- A
Create a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER on their end and associate it with the customer's VLAN attachment.
Why wrong: The service provider does not create a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER; they use the pairing key provided by the customer.
- B
Provide the engineer with a pairing key to attach the VLAN attachment to the interconnect.
The pairing key is used by the service provider to complete the connection. This is the correct step.
- C
Assign a public IP address to the VLAN attachment.
Why wrong: Public IP addresses are not assigned to VLAN attachments; BGP is used for routing.
- D
Configure BGP routing with the customer's on-premises router.
Why wrong: BGP routing is configured between the customer's on-premises router and Google Cloud, not by the service provider for Layer 2 connectivity.
PCNE Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing hybrid interconnectivity. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 company is using Partner Interconnect with a service provider that offers Layer 2 connectivity. The engineer has created a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER_PROVIDER in Google Cloud. What must the service provider do to complete the connection?
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
Provide the engineer with a pairing key to attach the VLAN attachment to the interconnect.
For Partner Interconnect, the customer creates a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER (not PARTNER_PROVIDER) and gets a pairing key. The service provider uses this pairing key to connect their network to the customer's VLAN attachment. Therefore, the provider must provide the pairing key, not create a separate VLAN attachment. Option B correctly states this.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER on their end and associate it with the customer's VLAN attachment.
Why it's wrong here
The service provider does not create a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER; they use the pairing key provided by the customer.
- ✓
Provide the engineer with a pairing key to attach the VLAN attachment to the interconnect.
Why this is correct
The pairing key is used by the service provider to complete the connection. This is the correct step.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
Assign a public IP address to the VLAN attachment.
- ✗
Configure BGP routing with the customer's on-premises router.
Why it's wrong here
BGP routing is configured between the customer's on-premises router and Google Cloud, not by the service provider for Layer 2 connectivity.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related PCNE questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity — This question tests Implementing Hybrid Interconnectivity — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Provide the engineer with a pairing key to attach the VLAN attachment to the interconnect. — For Partner Interconnect, the customer creates a VLAN attachment of type PARTNER (not PARTNER_PROVIDER) and gets a pairing key. The service provider uses this pairing key to connect their network to the customer's VLAN attachment. Therefore, the provider must provide the pairing key, not create a separate VLAN attachment. Option B correctly states this.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related PCNE questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCNE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PCNE exam.
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