CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit
SW1# show etherchannel detail
Channel-group listing:
Group: 1
----------
Group state = L2
Ports: 2 Maxports = 8
Port-channels: 1 Max Port-channels = 1
Protocol: LACP
Ports in the group:
Port: Gi0/1
Port state = Up Cntrl-fwd/bndl In-bndl Mstr
Channel group: 1 Mode: Active
Port-channel = Po1
Age of the port in the current state: 0d:00h:12m:10s
Port: Gi0/2
Port state = Down Cntrl-fwd/susp Not-in-bndl
Channel group: 1 Mode: Active
Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1
Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer configured an EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 using LACP. After the configuration is applied, the Port-channel 1 interface remains in a down state and does not pass traffic. The engineer runs the show etherchannel detail command on SW1. Based on the output, what is the most likely cause of the problem?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
SW1# show etherchannel detail
Channel-group listing:
Group: 1
----------
Group state = L2
Ports: 2 Maxports = 8
Port-channels: 1 Max Port-channels = 1
Protocol: LACP
Ports in the group:
Port: Gi0/1
Port state = Up Cntrl-fwd/bndl In-bndl Mstr
Channel group: 1 Mode: Active
Port-channel = Po1
Age of the port in the current state: 0d:00h:12m:10s
Port: Gi0/2
Port state = Down Cntrl-fwd/susp Not-in-bndl
Channel group: 1 Mode: Active
Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1
A
The native VLAN is mismatched on member interface Gi0/2.
The output explicitly states 'Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1' for Gi0/2, confirming that the native VLAN settings do not match, causing the port to be suspended.
B
The load-balancing method on the port-channel is set incorrectly to src-dst-ip.
Why wrong: While a load-balancing method can affect traffic distribution, it does not cause a port-channel to be suspended. The exhibit contains no indication of the load-balancing method. The actual issue is the native VLAN mismatch.
C
The interface Gi0/1 is administratively down.
Why wrong: The exhibit shows Gi0/1 with state 'Up Cntrl-fwd/bndl In-bndl Mstr', meaning it is up, forwarding, bundled, and acting as the master port. An administratively down interface would show 'Down' with 'admin down' status, which is not the case.
D
Spanning Tree Protocol has placed the port-channel in a blocking state due to a loop.
Why wrong: The output does not reference STP; the 'susp' state is caused by a configuration mismatch, not STP blocking. STP would not suspend an individual member interface with a native VLAN mismatch message.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The native VLAN is mismatched on member interface Gi0/2.
The show etherchannel detail output includes 'Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1' for interface Gi0/2. This indicates that the native VLAN configured on Gi0/2 (local VLAN 20) does not match the native VLAN advertised by the partner switch (VLAN 1). This mismatch causes Gi0/2 to be suspended ('susp') and prevents it from joining the port-channel bundle, thereby keeping the EtherChannel down.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
The native VLAN is mismatched on member interface Gi0/2.
Why this is correct
The output explicitly states 'Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1' for Gi0/2, confirming that the native VLAN settings do not match, causing the port to be suspended.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
The load-balancing method on the port-channel is set incorrectly to src-dst-ip.
Why it's wrong here
While a load-balancing method can affect traffic distribution, it does not cause a port-channel to be suspended. The exhibit contains no indication of the load-balancing method. The actual issue is the native VLAN mismatch.
✗
The interface Gi0/1 is administratively down.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit shows Gi0/1 with state 'Up Cntrl-fwd/bndl In-bndl Mstr', meaning it is up, forwarding, bundled, and acting as the master port. An administratively down interface would show 'Down' with 'admin down' status, which is not the case.
✗
Spanning Tree Protocol has placed the port-channel in a blocking state due to a loop.
Why it's wrong here
The output does not reference STP; the 'susp' state is caused by a configuration mismatch, not STP blocking. STP would not suspend an individual member interface with a native VLAN mismatch message.
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.
✓The native VLAN is mismatched on member interface Gi0/2.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The output explicitly states 'Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1' for Gi0/2, confirming that the native VLAN settings do not match, causing the port to be suspended.
✗The load-balancing method on the port-channel is set incorrectly to src-dst-ip.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Load-balancing configuration does not influence the bundle state of a port-channel; it only affects frame distribution. The output shows a physical/logical inconsistency, not a hashing algorithm problem.
✗The interface Gi0/1 is administratively down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates may mistakenly think the whole bundle fails if one port is down, but the output clearly states Gi0/1 is operational. The failure is due to Gi0/2's native VLAN mismatch.
✗Spanning Tree Protocol has placed the port-channel in a blocking state due to a loop.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A common misconception is that any down or suspended link indicates an STP loop. However, 'show etherchannel detail' presents the explicit reason, and the native VLAN mismatch line directly contradicts this option.
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: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The exhibit shows Gi0/1 with state 'Up Cntrl-fwd/bndl In-bndl Mstr', meaning it is up, forwarding, bundled, and acting as the master port. An administratively down interface would show 'Down' with 'admin down' status, which is not the case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
→Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
→Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
→Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The native VLAN is mismatched on member interface Gi0/2. — The show etherchannel detail output includes 'Native vlan mismatch: local 20, partner 1' for interface Gi0/2. This indicates that the native VLAN configured on Gi0/2 (local VLAN 20) does not match the native VLAN advertised by the partner switch (VLAN 1). This mismatch causes Gi0/2 to be suspended ('susp') and prevents it from joining the port-channel bundle, thereby keeping the EtherChannel down.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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