- A
The local switch is configured with LACP passive while the remote switch is set to LACP active.
Why wrong: LACP passive mode can still form an EtherChannel when the other side is active; the output would show member ports bundled (P) if the channel successfully forms, not (D).
- B
One side is configured with LACP active and the other side is configured with mode 'on' (static).
The remote static mode sends no LACP PDUs, so the local LACP active ports will remain down (D) because they cannot negotiate, resulting in the port-channel being in use (SU) but no active members.
- C
The remote switch is configured with PAgP desirable while the local switch uses LACP.
Why wrong: A PAgP vs LACP mismatch would typically result in suspended ports (indicated by (s) or (I)), not the (D) down state shown, and the protocol column would likely show NONE or flags for mismatch. The (D) state suggests the physical link is down, not suspended due to protocol mismatch.
- D
The port-channel member interfaces are configured as access ports, preventing LACP from negotiating.
Why wrong: LACP operates at the data-link layer and is unaffected by access or trunk mode; access mode does not prevent LACP PDUs from being exchanged.
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.
Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer is troubleshooting an EtherChannel on R1 that is not passing traffic. The output of the show etherchannel summary command is displayed. What is the most likely cause?
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.
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
One side is configured with LACP active and the other side is configured with mode 'on' (static).
The exhibit shows Po1(SU) with protocol LACP, but member interfaces Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 are in state (D) – down. This indicates LACP negotiation is failing. The most likely cause is that the remote side is using static mode 'on', which does not participate in LACP and sends no PDUs, so the local LACP active side cannot form a bundle, leaving the physical ports down while the port-channel logical interface remains up. This is confirmed by the combination of (D) flags and the LACP protocol designation without any bundled ports.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 local switch is configured with LACP passive while the remote switch is set to LACP active.
Why it's wrong here
LACP passive mode can still form an EtherChannel when the other side is active; the output would show member ports bundled (P) if the channel successfully forms, not (D).
- ✓
One side is configured with LACP active and the other side is configured with mode 'on' (static).
Why this is correct
The remote static mode sends no LACP PDUs, so the local LACP active ports will remain down (D) because they cannot negotiate, resulting in the port-channel being in use (SU) but no active members.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The remote switch is configured with PAgP desirable while the local switch uses LACP.
Why it's wrong here
A PAgP vs LACP mismatch would typically result in suspended ports (indicated by (s) or (I)), not the (D) down state shown, and the protocol column would likely show NONE or flags for mismatch. The (D) state suggests the physical link is down, not suspended due to protocol mismatch.
- ✗
The port-channel member interfaces are configured as access ports, preventing LACP from negotiating.
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.
✓One side is configured with LACP active and the other side is configured with mode 'on' (static).Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The remote static mode sends no LACP PDUs, so the local LACP active ports will remain down (D) because they cannot negotiate, resulting in the port-channel being in use (SU) but no active members.
✗The local switch is configured with LACP passive while the remote switch is set to LACP active.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP passive is not incompatible with LACP active.
✗The remote switch is configured with PAgP desirable while the local switch uses LACP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
PAgP/LACP mismatch leads to suspended state, not down; the exhibit's (D) indicates the link is not up, which points to LACP negotiation failure rather than protocol mismatch.
✗The port-channel member interfaces are configured as access ports, preventing LACP from negotiating.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP negotiation is independent of the access/trunk configuration.
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: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
LACP passive mode can still form an EtherChannel when the other side is active; the output would show member ports bundled (P) if the channel successfully forms, not (D).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: One side is configured with LACP active and the other side is configured with mode 'on' (static). — The exhibit shows Po1(SU) with protocol LACP, but member interfaces Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 are in state (D) – down. This indicates LACP negotiation is failing. The most likely cause is that the remote side is using static mode 'on', which does not participate in LACP and sends no PDUs, so the local LACP active side cannot form a bundle, leaving the physical ports down while the port-channel logical interface remains up. This is confirmed by the combination of (D) flags and the LACP protocol designation without any bundled ports.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 14, 2026
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