VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Networking Practice Question
A vSphere administrator is configuring a vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) with multiple uplinks. The environment requires that vMotion traffic and virtual machine traffic use separate physical uplinks to avoid contention. The administrator creates two distributed port groups: one for vMotion and one for VM traffic. Which vDS feature should be used to ensure that vMotion traffic uses only vmnic2 and VM traffic uses only vmnic3?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse bandwidth prioritization (NIOC) with physical uplink selection, which is controlled by teaming and failover policies.
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
✓
Use the teaming and failover policy on each distributed port group to specify active and standby uplinks.
The teaming and failover policy on a distributed port group allows you to specify which physical uplinks are active and which are standby for that port group. By configuring the vMotion port group to use vmnic2 as active and vmnic3 as standby, and the VM port group to use vmnic3 as active and vmnic2 as standby, traffic is separated onto distinct uplinks. This also provides redundancy in case of uplink failure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure Network I/O Control (NIOC) with shares and reservations for the vMotion and VM traffic.
Why it's wrong here
NIOC manages bandwidth allocation and prioritization during contention, but it does not control which physical uplink a specific traffic type uses. Even with NIOC, traffic can be distributed across all active uplinks based on the teaming policy. Therefore, NIOC alone cannot guarantee that vMotion uses only vmnic2 and VM traffic uses only vmnic3.
- ✓
Use the teaming and failover policy on each distributed port group to specify active and standby uplinks.
Why this is correct
By setting the teaming and failover policy on the vMotion port group to use vmnic2 as active and vmnic3 as standby, and on the VM port group to use vmnic3 as active and vmnic2 as standby, the administrator ensures that each traffic type uses its designated uplink. This provides the required separation and also offers failover protection if one uplink fails.
- ✗
Create a LAG and assign vmnic2 and vmnic3 to it, then configure NIOC to prioritize vMotion.
Why it's wrong here
A LAG aggregates multiple physical links into a single logical link, which would combine vmnic2 and vmnic3, defeating the requirement to separate traffic onto distinct physical uplinks. Additionally, NIOC does not control uplink selection. This approach does not provide the required separation and may introduce complexity without benefit.
- ✗
Assign each port group to a different VLAN and rely on VLAN tagging to direct traffic to the correct uplink.
Why it's wrong here
VLAN tagging separates broadcast domains and can isolate traffic logically, but it does not control which physical uplink carries the traffic. Uplink selection is determined by the teaming and failover policy. VLANs alone cannot enforce that vMotion uses vmnic2 and VM traffic uses vmnic3.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware 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 VCP-DCV exam.