N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
A company wants to increase the bandwidth between two switches without upgrading the existing 1 Gbps copper links. Both switches support 802.3ad. Which technology should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse link aggregation with stacking (StackWise) or VLAN trunking, thinking any multi-link technology increases bandwidth, but only LACP/802.3ad properly combines physical links for higher throughput between two switches.
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
✓
Link aggregation (LACP)
Link aggregation using LACP (802.3ad) allows multiple 1 Gbps copper links to be combined into a single logical link, increasing bandwidth between the two switches without upgrading the physical interfaces. Since both switches support 802.3ad, they can negotiate and manage the aggregated link dynamically, providing both increased throughput and link redundancy.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Link aggregation (LACP)
Why this is correct
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is an IEEE 802.3ad standard that dynamically bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical channel. This process effectively increases the aggregate bandwidth between two network devices by distributing traffic across the bundled links, providing both higher throughput and redundancy. By utilizing existing switch ports, LACP achieves a significant bandwidth increase without requiring an upgrade to higher-speed interfaces.
- ✗
VLAN trunking
Why it's wrong here
VLAN trunking, typically implemented using the IEEE 802.1Q standard, enables a single physical link to carry traffic for multiple Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) by tagging frames with VLAN identifiers. Its primary function is to segment network traffic and extend VLANs across multiple switches, not to increase the data transfer capacity of the physical link itself. While essential for network segmentation, it does not aggregate or enhance the available bandwidth.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs to carry traffic from multiple VLANs between two switches over a single physical link. The switches support 802.1Q. Which technology should be implemented?
- ✗
Port mirroring
Why it's wrong here
Port mirroring, also known as Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) on Cisco devices, is a network monitoring feature that duplicates all network traffic from one or more source ports to a designated destination port. This copied traffic is then typically sent to a network analyzer or intrusion detection system for inspection and troubleshooting. Its sole purpose is passive monitoring and analysis, and it explicitly does not contribute to increasing the data throughput or bandwidth capacity of the network links.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to capture and analyze traffic passing through a switch port for troubleshooting or security monitoring. Port mirroring would be the correct technology to send a copy of all packets from the source port to a monitoring device connected to another port.
- ✗
StackWise
Why it's wrong here
StackWise is a proprietary Cisco technology designed to interconnect multiple physical switches, making them operate as a single logical unit with a unified control plane and management interface. While it simplifies management and can provide high-speed backplane connectivity within the stack, it is not a standard, open method for increasing the aggregate bandwidth between two *separate* switches. Its focus is on switch virtualization and redundancy, rather than general link capacity enhancement between distinct devices.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'A company wants to combine multiple physical switches into a single logical switch for simplified management and higher forwarding capacity. Which Cisco technology should be used?' In that context, StackWise would be the correct answer.
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.
✓Link aggregation (LACP)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is an IEEE 802.3ad standard that dynamically bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical channel. This process effectively increases the aggregate bandwidth between two network devices by distributing traffic across the bundled links, providing both higher throughput and redundancy. By utilizing existing switch ports, LACP achieves a significant bandwidth increase without requiring an upgrade to higher-speed interfaces.
✗VLAN trunkingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
VLAN trunking (802.1Q) is used to carry multiple VLANs over a single link, not to increase bandwidth between switches. It does not combine multiple physical links into one logical link for higher throughput.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs to carry traffic from multiple VLANs between two switches over a single physical link. The switches support 802.1Q. Which technology should be implemented?
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'trunking' (VLAN tagging) with 'link aggregation' (port trunking), as both involve combining or managing multiple links, leading to a mix-up of terminology.
✗Port mirroringWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Port mirroring is used to copy traffic from one port to another for monitoring or analysis, not to increase bandwidth between switches. It does not aggregate links to provide higher throughput.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to capture and analyze traffic passing through a switch port for troubleshooting or security monitoring. Port mirroring would be the correct technology to send a copy of all packets from the source port to a monitoring device connected to another port.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse port mirroring with link aggregation because both involve multiple ports, but they serve entirely different purposes—mirroring duplicates traffic, while aggregation combines bandwidth.
✗StackWiseWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
StackWise is a Cisco proprietary technology for stacking multiple switches into a single logical unit, not for increasing bandwidth between two separate switches using existing copper links. It requires specific stacking cables and does not use 802.3ad.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'A company wants to combine multiple physical switches into a single logical switch for simplified management and higher forwarding capacity. Which Cisco technology should be used?' In that context, StackWise would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse StackWise with link aggregation because both can increase bandwidth, but StackWise is for switch stacking, not for aggregating links between two separate switches.
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?”
Go deeper
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About these practice questions
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JA
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.