with 10,000+ users, this model isolates problems at the access layer so they don’t propagate to the core, while the distribution layer aggregates traffic and provides first-hop redundancy. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this question tests your understanding of how hierarchical design principles map to real-world scalability and resilience—a common trap is choosing collapsed core for simplicity, but that merges distribution and core functions, creating a single failure domain and limiting future expansion. Remember the memory tip: “Three tiers for three needs—scale, separate, and stabilize.”
350-401 Enterprise Network Design Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise network design. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network architect is designing a campus network for a large university with 10,000+ users. The design must provide high availability, minimize failure domains, and allow for easy scaling of the access layer. The core layer should be resilient and support fast convergence. Which hierarchical design model best meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Three-tier hierarchical design with access, distribution, and core layers, using redundant links and VRRP for gateway redundancy
The three-tier hierarchical design (access, distribution, core) is the correct choice because it provides clear separation of failure domains, allows easy scaling by adding access switches, and supports high availability through redundant links and VRRP (or HSRP/GLBP) for first-hop gateway redundancy. The core layer can be designed with fast-converging protocols like ECMP and BFD to meet the resilience and convergence requirements for a large campus with 10,000+ users.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Three-tier hierarchical design with access, distribution, and core layers, using redundant links and VRRP for gateway redundancy
Why this is correct
This design separates failure domains, provides high availability via redundancy, and scales by adding distribution or access switches.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Collapsed core design with core and distribution combined into one layer
Why it's wrong here
Collapsed core reduces the number of layers but can create a larger failure domain and may not scale well for 10,000+ users.
- ✗
Flat Layer 2 design with all switches in a single VLAN
Why it's wrong here
Flat Layer 2 designs have large failure domains, poor scalability, and slow convergence due to spanning tree.
- ✗
Leaf-spine design with all switches acting as leafs and spines
Why it's wrong here
Leaf-spine is optimized for data center east-west traffic; in a campus, it can be complex and may not align with typical north-south traffic patterns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a collapsed core design is always more efficient for small-to-medium networks, but for a large campus with 10,000+ users, the three-tier model is required to minimize failure domains and allow independent scaling of the access layer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a three-tier campus design, the distribution layer acts as a boundary between Layer 2 access and Layer 3 core, using protocols like MSTP or Rapid PVST+ to prevent loops while VRRP/HSRP provides gateway redundancy with sub-second failover. The core layer typically runs an IGP like OSPF or EIGRP with fast hello timers and BFD to achieve convergence times under 50 ms, which is critical for large user populations. Real-world deployments often use a 'distribution/core' model with redundant links and ECMP to load-balance traffic while maintaining deterministic failover.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Enterprise Network Design — This question tests Enterprise Network Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Three-tier hierarchical design with access, distribution, and core layers, using redundant links and VRRP for gateway redundancy — The three-tier hierarchical design (access, distribution, core) is the correct choice because it provides clear separation of failure domains, allows easy scaling by adding access switches, and supports high availability through redundant links and VRRP (or HSRP/GLBP) for first-hop gateway redundancy. The core layer can be designed with fast-converging protocols like ECMP and BFD to meet the resilience and convergence requirements for a large campus with 10,000+ users.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "minimum / minimize". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements about the Cisco Enterprise Campus Architecture are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.The distribution layer provides policy-based connectivity and controls traffic flow between access and core layers.
- B.The access layer is responsible for routing between VLANs and providing high-speed switching for the campus backbone.
- ✓ C.The core layer should be designed for high-speed transport and minimal latency, avoiding CPU-intensive features like ACLs.
- D.A two-tier hierarchical design (collapsed core) is recommended for large campus networks with thousands of users.
- E.The core layer should enforce security policies and perform packet inspection to protect the campus network.
Why A: The Cisco Enterprise Campus Architecture uses a hierarchical model to improve scalability, performance, and manageability. The access layer provides user and device connectivity, often with VLANs and PoE. The distribution layer aggregates access switches and provides policy enforcement, while the core layer provides high-speed transport. The collapsed core design merges core and distribution for smaller networks. Option A is correct because the distribution layer is indeed the policy enforcement point. Option C is correct because the core layer should be optimized for high-speed switching without complex policies. Option B is incorrect because the access layer typically does not perform routing between VLANs (that is a distribution layer function). Option D is incorrect because a two-tier design (collapsed core) is actually recommended for smaller campuses, not larger ones. Option E is incorrect because the core layer should not be used for security filtering, which is a distribution layer role.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.
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