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350-401 Practice Question: Examine the following configuration on a Cisco…
Examine the following configuration on a Cisco IOS-XE switch:
interface GigabitEthernet0/5 switchport mode trunk switchport trunk native vlan 999 switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30 switchport nonegotiate
What is the effect of the 'switchport nonegotiate' command?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
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
This is incorrect because 'switchport nonegotiate' does not selectively stop sending while still listening for DTP. It disables the DTP state machine entirely, so no DTP frames are transmitted and any received DTP frames are ignored. The interface continues operating as a configured trunk without participating in negotiation.
- ✓
The interface will not send or process DTP frames, and remains a trunk.
Why this is correct
This is correct. 'switchport nonegotiate' completely disables DTP after 'switchport mode trunk' is configured, so no DTP frames are sent or processed. The interface remains a statically configured trunk, because nonegotiate only suppresses trunk negotiation and does not alter the forced trunk mode.
- ✗
The interface will revert to an access port.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the operational mode is determined by the 'switchport mode' command, not by DTP. Since 'switchport mode trunk' explicitly sets the interface to trunk, 'switchport nonegotiate' only turns off DTP frames; it does not reset the interface to access mode. The trunk remains active.
- ✗
The interface will negotiate trunking using ISL instead of DTP.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because DTP is the only protocol used to negotiate trunking between Cisco switches; ISL is a legacy encapsulation type, not a negotiation protocol. 'switchport nonegotiate' disables all DTP negotiation, so the interface will not attempt to negotiate trunking with ISL or any other protocol.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.