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220-1201 Practice Question: Is designing a new data center and needs to…
A network engineer is designing a new data center and needs to connect multiple servers to a core switch with redundant paths. To prevent loops while allowing failover, which networking hardware feature should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that LACP or link aggregation alone can prevent loops, when in fact LACP requires a spanning tree protocol (like RSTP) to be active on the aggregated links to avoid Layer 2 loops in redundant topologies.
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
✓
Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches.
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is the correct choice because it provides loop prevention in redundant switch topologies while offering faster convergence than classic STP. In a data center with multiple servers connected to a core switch via redundant paths, RSTP (IEEE 802.1w) ensures that only one active path exists at a time, blocking redundant links to prevent broadcast storms and MAC table instability, yet automatically unblocking them if the primary path fails.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the server connections.
Why it's wrong here
LACP aggregates multiple physical links between two devices into a single logical link, increasing bandwidth and providing fault tolerance for that specific connection. While it offers redundancy for the aggregated link itself, LACP does not inherently prevent network-wide switching loops that can occur when multiple independent paths exist between switches in a data center design. Without a separate loop prevention protocol like STP, redundant paths between switches would still create broadcast storms and MAC table instability.
- ✓
Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches.
Why this is correct
Enabling Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches is the correct approach for a data center design with redundant paths. RSTP actively prevents network switching loops by logically blocking redundant links, ensuring only a single active path exists between any two network segments. Furthermore, RSTP offers significantly faster convergence times compared to traditional STP, quickly restoring connectivity in milliseconds should an active link fail, which is critical for maintaining high availability in a data center environment.
- ✗
Use a hub instead of a switch for the core connection.
Why it's wrong here
Using a hub for the core connection is fundamentally flawed and entirely unsuitable for any modern network, let alone a data center. Hubs operate at Layer 1 (physical layer), simply repeating all incoming signals out to every other port, creating a single large collision domain. This design not only offers no loop prevention mechanism but also guarantees severe performance degradation due to excessive collisions and broadcast storms, making it impossible to maintain reliable network communication.
- ✗
Configure all switch ports as access ports.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring all switch ports as access ports is incorrect because it primarily defines how a port handles VLAN traffic for end devices, assigning it to a single VLAN. While access ports are typically configured for devices like servers or workstations, this configuration alone does not address or prevent network-wide switching loops that arise from redundant physical connections between switches. Redundant links connecting switches would still form a loop, leading to broadcast storms and MAC table corruption, regardless of whether the ports are designated for end-device access.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Bridge Protocol Data Unit
A Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) is a special message that network switches exchange to detect and prevent loops in an Ethernet network.
Key term
MAC
MAC (Media Access Control) is a unique hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces for communication on a local network segment.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1201 exam.