The answer is to bundle the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members. This is the correct best practice because StackWise Virtual treats the two Catalyst 9300 switches as a single logical entity, so a cross-stack EtherChannel provides both link-level redundancy and load balancing across the entire virtual switch. If one member fails, traffic seamlessly fails over to the remaining member without triggering routing protocol convergence or Spanning Tree reconvergence, maintaining uninterrupted connectivity to the upstream routers. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how StackWise Virtual simplifies high-availability designs; a common trap is to think each switch needs its own separate uplink, which would introduce STP blocking or require routing failover. Remember the key principle: treat the virtual switch as one box, so your EtherChannel should span both members. A helpful memory tip is "One logical switch, one logical link"—if it acts as one switch, bundle the uplinks across both.
350-401 Virtualization Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 engineer is deploying a Cisco Catalyst 9300 switch as a virtual switch using StackWise Virtual. The switch will connect to two upstream routers for redundancy. What is the best practice for connecting the uplinks?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Bundle the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members.
Option A is correct because in a StackWise Virtual deployment, the two member switches operate as a single logical switch. Bundling the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members provides both link redundancy and load balancing, and it ensures that if one member fails, traffic continues to flow through the remaining member without requiring routing protocol convergence or STP reconvergence.
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.
✓
Bundle the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members.
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use two separate routed interfaces, each with a routing protocol.
Why it's wrong here
This can cause asymmetric routing and is not best practice.
✗
Connect each uplink to the active switch member.
Why it's wrong here
This creates a single point of failure if the active switch fails.
✗
Configure the uplinks in active/standby mode using STP.
Why it's wrong here
STP is not needed; StackWise Virtual provides active/active forwarding.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that you must connect uplinks only to the active switch or use STP for redundancy, but in StackWise Virtual the correct approach is to use a cross-stack EtherChannel to fully utilize both members and provide seamless failover.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
StackWise Virtual uses a virtual switch link (VSL) to synchronize control plane and forwarding state between the two members. When an EtherChannel is configured with member ports on both switches, the switch uses a hashing algorithm (e.g., source/destination IP or MAC) to distribute traffic across all links, and if one member fails, the EtherChannel continues to operate using the remaining ports on the surviving switch. In a real-world scenario, this design allows for hitless upgrades and maintenance because traffic is automatically rebalanced without protocol timers.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
Virtualization — This question tests Virtualization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Bundle the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members. — Option A is correct because in a StackWise Virtual deployment, the two member switches operate as a single logical switch. Bundling the uplinks into an EtherChannel that spans both stack members provides both link redundancy and load balancing, and it ensures that if one member fails, traffic continues to flow through the remaining member without requiring routing protocol convergence or STP reconvergence.
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". 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.
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