The answer is that an EtherChannel will not form when both switches are configured with LACP passive mode. This is because passive mode waits for an incoming LACP negotiation packet before responding, meaning neither side actively sends the initial frames required to establish the link. In technical terms, LACP passive/passive is a non-starting combination; the two interfaces remain in a listening state indefinitely, and the bundle stays down. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your understanding of LACP negotiation modes and the valid pairings—active/active and active/passive work, while passive/passive fails. A common trap is assuming that any matching mode will form the channel, but passive/passive is the exception. Remember the memory tip: “Passive people wait for an introduction; if both are passive, no one says hello first.”
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. A key principle to apply: link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.. 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.
Two switches should form an LACP EtherChannel. One side is configured passive, and the other side is also passive. What is the most likely result?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.
If both sides are passive, the EtherChannel is unlikely to form because passive mode waits for the other side to initiate LACP negotiation. In plain language, both switches are listening, but neither is actively starting the conversation. Because neither side takes the active role, the bundle normally stays down or unformed unless one side is changed to active.
This is a classic LACP negotiation question. It reinforces the difference between valid pairings such as active/active or active/passive and the passive/passive pairing that usually fails to initiate negotiation.
Key principle: Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
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 EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.
Why this is correct
This is correct because passive/passive normally does not start the LACP exchange.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
✗
The EtherChannel always forms because passive mode is stronger than active mode.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because passive mode does not actively initiate the bundle.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where one switch is configured in active mode and the other in passive mode, this option could be correct. In that case, the active switch would initiate the negotiation, and the EtherChannel would successfully form.
✗
The link becomes a routed port automatically.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because LACP mode does not convert the interface into a routed port.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a switch is configured to automatically convert its interfaces to routed ports when no LACP negotiation occurs, the question could state that both switches are configured to operate in passive mode without any additional configurations. In this case, the link would indeed become a routed port due to the lack of LACP negotiation.
✗
Both switches delete the port-channel configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because passive mode does not automatically remove the configuration.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question stated that both switches were configured to delete their port-channel configurations due to a misconfiguration or a specific command, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question specified that both switches were set to a mode that requires active negotiation but were misconfigured to passive, leading to a deletion of the port-channel.
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.
✓The EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because passive/passive normally does not start the LACP exchange.
✗The EtherChannel always forms because passive mode is stronger than active mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Passive mode does not initiate LACP negotiation; it only responds to incoming LACP packets. Active mode is the one that actively sends LACP packets. Therefore, passive mode is not stronger than active mode.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where one switch is configured in active mode and the other in passive mode, this option could be correct. In that case, the active switch would initiate the negotiation, and the EtherChannel would successfully form.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse passive mode with a more aggressive or 'stronger' mode, or they may think that passive mode always succeeds because it is the default on some platforms.
✗The link becomes a routed port automatically.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP configuration does not change the interface type; it only bundles multiple physical links into a logical EtherChannel. The interface remains a Layer 2 or Layer 3 port based on its configuration, not a routed port automatically.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a switch is configured to automatically convert its interfaces to routed ports when no LACP negotiation occurs, the question could state that both switches are configured to operate in passive mode without any additional configurations. In this case, the link would indeed become a routed port due to the lack of LACP negotiation.
Why candidates choose this
Students might associate LACP with link aggregation and mistakenly think it converts the port to a routed port, especially if they confuse it with features like routed ports on multilayer switches.
✗Both switches delete the port-channel configuration.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Passive mode does not cause the switch to delete the port-channel configuration. The configuration remains, but the EtherChannel will not come up because no LACP negotiation occurs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question stated that both switches were configured to delete their port-channel configurations due to a misconfiguration or a specific command, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question specified that both switches were set to a mode that requires active negotiation but were misconfigured to passive, leading to a deletion of the port-channel.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that if the EtherChannel fails to form, the switch automatically cleans up the configuration to avoid errors, but this is not the case.
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
Remember, passive mode waits for the other side to initiate. Ensure at least one side is active to form an EtherChannel.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standardized protocol defined by IEEE 802.3ad that allows multiple physical Ethernet links to be bundled into a single logical link called an EtherChannel. This bundling increases bandwidth and provides link redundancy. LACP uses two modes: active and passive. Active mode actively sends LACP negotiation packets to establish the channel, while passive mode listens for these packets but does not initiate negotiation itself.
For an EtherChannel to form using LACP, at least one side must be in active mode to start the negotiation process. If both switches are configured as passive, neither side sends LACP packets, resulting in no negotiation and no EtherChannel formation. This behavior is by design to prevent unintended link aggregation and ensure that both ends agree on the channel parameters before bundling links.
In Cisco environments, this means that configuring both ends as passive is a common misconfiguration that leads to EtherChannel failure. The practical impact is that the physical links remain independent and do not provide aggregated bandwidth or redundancy benefits. Understanding this behavior helps network engineers avoid downtime and performance issues caused by EtherChannel misconfiguration.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
An EtherChannel forms only when at least one side is configured in active mode to initiate LACP negotiation.
Passive mode waits for the other side to start LACP negotiation and does not actively send LACP packets.
If both switches are set to passive mode, no LACP negotiation packets are sent, preventing EtherChannel formation.
Cisco switches require compatible LACP modes (active/active or active/passive) for successful EtherChannel bundling.
LACP helps aggregate multiple physical links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
EtherChannel ports maintain their Layer 2 configuration and do not convert to routed ports automatically.
Misconfiguration of LACP modes is a common cause of EtherChannel failure and must be verified during troubleshooting.
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
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
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. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation. — If both sides are passive, the EtherChannel is unlikely to form because passive mode waits for the other side to initiate LACP negotiation. In plain language, both switches are listening, but neither is actively starting the conversation. Because neither side takes the active role, the bundle normally stays down or unformed unless one side is changed to active.
This is a classic LACP negotiation question. It reinforces the difference between valid pairings such as active/active or active/passive and the passive/passive pairing that usually fails to initiate negotiation.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
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