Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Corrective action applied: - Both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 on both switches now use trunk mode - channel-group 1 mode active remains configured
Based on the exhibit, which command output would be the best next step to verify whether the port-channel is operational after configuration changes?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
show etherchannel summary
This is correct because it directly verifies bundle status and member participation.
B
Distractor review
show ip ospf neighbor
This is wrong because OSPF adjacency does not verify EtherChannel formation.
C
Distractor review
show ip route
This is wrong because the routing table is not the primary verification for EtherChannel operation.
D
Distractor review
show access-lists
This is wrong because ACL output does not confirm port-channel health.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting commands like 'show ip ospf neighbor' or 'show ip route' to verify EtherChannel status. These commands focus on Layer 3 routing protocol adjacencies or routing tables, which do not confirm whether the Layer 2 port-channel bundle is operational. Another trap is assuming that ACL outputs relate to link bundling health, which they do not. Candidates might be tempted to check unrelated commands because they see routing or security terms, but EtherChannel verification requires direct Layer 2 bundle status commands. Misapplying these unrelated commands wastes time and leads to incorrect troubleshooting conclusions.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
EtherChannel is a Layer 2 technology that combines multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. This logical link, called a port-channel, appears as one interface to higher layers, simplifying management and improving fault tolerance. Cisco switches use protocols like PAgP or LACP to negotiate and maintain these bundles, ensuring all member links share the same configuration and operational parameters. To verify EtherChannel operation after configuration changes, the 'show etherchannel summary' command is the most direct and efficient method. This command displays all port-channel groups, their protocol status, and the state of each member interface, indicating whether the bundle is up and functional. It helps confirm that the physical links are correctly bundled and that the negotiation protocol succeeded, which is critical before moving on to Layer 3 or routing verification. A common exam trap is to confuse Layer 2 EtherChannel verification with Layer 3 routing or protocol status checks, such as using 'show ip ospf neighbor' or 'show ip route'. These commands do not reflect the health or status of the EtherChannel bundle itself. Similarly, 'show access-lists' is unrelated to link bundling and will not provide useful information about port-channel status. Understanding the separation between Layer 2 link aggregation and Layer 3 routing protocols is essential for accurate troubleshooting and exam success.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- EtherChannel aggregates multiple physical links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy between switches.
- The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the status of EtherChannel groups and their member interfaces, indicating operational status and protocol negotiation.
- OSPF neighbor information does not verify EtherChannel operation because OSPF adjacency depends on Layer 3 routing protocol exchanges, not Layer 2 link bundling.
- Routing tables reflect Layer 3 path information and do not provide direct insight into the status of Layer 2 EtherChannel bundles.
- Access Control Lists (ACLs) filter traffic but do not provide any status or health information about EtherChannel interfaces or their member links.
- After configuration changes to EtherChannel, verifying the bundle status with 'show etherchannel summary' quickly confirms if member ports are bundled and active.
- EtherChannel protocols like PAgP or LACP negotiate link bundling; the summary output shows if negotiation succeeded and which ports participate.
- Misinterpreting unrelated commands like 'show ip ospf neighbor' or 'show access-lists' wastes time and can lead to incorrect troubleshooting conclusions.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
EtherChannel aggregates multiple physical links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy between switches.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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