The answer is to configure VLANs to separate wired and wireless traffic. This works because VLAN segmentation divides the network into smaller broadcast domains, which drastically reduces the amount of broadcast traffic and collision overhead that the router’s CPU must process. When a single router handles both wired and wireless devices in one flat network, every broadcast packet hits the CPU, causing the high CPU usage and intermittent drops during peak hours. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your understanding of how VLANs reduce CPU load without requiring new hardware—a common trap is assuming you need a new router or more bandwidth, but the fix is logical segmentation, not physical upgrades. Remember the memory tip: “VLANs cut the noise, so the CPU can find its voice.”
FC0-U61 Infrastructure Practice Question
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A small business has 20 employees using a mix of wired and wireless devices. The network uses a single router with built-in 4-port switch and Wi-Fi. Recently, employees have reported intermittent connectivity drops, especially during peak hours. The technician notices that the router's CPU usage is consistently at 90% or higher. The business cannot afford to replace the router immediately. Which of the following actions would BEST improve the situation without purchasing new hardware?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure VLANs to separate wired and wireless traffic
Configuring VLANs separates wired and wireless traffic into distinct broadcast domains, reducing the amount of broadcast traffic and collisions that the router's CPU must process. This lowers CPU overhead, which directly addresses the 90% CPU usage causing intermittent drops, without requiring new hardware.
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.
✗
Disable Quality of Service (QoS) settings
Why it's wrong here
Disabling QoS does not reduce CPU usage significantly.
✗
Disable the Wi-Fi network and require all devices to connect via Ethernet
Why it's wrong here
This would prevent wireless devices from connecting, causing disruption.
Configure VLANs to separate wired and wireless traffic
Why this is correct
VLANs reduce broadcast domains and can lower CPU load.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think disabling QoS or switching to wired-only will reduce CPU load, but they overlook that VLAN segmentation directly reduces broadcast processing overhead, which is the primary CPU consumer in a mixed wired/wireless environment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLANs operate at Layer 2, logically segmenting the network without adding physical hardware; the router's CPU handles inter-VLAN routing, but intra-VLAN traffic is switched locally, reducing CPU intervention. In a flat network, all broadcast frames (e.g., ARP requests) are flooded to every device, consuming CPU cycles; VLANs confine broadcasts to each segment, cutting overhead significantly. Real-world scenarios show that even a small number of chatty wireless clients can generate enough broadcast traffic to saturate a consumer-grade router's CPU, leading to the exact symptoms described.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure VLANs to separate wired and wireless traffic — Configuring VLANs separates wired and wireless traffic into distinct broadcast domains, reducing the amount of broadcast traffic and collisions that the router's CPU must process. This lowers CPU overhead, which directly addresses the 90% CPU usage causing intermittent drops, without requiring new hardware.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "immediately / without restart". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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