Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?
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.
A
Distractor review
Configure all switch ports as trunk ports and use VLAN 1 for all departments.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs, but if all ports are trunks and all are in VLAN 1, there is no isolation; broadcast traffic will flood to all ports.
B
Best answer
Assign each department's workstations to a unique VLAN and configure their switch ports as access ports in that VLAN.
Access ports belong to a single VLAN, creating separate broadcast domains. This is the correct method to isolate traffic between departments.
C
Distractor review
Place all workstations in the same VLAN and use a firewall to filter broadcast traffic between departments.
Broadcast traffic stays within the VLAN; a firewall cannot filter broadcasts within the same VLAN. Placing all in one VLAN defeats isolation.
D
Distractor review
Configure each switch port as a trunk and use a different native VLAN for each department.
Trunk ports are used to carry multiple VLANs between switches, not for end devices. Native VLAN is for untagged traffic; this does not isolate workstations on the same switch.
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 network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?
Question 2
A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?
Question 3
A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?
Question 4
A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?
Question 5
A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?
Question 6
A network administrator needs to generate a report of all MAC addresses learned on each switch port to assist with inventory management. Which command-line utility can be used to view the MAC address table on a switch?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Assign each department's workstations to a unique VLAN and configure their switch ports as access ports in that VLAN. — VLANs create separate broadcast domains. To isolate traffic, each department's workstations should be placed in a distinct VLAN. Access ports are assigned to a specific VLAN and do not forward traffic from other VLANs. Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs, but the broadcast isolation is achieved by assigning ports to the correct VLAN.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 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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