This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of vlans and trunking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Examine the following configuration on a Cisco IOS-XE switch:
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The interface will not send or process DTP frames, and remains a trunk.
The 'switchport nonegotiate' command disables Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) on the interface. When configured on a trunk port, the interface will neither send nor process any DTP frames, ensuring the port remains in trunk mode regardless of the neighbor's DTP configuration. This is commonly used when connecting to non-Cisco devices that do not support DTP, or to prevent unwanted trunk negotiation.
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.
✗
The interface will not send DTP frames, but will still respond to incoming DTP frames.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'nonegotiate' disables both sending and processing of DTP frames.
✓
The interface will not send or process DTP frames, and remains a trunk.
Why this is correct
Correct. DTP is completely disabled, and the static trunk configuration remains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The interface will revert to an access port.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The 'switchport mode trunk' command still applies; 'nonegotiate' only affects DTP.
✗
The interface will negotiate trunking using ISL instead of DTP.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'nonegotiate' disables negotiation entirely; it does not switch protocols.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that 'switchport nonegotiate' only stops sending DTP frames but still allows the interface to respond to them, when in fact it disables all DTP processing, both sending and receiving.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. The 'switchport mode trunk' command still applies; 'nonegotiate' only affects DTP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DTP is a Cisco proprietary protocol that runs on trunk ports to negotiate trunking status and encapsulation (ISL or 802.1Q). When 'switchport nonegotiate' is applied, the interface stops sending DTP frames (which are multicast frames with destination MAC 01-00-0C-CC-CC-CC) and ignores any received DTP frames, effectively making the port statically trunked. This is critical when connecting to non-Cisco switches or hosts that might misinterpret DTP frames, potentially causing a trunk to form unintentionally or a port to become err-disabled.
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 network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
VLANs and Trunking — This question tests VLANs and Trunking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The interface will not send or process DTP frames, and remains a trunk. — The 'switchport nonegotiate' command disables Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) on the interface. When configured on a trunk port, the interface will neither send nor process any DTP frames, ensuring the port remains in trunk mode regardless of the neighbor's DTP configuration. This is commonly used when connecting to non-Cisco devices that do not support DTP, or to prevent unwanted trunk negotiation.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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