A network technician is auditing a campus network layout where two Layer 3 switches operate as redundant gateways for a corporate VLAN. Users report degraded throughput during high-traffic periods, and analysis reveals that traffic regularly traverses the inter-switch trunk link to reach the active gateway. Which TWO configuration steps should the technician verify or implement to ensure optimal high-availability traffic paths and prevent unnecessary trunk saturation? (Select TWO.)
- Configure the active Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) master switch to be the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) root bridge for that VLAN.Answer
- Configure DHCP scope options to distribute the virtual IP (VIP) address as the default gateway for client workstations on the VLAN.Answer
- CSet the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) bridge priority on the primary VRRP switch to the maximum numerical value of 61440.
- DConfigure host network interface cards with the physical IP address of the primary switch as their default gateway.
- EAssign duplicate physical IP addresses to the redundant physical interfaces on both Layer 3 switches.
Answer
To optimize high-availability traffic flow and eliminate extra trunk hops, the primary VRRP switch must also be configured as the STP root bridge for the VLAN, and client devices must be assigned the virtual IP (VIP) address as their default gateway.
Optimal network redundancy relies on aligning Layer 2 topology with Layer 3 active forwarding paths. Ensuring that the VRRP master switch is also the Spanning Tree Protocol root bridge guarantees that switch ports leading to the active gateway remain in a forwarding state without unnecessary forwarding across inter-switch links. Furthermore, client devices must use the virtual IP address to benefit from automated gateway redundancy.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP) and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Coexistence