- A
Configure the switchport mode as trunk on both sides.
Why wrong: EtherChannel bundling does not depend on trunk/access mode; the Port-channel is already Layer 2 (S flag). Changing to trunk will not fix the LACP negotiation failure.
- B
Change the mode on one switch to active.
With both sides passive, no LACP PDUs are exchanged. Configuring one side as active starts the negotiation, allowing the ports to bundle and the Port-channel to come up.
- C
Verify that the native VLAN matches on both sides of the trunk.
Why wrong: A native VLAN mismatch can cause VLAN-related issues but does not prevent physical link aggregation. LACP negotiation and port bundling occur independently of VLAN configuration.
- D
Correct the speed and duplex settings on the member ports.
Why wrong: 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.
CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
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?
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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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
EtherChannel bundling does not depend on trunk/access mode; the Port-channel is already Layer 2 (S flag). Changing to trunk will not fix the LACP negotiation failure.
- ✓
Change the mode on one switch to active.
Why this is correct
With both sides passive, no LACP PDUs are exchanged. Configuring one side as active starts the negotiation, allowing the ports to bundle and the Port-channel to come up.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Verify that the native VLAN matches on both sides of the trunk.
Why it's wrong here
A native VLAN mismatch can cause VLAN-related issues but does not prevent physical link aggregation. LACP negotiation and port bundling occur independently of VLAN configuration.
- ✗
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
With both sides passive, no LACP PDUs are exchanged. Configuring one side as active starts the negotiation, allowing the ports to bundle and the Port-channel to come up.
✗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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LACP (IEEE 802.3ad) uses a state machine where active mode sends LACPDUs every 30 seconds (fast rate) or 1 second (slow rate), while passive mode only responds to received LACPDUs. In a passive-passive configuration, both switches wait indefinitely for the other to initiate, so the Port-channel never reaches the 'up' state. This is a common misconfiguration in production networks where both sides are set to passive for security reasons, but one must be active to start the negotiation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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