A network administrator is setting up a wired network for a small office that has 25 workstations, 2 file servers, and a router with 4 LAN ports. The office uses IP-based printers and VoIP phones. The administrator wants to minimize broadcast traffic and improve network performance by separating the workstations from the servers and printers. Which of the following is the BEST solution?

Connect all devices to a single unmanaged switch

An unmanaged switch cannot be configured with VLANs, so all devices would share one broadcast domain, leading to unnecessary broadcast traffic.

Connect all devices to a hub instead of a switch

A hub operates at half-duplex and forwards all traffic to all ports, causing collisions and poor performance. It does not provide segmentation and is unsuitable for modern networks.

Use multiple routers to separate networks

Routers provide network segmentation but are more expensive and complex than VLANs for this scenario. They also require additional IP subnets and routing configuration, which is overkill for a small office.

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: Use a single managed switch and configure port-based VLANs — To minimize broadcast traffic and improve performance, the network should be segmented into smaller broadcast domains. Using a managed switch with VLANs allows logical separation without additional hardware, isolating workstations from servers/printers and reducing unnecessary broadcast traffic. A single unmanaged switch would place all devices in one broadcast domain, defeating the goal.

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.