Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingNetwork AccessEasy

A network administrator is configuring a new Cisco Catalyst switch and needs to enable a feature that prevents unauthorized devices from connecting to specific access ports by limiting the number of MAC addresses allowed on a port and defining the action to take when a violation occurs. Which of the following features should the administrator configure?

  1. ALink Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
  2. BPort Security
  3. CVLAN tagging
  4. DSpanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. Port Security

Port Security is a switch feature that allows administrators to control which devices can connect to a specific switch port by limiting the number of MAC addresses and defining violation actions. This prevents unauthorized access to the network.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is used to bundle multiple physical links into a single logical link for increased bandwidth and redundancy, not for port access control.
  • C. VLAN tagging is used to segment broadcast domains and allow multiple VLANs over a single link, not for access control on a port.
  • D. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is used to prevent loops in a switched network, not to control device access.

Port Security

A Cisco switch feature that allows administrators to restrict access to a specific switch port by limiting the number of MAC addresses allowed to connect to it and defining actions for security violations.

  • Limits the number of MAC addresses learned on a port.
  • Can specify MAC addresses statically or learn dynamically.
  • Defines violation modes (shutdown, restrict, protect) when unauthorized MACs are detected.

Memory trick: Switches Guard Access Points Rigorously.

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