CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Which THREE statements correctly describe the behavior of LACP modes in an EtherChannel configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is thinking active mode requires the peer to also be active, but active can form with either active or passive, while passive–passive pairs never negotiate.
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
✓
Passive mode will only respond to LACP packets and will not initiate negotiation.
B is correct because passive mode interfaces only respond to LACP packets and never initiate negotiation. C is correct because two passive interfaces will both wait for the other to initiate, so no LACP packets are sent and the EtherChannel never forms. D is correct because active mode interfaces actively send LACP packets to initiate negotiation with either an active or passive peer. A is incorrect: active mode sends LACP packets regardless of the peer’s mode; it can form a channel with passive just as well as with active. E is incorrect because PAgP supports only desirable and auto modes, not LACP’s active/passive modes; PAgP and LACP are separate protocols.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Active mode will not send LACP packets unless the peer is also in active mode.
Why it's wrong here
Active mode does not condition its packet transmission on the peer's mode; it sends LACP packets proactively and unconditionally. Even if the remote interface is passive, the active side still transmits LACPDUs and will form a channel because the passive side can reply. The incorrect notion that active mode requires an active peer underestimates the fundamental purpose of LACP, which is to initiate negotiation on behalf of the local interface.
- ✓
Passive mode will only respond to LACP packets and will not initiate negotiation.
Why this is correct
Passive mode in LACP operates entirely reactively: it never sends LACPDUs on its own, but it listens for incoming LACPDUs and responds only after receiving a valid negotiation request. This behavior restricts passive mode to forming channels only with active peers, as no negotiation is possible until an active-side packet arrives. The interface essentially acknowledges and follows the negotiation led by the active side.
- ✓
Passive mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another passive mode interface.
Why this is correct
When two LACP interfaces are both in passive mode, neither interface transmits LACPDUs; each simply waits for an incoming packet that never arrives. Since LACP negotiation requires at least one side to actively solicit a connection, a channel cannot form between two passive peers. This is why at least one endpoint must be configured as active.
- ✓
Active mode will initiate LACP negotiation by sending LACP packets.
Why this is correct
In LACP, an interface in active mode actively initiates EtherChannel negotiation by transmitting LACP data units (LACPDUs) at regular intervals. These packets are sent regardless of the peer's current mode, allowing a passive peer to respond and thus establish a channel. This proactive behavior is what distinguishes active mode from passive mode.
- ✗
Both active and passive modes are supported in PAgP.
Why it's wrong here
PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol) employs only two modes: desirable and auto. The terms 'active' and 'passive' are specific to LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), not PAgP. Therefore, stating that PAgP supports active and passive modes is incorrect because it conflates the mode nomenclature of two distinct EtherChannel negotiation protocols.
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.
✓Passive mode will only respond to LACP packets and will not initiate negotiation.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Passive mode in LACP operates entirely reactively: it never sends LACPDUs on its own, but it listens for incoming LACPDUs and responds only after receiving a valid negotiation request. This behavior restricts passive mode to forming channels only with active peers, as no negotiation is possible until an active-side packet arrives. The interface essentially acknowledges and follows the negotiation led by the active side.
✗Active mode will not send LACP packets unless the peer is also in active mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Active mode sends LACP packets regardless of the peer's mode, so it will initiate negotiation even if the peer is passive. The statement incorrectly claims that active mode will not send LACP packets unless the peer is also active.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse LACP active mode with PAgP desirable mode, which requires the peer to be in desirable mode to form a channel. They might think active mode also requires a matching active peer.
✗Both active and passive modes are supported in PAgP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
PAgP uses 'desirable' and 'auto' modes, not 'active' and 'passive'. Active and passive are LACP-specific terms. PAgP is a Cisco proprietary protocol, while LACP is IEEE 802.3ad standard.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse LACP and PAgP modes because both have two modes that serve similar functions. They may mistakenly think that active/passive are also used in PAgP.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
EtherChannel
EtherChannel is a technology that bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
Key term
Link Aggregation Control Protocol
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standard protocol that automatically bundles 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.