CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Network Topology
A network engineer has configured an LACP EtherChannel between Switch1 and Switch2 by assigning interfaces to channel-group 1 with the mode passive on both switches. The engineer issues the show etherchannel summary command on Switch1 and sees the output below. The Port-channel interface remains down. Which action resolves the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the LACP mode interaction by setting both sides to passive, leading candidates to incorrectly focus on trunking, VLAN, or physical layer issues instead of recognizing that LACP requires at least one side to be active.
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
✓
Change the mode on one switch to active.
When both switches are configured with LACP mode passive, neither switch initiates the negotiation process because passive mode only responds to incoming LACP packets. By changing one side to active mode, that switch will actively send LACP packets, allowing the EtherChannel to form. The Port-channel interface remains down due to this negotiation failure, not because of VLAN or physical mismatch issues.
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 the switchport mode as trunk on both sides.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring trunk mode on both sides does not affect LACP negotiation because EtherChannel bundling operates independently of the interface mode. The Port-channel is already a Layer 2 logical interface (indicated by the S flag), but the member ports remain in a standalone (I) state because neither side is sending LACP PDUs. Trunk mode only changes VLAN tagging behavior, not the LACP activation state, so this action would not resolve the passive-passive deadlock.
- ✓
Change the mode on one switch to active.
Why this is correct
In LACP, passive mode interfaces only respond to received PDUs; they never initiate LACP negotiation. Since both switches are configured with passive mode, no LACP PDUs are exchanged, and the ports remain in a standalone (I) state. Changing one switch to active makes it actively send LACP PDUs, which prompts the passive peer to reply and complete the negotiation, allowing the member ports to bundle into the Port-channel. This directly fixes the root cause of the failure.
- ✗
Verify that the native VLAN matches on both sides of the trunk.
Why it's wrong here
A native VLAN mismatch can cause Layer 2 issues such as spanning-tree inconsistencies or even put the port in an error-disabled state, but it does not prevent LACP PDUs from being transmitted or received. LACP negotiation operates below the VLAN tagging logic, and LACP frames are sent on the native VLAN regardless of whether that VLAN matches on the peer. Since the exhibit shows both sides in passive mode with no PDU exchange, the native VLAN configuration is irrelevant to the immediate failure; checking it would not alter the LACP state.
- ✗
Correct the speed and duplex settings on the member ports.
Why it's wrong here
Speed or duplex mismatches typically cause ports to be placed in a suspended (s) or unsuitable (u) state, not stand-alone. The exhibit shows (I) for both interfaces, indicating the issue is not a physical parameter mismatch.
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.
✓Change the mode on one switch to active.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
In LACP, passive mode interfaces only respond to received PDUs; they never initiate LACP negotiation. Since both switches are configured with passive mode, no LACP PDUs are exchanged, and the ports remain in a standalone (I) state. Changing one switch to active makes it actively send LACP PDUs, which prompts the passive peer to reply and complete the negotiation, allowing the member ports to bundle into the Port-channel. This directly fixes the root cause of the failure.
✗Configure the switchport mode as trunk on both sides.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The show output indicates Layer 2 mode is already active, and trunking isn’t required for bundling. The issue is LACP protocol negotiation, not interface mode.
✗Verify that the native VLAN matches on both sides of the trunk.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Port-channel would still form even with a native VLAN mismatch; it would not be down (SD) and ports would not be stand-alone (I) solely because of VLAN mismatch.
✗Correct the speed and duplex settings on the member ports.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The flags in the output (I, SD) are not consistent with a speed/duplex problem, and the explicit configuration of passive mode on both sides is the known root cause.
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?”
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Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
Interface
An interface is a point of connection or interaction between two systems, devices, or software components that allows them to exchange information or signals.
Key term
LACP
LACP is a protocol that automatically combines multiple physical network links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
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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.