PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
A company wants to connect two VPCs in the same project using VPC Network Peering. Each VPC has non-overlapping subnets. What is the minimum number of peering connections required to enable full bidirectional communication?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a single peering connection is sufficient because they think of it as a bidirectional link, but VPC Network Peering in Google Cloud requires explicit peering in each direction for full bidirectional traffic flow.
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
✓
Two peering connections: one from VPC1 to VPC2, and one from VPC2 to VPC1.
VPC Network Peering requires a peering connection to be established in each direction to enable full bidirectional communication. A single peering connection from VPC1 to VPC2 only allows VPC1 to initiate traffic to VPC2; for VPC2 to initiate traffic back to VPC1, a separate peering connection from VPC2 to VPC1 is needed. Therefore, two peering connections (one from each VPC to the other) are the minimum required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
One peering connection from VPC1 to VPC2.
Why it's wrong here
One peering allows only one-way traffic unless both sides are set up.
- ✗
Two peering connections from each VPC to the other (total four).
Why it's wrong here
Two total is sufficient.
- ✓
Two peering connections: one from VPC1 to VPC2, and one from VPC2 to VPC1.
Why this is correct
VPC peering is unidirectional, so two connections are needed for full mesh.
- ✗
A Shared VPC with subnetworks from both VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
A Shared VPC does not create a peering relationship; it merely pools subnetworks under a single host project, so it cannot provide the bidirectional routing between two separate VPCs that the scenario requires. This option tempts because Shared VPC is often used to centralise network administration across multiple projects, but it would only be correct if the goal were to grant all VMs access to a common network, not to peer two distinct VPCs.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.