CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Network Topology
You are connected to SW1. Configure LACP EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 using interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 and GigabitEthernet0/2. Ensure the channel forms and passes traffic for VLAN 10. Troubleshoot and fix any issues preventing the channel from coming up.
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch for mismatches in speed, duplex, and Layer2/Layer3 configuration between member ports and the port-channel interface. Also, ensure LACP mode is active on at least one side to initiate negotiation.
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
✓
Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode active.
The EtherChannel is not forming because of multiple mismatches: speed (1000 vs 100), duplex (full vs half), and the port-channel interface is configured as Layer3 (no switchport) while the member ports are Layer2 (switchport mode trunk). First, correct the speed and duplex on Gi0/2 to match Gi0/1 (speed 1000, duplex full). Then change the port-channel to switchport mode trunk and set the allowed VLAN. Finally, change the LACP mode on both interfaces to 'active' to initiate negotiation. After these changes, the channel should come up.
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 speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode active.
Why this is correct
Configuring speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2 is necessary because EtherChannel requires every member interface to operate at identical speed and duplex; leaving Gi0/2 at a mismatched setting would prevent the bundle from forming. Changing port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10 makes the logical bundle a Layer 2 trunk that explicitly carries VLAN 10, matching the operational status of the physical switchport members. Finally, setting channel-group 1 mode active on both interfaces configures LACP active mode, which actively sends LACP PDUs and negotiates the channel even if the neighbor is passive.
- ✗
Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to no switchport, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode passive.
Why it's wrong here
This option correctly fixes the physical parameters on Gi0/2, but converting port-channel 1 with no switchport creates a Layer 3 routed port-channel, which cannot be used to trunk VLAN 10 across Layer 2 member ports; a Layer 3 bundle expects IP addressing and routed traffic, not 802.1Q trunking. Additionally, setting the member interfaces to channel-group 1 mode passive means they will only respond to incoming LACP negotiations; if the neighboring switch also uses passive mode or does not actively send LACP PDUs, the EtherChannel will never initialize. Therefore the bundle remains down or non-functional for VLAN 10.
- ✗
Configure speed 100 and duplex half on Gi0/1 to match Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode active.
Why it's wrong here
This option's trunk configuration and LACP active settings are correct, but it degrades the healthy Gi0/1 interface by forcing it to 100 Mbps half duplex to match Gi0/2's misconfigured values, unnecessarily reducing link capacity and potentially causing late collisions in a half-duplex segment. EtherChannel only requires that member ports agree on speed and duplex; there is no benefit to matching at suboptimal settings, so the right action is to correct Gi0/2 to 1000/full. By lowering a good port instead of repairing a bad one, this solution would create a functional but poorly performing EtherChannel.
- ✗
Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode access with access vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode desirable.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because switchport mode access does not allow trunking of VLAN 10; it only carries a single VLAN. Also, mode desirable is a PAgP setting, not LACP. LACP uses mode active or passive.
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.
✓Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode active.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Configuring speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2 is necessary because EtherChannel requires every member interface to operate at identical speed and duplex; leaving Gi0/2 at a mismatched setting would prevent the bundle from forming. Changing port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10 makes the logical bundle a Layer 2 trunk that explicitly carries VLAN 10, matching the operational status of the physical switchport members. Finally, setting channel-group 1 mode active on both interfaces configures LACP active mode, which actively sends LACP PDUs and negotiates the channel even if the neighbor is passive.
✗Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to no switchport, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode passive.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The port-channel interface must match the Layer2 configuration of member ports; using no switchport creates a Layer3 interface that cannot trunk VLANs. Additionally, passive mode requires an active partner to form the channel.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think passive mode is sufficient if the other side is active, but the question implies both sides need to be configured, and passive alone may not initiate if the peer is also passive.
✗Configure speed 100 and duplex half on Gi0/1 to match Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode trunk with allowed vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode active.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: Speed and duplex should be consistent across all member links, but the correct resolution is to correct the misconfigured interface (Gi0/2) to match the working one (Gi0/1), not vice versa.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think consistency is key and choose to change the working interface to match the other, overlooking that the working interface likely has the desired configuration.
✗Configure speed 1000 and duplex full on Gi0/2, change port-channel 1 to switchport mode access with access vlan 10, and set both Gi0/1 and Gi0/2 to channel-group 1 mode desirable.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: Access mode cannot carry multiple VLANs; trunk mode is required for VLAN 10. Additionally, desirable is a PAgP keyword, not LACP. LACP uses active or passive.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse PAgP and LACP modes, or think access mode can be used if only one VLAN is needed, but the question specifies 'passes traffic for VLAN 10' implying trunking.
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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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
VLAN
A VLAN logically segments a physical network into isolated broadcast domains without requiring separate physical switches.
Key term
EtherChannel
EtherChannel is a technology that bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
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