CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Which TWO statements correctly describe the configuration and verification of EtherChannel with LACP?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between LACP modes ('active'/'passive') and PAgP modes ('auto'/'desirable'), and candidates frequently confuse which protocol uses which set of modes.
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
✓
LACP uses the 'active' and 'passive' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.
LACP (IEEE 802.3ad) uses 'active' and 'passive' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel. Option B is correct because the 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the channel group number, port-channel interface, member ports, and their status flags (e.g., P for in port-channel, S for suspended). Option C is incorrect because 'auto' and 'desirable' are PAgP modes, not LACP modes. Option D is incorrect because 'show etherchannel summary' does not show LACP system priority; that is displayed with 'show lacp sys-id' or 'show etherchannel detail'. Option E is incorrect because an EtherChannel can be formed with mismatched LACP modes as long as at least one side is 'active'; for example, 'active' + 'passive' works.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
LACP uses the 'active' and 'passive' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.
Why this is correct
This statement is correct. LACP negotiation relies on two modes: 'active' and 'passive'. An interface in 'active' mode actively sends LACP packets to initiate the link aggregation, while one in 'passive' mode waits for a response and only sends packets after receiving them. For an EtherChannel to form, at least one side must be 'active'; if both sides are 'passive', the channel will not come up because no negotiation is initiated.
- ✓
The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the channel group number, port-channel interface, member ports, and their status.
Why this is correct
This statement is accurate. The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the channel group number, the port-channel interface (e.g., Po1), the member ports (e.g., Gi0/1, Gi0/2), and their operational status. The status flags indicate whether a port is bundled in the channel ('P'), down ('D'), or in a standby state ('S'). It is the first command to use when verifying whether an EtherChannel is operational and which interfaces are actively participating.
- ✗
LACP uses the 'auto' and 'desirable' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is wrong because 'auto' and 'desirable' are PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol) modes, which is a Cisco proprietary protocol. LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) uses the IEEE 802.3ad standard modes 'active' and 'passive'. The 'auto' and 'desirable' modes are used with PAgP to dynamically form an EtherChannel between Cisco devices, but they have no meaning in a pure LACP configuration.
- ✗
The 'show etherchannel summary' command shows the LACP system priority for each channel.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is incorrect because the 'show etherchannel summary' command provides a high-level operational view of each EtherChannel, listing the channel group number, the port-channel interface, member ports, and their bundle status. LACP system priority is not part of that output; it is displayed by 'show lacp sys-id' or 'show etherchannel detail'. The summary output focuses on which ports are successfully aggregated (marked 'P') rather than on the LACP negotiation parameters.
- ✗
An EtherChannel can be formed only if all member ports use the same LACP mode.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is false. LACP does not require all member ports to use the same mode; instead, at least one end of the link must be in 'active' mode for negotiation to begin. A port in 'passive' mode only responds to LACP packets, so an 'active' port on one switch can successfully form a channel with a 'passive' port on the peer switch. If both ends are 'passive', no negotiation occurs, but an active/passive combination is perfectly valid.
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.
✓LACP uses the 'active' and 'passive' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This statement is correct. LACP negotiation relies on two modes: 'active' and 'passive'. An interface in 'active' mode actively sends LACP packets to initiate the link aggregation, while one in 'passive' mode waits for a response and only sends packets after receiving them. For an EtherChannel to form, at least one side must be 'active'; if both sides are 'passive', the channel will not come up because no negotiation is initiated.
✗LACP uses the 'auto' and 'desirable' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP uses 'active' and 'passive' modes, not 'auto' and 'desirable'. The 'auto' and 'desirable' modes are specific to PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol), which is Cisco proprietary. This is a common confusion between the two protocols.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse LACP and PAgP modes because both protocols are used for link aggregation. Since 'auto' and 'desirable' are well-known PAgP modes, test-takers with partial knowledge may mistakenly associate them with LACP.
✗The 'show etherchannel summary' command shows the LACP system priority for each channel.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'show etherchannel summary' command does not display LACP system priority. LACP system priority is shown with 'show lacp sys-id' or 'show etherchannel detail'. The summary command focuses on channel group status and member port states, not detailed LACP parameters.
Why candidates choose this
Test-takers might think that because 'show etherchannel summary' provides a high-level view of EtherChannel, it would include LACP system priority. However, that information is considered detailed and is only available in more specific commands.
✗An EtherChannel can be formed only if all member ports use the same LACP mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An EtherChannel can be formed even if member ports use different LACP modes, as long as at least one side is active. For example, one port can be active and another passive, and the channel will still form. The requirement is that at least one side initiates negotiation, not that all ports use the same mode.
Why candidates choose this
Students might assume that all ports must use the same mode for consistency, similar to other configuration parameters like speed and duplex. However, LACP is designed to allow mixed modes as long as negotiation is possible.
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
Interface
An interface is a point of connection or interaction between two systems, devices, or software components that allows them to exchange information or signals.
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
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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.