- A
LACP uses the modes 'active' and 'passive' to negotiate an EtherChannel.
LACP defines 'active' (initiates negotiation) and 'passive' (responds to negotiation) modes. At least one side must be active to form a channel.
- B
LACP uses the modes 'desirable' and 'auto' to negotiate an EtherChannel.
Why wrong: The modes 'desirable' and 'auto' are used by PAgP (Cisco proprietary), not LACP. LACP uses 'active' and 'passive'.
- C
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the status of each port-channel as SU (in use) or SD (shutdown).
In the output of 'show etherchannel summary', the first column shows the port-channel status: 'SU' means Layer 2 port-channel is in use and up, 'SD' means the port-channel is administratively down.
- D
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the status of each port-channel as UP or DOWN.
Why wrong: The 'show etherchannel summary' command uses two-letter codes like SU (Layer 2 up), SD (shutdown), etc. It does not display 'UP' or 'DOWN' in plain text.
- E
LACP 'active' mode can only form an EtherChannel with another interface in 'active' mode.
Why wrong: LACP 'active' mode can form an EtherChannel with either 'active' or 'passive' mode. If both sides are passive, the channel will not form because neither initiates negotiation.
Quick Answer
The correct answer identifies that LACP modes 'active' and 'passive' govern negotiation, and that 'show etherchannel summary' displays port-channel status as SU or SD. This is because LACP, defined in IEEE 802.3ad, requires at least one side to be in 'active' mode to actively send negotiation frames; two 'passive' interfaces will never initiate a conversation, leaving the EtherChannel down. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this tests your ability to distinguish between PAgP and LACP behavior, with a common trap being the assumption that two 'passive' sides will form a channel. The verification command is also frequently tested: remember that 'SU' means the port-channel is in use and Layer 2 operational, while 'SD' indicates an administratively shutdown interface. A solid memory tip is "Active initiates, Passive waits—two Passives seals your fate."
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.
Which TWO statements correctly describe EtherChannel configuration and verification with LACP?
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 modes 'active' and 'passive' to negotiate an EtherChannel.
Option A is correct because LACP (IEEE 802.3ad) defines two negotiation modes: 'active' (sends LACP frames and initiates negotiation) and 'passive' (responds only to received LACP frames). An EtherChannel forms only when at least one side is in 'active' mode; two 'passive' sides will never negotiate. Option C is correct because the 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the port-channel status as 'SU' (in use, Layer 2) or 'SD' (administratively down/shutdown), not simply 'UP' or 'DOWN'.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 modes 'active' and 'passive' to negotiate an EtherChannel.
Why this is correct
LACP defines 'active' (initiates negotiation) and 'passive' (responds to negotiation) modes. At least one side must be active to form a channel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
LACP uses the modes 'desirable' and 'auto' to negotiate an EtherChannel.
- ✓
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the status of each port-channel as SU (in use) or SD (shutdown).
Why this is correct
In the output of 'show etherchannel summary', the first column shows the port-channel status: 'SU' means Layer 2 port-channel is in use and up, 'SD' means the port-channel is administratively down.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the status of each port-channel as UP or DOWN.
Why it's wrong here
The 'show etherchannel summary' command uses two-letter codes like SU (Layer 2 up), SD (shutdown), etc. It does not display 'UP' or 'DOWN' in plain text.
- ✗
LACP 'active' mode can only form an EtherChannel with another interface in 'active' mode.
Why it's wrong here
LACP 'active' mode can form an EtherChannel with either 'active' or 'passive' mode. If both sides are passive, the channel will not form because neither initiates negotiation.
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 modes 'active' and 'passive' to negotiate an EtherChannel.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
LACP defines 'active' (initiates negotiation) and 'passive' (responds to negotiation) modes. At least one side must be active to form a channel.
✗LACP uses the modes 'desirable' and 'auto' to negotiate an EtherChannel.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The modes 'desirable' and 'auto' are used by PAgP (Cisco proprietary), not LACP. LACP uses 'active' and 'passive' modes for negotiation.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse LACP and PAgP modes because both are used for EtherChannel negotiation. 'Desirable' and 'auto' sound similar to 'active' and 'passive', leading to incorrect selection.
