N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
A network administrator needs to allow multiple VLANs to traverse a single link between two switches. Which configuration must be applied on the switch ports?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse a trunk port with an access port, thinking that multiple VLANs can be carried by simply assigning multiple VLANs to an access port, but access ports can only be assigned a single untagged VLAN.
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
✓
Trunk port
A trunk port is configured to carry traffic for multiple VLANs over a single link by tagging frames with IEEE 802.1Q VLAN identifiers. This allows the switch to distinguish which VLAN each frame belongs to, enabling inter-switch VLAN connectivity without requiring separate physical links per VLAN.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Access port
Why it's wrong here
An access port is designed to connect end-user devices, such as workstations, servers, or IP phones, to a single, specific VLAN. Unlike trunk ports, frames transmitted from an access port are typically untagged, as they are implicitly associated with the port's assigned VLAN. An access port will only accept and forward traffic belonging to its configured VLAN, effectively isolating traffic from other VLANs and preventing multiple VLANs from traversing the link connected to an end device.
When this WOULD be correct
When a switch port connects to an end device (e.g., a PC or printer) that belongs to a single VLAN, the port should be configured as an access port to carry only that VLAN's traffic.
- ✓
Trunk port
Why this is correct
A trunk port is specifically configured on a network switch to carry traffic for multiple Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) over a single physical link. It achieves this by utilizing the industry-standard IEEE 802.1Q tagging protocol, which inserts a 4-byte tag into the Ethernet frame header, identifying the VLAN to which the frame belongs. This mechanism allows switches to differentiate and properly forward frames for various VLANs across inter-switch links, enabling efficient network segmentation and communication between different VLANs hosted on separate switches.
- ✗
Hybrid port
Why it's wrong here
A hybrid port is a vendor-specific term, often found in certain switch platforms, that combines characteristics of both access and trunk ports. While it can indeed carry traffic for multiple VLANs, similar to a trunk, it also allows for a configurable untagged VLAN, much like an access port, and can selectively tag or untag frames for specific VLANs. However, the universally recognized and standard term for a link dedicated to transporting multiple VLANs between switches, as described in the question, remains a trunk port.
When this WOULD be correct
In a Cisco-specific exam (e.g., CCNA), a question might ask: 'Which port type can carry multiple VLANs and also accept untagged frames from an access VLAN?' In that context, a hybrid port (or 'general' port in some vendors) would be correct.
- ✗
Routed port
Why it's wrong here
A routed port functions as a Layer 3 interface on a switch or router, primarily used for IP routing rather than carrying multiple VLANs via Layer 2 tagging. It operates at the network layer, participating in routing protocols and forwarding IP packets based on their destination IP addresses, effectively terminating a broadcast domain. Unlike a trunk port, a routed port does not tag Ethernet frames with VLAN IDs; instead, it acts as a gateway for traffic between different IP subnets or VLANs, performing inter-VLAN routing.
When this WOULD be correct
When a question asks for a configuration that allows a switch port to act as a router interface, such as connecting a router to a switch for inter-VLAN routing without a trunk, a routed port would be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Trunk portCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A trunk port is specifically configured on a network switch to carry traffic for multiple Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) over a single physical link. It achieves this by utilizing the industry-standard IEEE 802.1Q tagging protocol, which inserts a 4-byte tag into the Ethernet frame header, identifying the VLAN to which the frame belongs. This mechanism allows switches to differentiate and properly forward frames for various VLANs across inter-switch links, enabling efficient network segmentation and communication between different VLANs hosted on separate switches.
✗Access portWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An access port carries traffic for only a single VLAN, so it cannot allow multiple VLANs to traverse a single link between switches.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When a switch port connects to an end device (e.g., a PC or printer) that belongs to a single VLAN, the port should be configured as an access port to carry only that VLAN's traffic.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse access ports with trunk ports, thinking that 'access' implies general connectivity, or they may not understand that access ports are VLAN-specific and cannot carry multiple VLANs.
✗Hybrid portWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Hybrid ports are a Cisco-proprietary concept that can carry multiple VLANs but also allow untagged traffic; however, the standard IEEE 802.1Q method for carrying multiple VLANs over a single link is a trunk port, which is the expected answer for this N10-009 exam question.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a Cisco-specific exam (e.g., CCNA), a question might ask: 'Which port type can carry multiple VLANs and also accept untagged frames from an access VLAN?' In that context, a hybrid port (or 'general' port in some vendors) would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse hybrid ports (which can carry multiple VLANs) with trunk ports, or they may recall that some vendors use the term 'hybrid' for ports that handle both tagged and untagged traffic, leading them to select it here.
✗Routed portWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A routed port is a Layer 3 interface on a switch that does not support VLAN tagging or trunking; it is used for routing between networks, not for carrying multiple VLANs over a single link.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When a question asks for a configuration that allows a switch port to act as a router interface, such as connecting a router to a switch for inter-VLAN routing without a trunk, a routed port would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse routed ports with trunk ports because both can handle multiple VLANs, but routed ports operate at Layer 3 and do not carry VLAN tags.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Ethernet Switching and VLANs
Key term
Switch
A switch is a networking device that connects devices on a local area network and uses MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient.
Key term
Trunk port
A trunk port is a switch port configured to carry traffic for multiple VLANs, using a tagging protocol to identify which VLAN each frame belongs to.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This N10-009 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 N10-009 exam.