A network technician configures a managed switch with two VLANs: VLAN 10 for workstations and VLAN 20 for servers. A workstation on VLAN 10 can ping its default gateway (192.168.10.1), and a server on VLAN 20 can ping its default gateway (192.168.20.1). However, the workstation cannot ping the server's IP address (192.168.20.10). All switch ports are configured as access ports in their respective VLANs, and the default gateways are correctly assigned. Which of the following is MOST likely needed to allow this communication?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
A router configured for inter-VLAN routing
Devices in different VLANs cannot communicate without a Layer 3 device that routes between them. The router must be configured to forward traffic between VLAN 10 and VLAN 20, and the switch-to-router link must be a trunk.
Distractor review
A DHCP server on each VLAN
DHCP servers assign IP addresses but do not enable routing between VLANs. The devices already have IP addresses and can reach their gateways.
Distractor review
A higher category Ethernet cable
Cable category affects speed and bandwidth but does not impact Layer 3 connectivity between VLANs.
Distractor review
A trunk port between the switch and the router
While a trunk port is necessary for the router to receive traffic from multiple VLANs, the primary missing element is the router's inter-VLAN routing configuration. Option A is the more comprehensive answer.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A router configured for inter-VLAN routing — Since the workstation and server are on different VLANs, they are in separate broadcast domains. Communication between VLANs requires a Layer 3 device, such as a router or a Layer 3 switch, configured for inter-VLAN routing. The default gateways (the router interfaces) are reachable from each side, but the router must be configured to forward traffic between the VLANs. Additionally, if a separate router is used, the link between the switch and the router must be a trunk to carry both VLAN tags. The most direct answer is the need for inter-VLAN routing configuration.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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