- A
Enable Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the server connections.
Why wrong: LACP combines multiple links for increased bandwidth and redundancy, but it does not prevent loops on its own. STP is still needed to manage redundant paths.
- B
Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches.
RSTP provides loop prevention and fast convergence in case of link failure, making it ideal for redundant network designs.
- C
Use a hub instead of a switch for the core connection.
Why wrong: Hubs do not prevent loops and would cause collisions and performance issues. They are not suitable for data center networks.
- D
Configure all switch ports as access ports.
Why wrong: Access ports are for end devices and do not affect loop prevention. Redundant links would still cause loops without STP.
Preventing Network Loops with RSTP
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of common networking hardware. 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 network engineer is designing a new data center and needs to connect multiple servers to a core switch with redundant paths. To prevent loops while allowing failover, which networking hardware feature should be implemented?
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches, as it is the networking hardware feature designed to prevent network loops while allowing redundant paths for failover. In a data center with multiple servers connected to a core switch, redundant links create physical loops that cause broadcast storms and MAC table instability; RSTP logically blocks redundant paths until a primary link fails, then rapidly converges to activate a backup path—typically within a few seconds. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of loop prevention protocols under the “Networking” domain, and a common trap is confusing RSTP with classic STP or thinking that link aggregation alone solves loop issues. Remember, RSTP is the faster, modern standard for preventing network loops in switched environments. A helpful memory tip: “RSTP is the rapid rescue for redundant loops.”
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
Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches.
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is the correct choice because it provides loop prevention in redundant switch topologies while offering faster convergence than classic STP. In a data center with multiple servers connected to a core switch via redundant paths, RSTP (IEEE 802.1w) ensures that only one active path exists at a time, blocking redundant links to prevent broadcast storms and MAC table instability, yet automatically unblocking them if the primary path fails.
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.
- ✗
Enable Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the server connections.
- ✓
Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches.
Why this is correct
RSTP provides loop prevention and fast convergence in case of link failure, making it ideal for redundant network designs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a hub instead of a switch for the core connection.
Why it's wrong here
Hubs do not prevent loops and would cause collisions and performance issues. They are not suitable for data center networks.
- ✗
Configure all switch ports as access ports.
Why it's wrong here
Access ports are for end devices and do not affect loop prevention. Redundant links would still cause loops without STP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that LACP or link aggregation alone can prevent loops, when in fact LACP requires a spanning tree protocol (like RSTP) to be active on the aggregated links to avoid Layer 2 loops in redundant topologies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RSTP improves on STP by reducing convergence time from 30–50 seconds to typically under 10 seconds through mechanisms like proposal/agreement handshakes and edge port designation. In a data center, RSTP's rapid transition to forwarding on point-to-point links is critical for minimizing downtime during failover events. A subtle behavior is that RSTP treats ports connected to end devices as 'edge ports' (portfast equivalent) to skip the listening/learning states, but if a loop is detected on an edge port, it immediately transitions to a blocking state.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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.
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Common Networking Hardware — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Common Networking Hardware practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Common Networking Hardware — This question tests Common Networking Hardware — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on all switches. — Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is the correct choice because it provides loop prevention in redundant switch topologies while offering faster convergence than classic STP. In a data center with multiple servers connected to a core switch via redundant paths, RSTP (IEEE 802.1w) ensures that only one active path exists at a time, blocking redundant links to prevent broadcast storms and MAC table instability, yet automatically unblocking them if the primary path fails.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.
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