✗The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the status of each port-channel as UP or DOWN.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'show etherchannel summary' command does not display 'UP' or 'DOWN' in plain text; it uses two-letter codes like SU (Layer 2 up), SD (shutdown), etc. This is a common misinterpretation of the output format.
Why candidates choose this
Test-takers may assume that the command shows simple 'UP' or 'DOWN' status because many other Cisco show commands use those terms, but EtherChannel summary uses a different coding system.
✗LACP 'active' mode can only form an EtherChannel with another interface in 'active' mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP 'active' mode can form an EtherChannel with either 'active' or 'passive' mode. If both sides are passive, the channel will not form because neither initiates negotiation.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that both sides must be in the same mode for negotiation to succeed, similar to how some other protocols require matching modes. However, LACP allows active-passive pairing.
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: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between LACP modes ('active'/'passive') and PAgP modes ('desirable'/'auto'), and the trap here is that candidates confuse the proprietary PAgP terms with the standards-based LACP terms, or assume 'show etherchannel summary' shows simple UP/DOWN like interface status.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The 'show etherchannel summary' command uses two-letter codes like SU (Layer 2 up), SD (shutdown), etc. It does not display 'UP' or 'DOWN' in plain text.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LACP uses the Actor and Partner state machines per IEEE 802.3ad, exchanging LACPDUs every 30 seconds (fast rate: 1 second) to maintain the bundle. A common real-world scenario is misconfiguring both sides as 'passive', resulting in no EtherChannel formation — a silent failure that can cause spanning-tree loops if not caught. The 'SU' status in 'show etherchannel summary' indicates the port-channel is Layer 2 and operational, while 'SD' means it was manually shut down with 'shutdown' under the port-channel interface.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: LACP uses the modes 'active' and 'passive' to negotiate an EtherChannel. — Option A is correct because LACP (IEEE 802.3ad) defines two negotiation modes: 'active' (sends LACP frames and initiates negotiation) and 'passive' (responds only to received LACP frames). An EtherChannel forms only when at least one side is in 'active' mode; two 'passive' sides will never negotiate. Option C is correct because the 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the port-channel status as 'SU' (in use, Layer 2) or 'SD' (administratively down/shutdown), not simply 'UP' or 'DOWN'.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Drag and drop the EtherChannel commands and concepts on the left to the correct descriptions on the right.
medium- ✓ A.active
- B.desirable
- C.auto
- D.on
Why A: EtherChannel modes: active/passive for LACP, desirable/auto for PAgP, on for static, and interface port-channel creates the logical interface.
Variation 2. Drag and drop the configuration steps into the correct order to configure an LACP EtherChannel on two Cisco switches using active mode negotiation.
medium- ✓ A.Configure the interface range
- ✓ B.Set the channel-group mode to active
- ✓ C.Verify the EtherChannel with the show etherchannel summary command
- ✓ D.Set channel-group mode active, configure interface range, verify with show interfaces status
Why A: The correct order begins with configuring the interface range because the channel-group command must be issued under interface configuration mode. Then, set the channel-group mode to active to enable LACP active negotiation on both switches. Finally, verify the EtherChannel status using 'show etherchannel summary' to confirm the channel is up and using LACP. Option C uses passive mode, which would not initiate negotiation as required; option D uses 'show interfaces status', which does not display EtherChannel-specific information.
Variation 3. Which TWO statements correctly describe the configuration and verification of EtherChannel with LACP?
medium- ✓ A.LACP uses the 'active' and 'passive' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.
- ✓ B.The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the channel group number, port-channel interface, member ports, and their status.
- C.LACP uses the 'auto' and 'desirable' modes to negotiate an EtherChannel.
- D.The 'show etherchannel summary' command shows the LACP system priority for each channel.
- E.An EtherChannel can be formed only if all member ports use the same LACP mode.
Why A: Option A is correct because 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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