CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Exhibit
Corrective action applied: - Both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 on both switches now use trunk mode - channel-group 1 mode active remains configured
Which command output would be the best next step to verify whether the port-channel is operational after configuration changes?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid confusing general interface or trunk status with specific EtherChannel status. Always use the command that directly addresses the feature in question.
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
✓
show etherchannel summary
The best next step is to check EtherChannel status directly. In practical terms, after fixing the member-link configuration, the quickest verification is to inspect the summary output that shows whether the bundle exists and whether the member ports are actively participating. That is more direct than checking unrelated switching or routing tables. This is a simulation-style 'what do you verify next' question, which is important for realistic CCNA prep.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
show etherchannel summary
Why this is correct
This command displays the EtherChannel bundle status, including the port-channel interface, member ports, and their state (e.g., LACP, PAgP, or static). It directly shows whether the port channel is up and which physical interfaces are bundled, making it the best next step to confirm EtherChannel operation.
- ✗
show ip ospf neighbor
Why it's wrong here
This verifies OSPF adjacency, which is a Layer 3 control-plane function. EtherChannel is a Layer 2 bundling technology; OSPF could be up over an individual member link even if the EtherChannel is not formed properly, so it doesn't validate the channel.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question asks about verifying OSPF neighbor relationships after configuring OSPF on a router, 'show ip ospf neighbor' would be the correct command to check if OSPF is functioning properly and neighbors are established.
- ✗
show ip route
Why it's wrong here
This shows the routing table, which is not relevant to verifying the Layer 2 or Layer 3 port-channel membership. Even if EtherChannel is misconfigured, the routing table might still appear valid for other interfaces, so it doesn't provide any diagnostic information about the bundle status.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks for verification of routing paths and connectivity issues, 'show ip route' would be the correct command to determine if routes are correctly established and if traffic can be forwarded through the configured interfaces.
- ✗
show access-lists
Why it's wrong here
This displays ACL configuration and match counters. ACLs are not involved in the formation or verification of EtherChannel; they filter traffic, and their output gives no indication of whether member ports are correctly aggregated, nor any status of the bundle.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different exam scenario where the question asks about troubleshooting traffic filtering or security policies, 'show access-lists' would be the correct command to verify which traffic is permitted or denied based on configured access lists.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓show etherchannel summaryCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This command displays the EtherChannel bundle status, including the port-channel interface, member ports, and their state (e.g., LACP, PAgP, or static). It directly shows whether the port channel is up and which physical interfaces are bundled, making it the best next step to confirm EtherChannel operation.
✗show ip ospf neighborWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The command 'show ip ospf neighbor' is used to display OSPF neighbor relationships, which is not directly related to verifying the operational status of a port-channel. This command would not provide information about the port-channel configuration or status.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question asks about verifying OSPF neighbor relationships after configuring OSPF on a router, 'show ip ospf neighbor' would be the correct command to check if OSPF is functioning properly and neighbors are established.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they associate OSPF with network connectivity and assume that verifying OSPF neighbors could indirectly indicate the status of the port-channel, especially if they are not fully aware of the specific commands for EtherChannel verification.
✗show ip routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The command 'show ip route' is used to display the routing table of a device, which does not provide information about the operational status of a port-channel after configuration changes.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks for verification of routing paths and connectivity issues, 'show ip route' would be the correct command to determine if routes are correctly established and if traffic can be forwarded through the configured interfaces.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose this option because they associate port-channel functionality with routing, thinking that verifying the routing table could indirectly confirm connectivity through the port-channel.
✗show access-listsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The command 'show access-lists' is not relevant for verifying the operational status of a port-channel; it focuses on access control lists rather than link aggregation status.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different exam scenario where the question asks about troubleshooting traffic filtering or security policies, 'show access-lists' would be the correct command to verify which traffic is permitted or denied based on configured access lists.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they associate access lists with traffic management and might mistakenly believe that verifying access lists is part of checking overall link functionality.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
Link Aggregation Control Protocol
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standard protocol that automatically bundles multiple physical network links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
Key term
EtherChannel
EtherChannel is a technology that bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-301 question from scratch — 1,389 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-301 exam.