- A
Dedicated Interconnect without VLAN attachments
Why wrong: Dedicated Interconnect requires VLAN attachments to connect to a VPC.
- B
Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect
A Cloud VPN tunnel or Cloud Interconnect VLAN attachment is required to establish connectivity to on-premises.
- C
Direct peering with Google
Why wrong: Direct peering does not provide connectivity to VPC networks; it is for Google services.
- D
VPC Network Peering
Why wrong: VPC peering is for connecting VPCs, not for on-premises connectivity.
PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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.
An organization wants to direct traffic from a global load balancer to an on-premises data center using a hybrid connectivity NEG. Which connectivity option must be in place for this to work?
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
Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect
Hybrid connectivity NEGs require a Cloud VPN tunnel or Cloud Interconnect VLAN attachment to connect GCP to on-premises. The NEG points to endpoints reachable over that connection.
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.
- ✗
Dedicated Interconnect without VLAN attachments
Why it's wrong here
Dedicated Interconnect requires VLAN attachments to connect to a VPC.
- ✓
Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect
- ✗
Direct peering with Google
Why it's wrong here
Direct peering does not provide connectivity to VPC networks; it is for Google services.
- ✗
VPC Network Peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering is for connecting VPCs, not for on-premises 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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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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Configuring Network Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Configuring Network Services — This question tests Configuring Network Services — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect — Hybrid connectivity NEGs require a Cloud VPN tunnel or Cloud Interconnect VLAN attachment to connect GCP to on-premises. The NEG points to endpoints reachable over that connection.
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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