Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Two switches are configured for LACP EtherChannel. One side is set to passive and the other side is also set to passive. What is the most likely outcome?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
The EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.
This is correct because passive/passive usually does not start the LACP exchange.
B
Distractor review
The EtherChannel always forms because passive mode is preferred.
This is wrong because passive does not actively initiate the channel.
C
Distractor review
The links automatically become a routed interface.
This is wrong because LACP mode does not convert the ports into Layer 3 interfaces.
D
Distractor review
The switches delete the bundle configuration automatically.
This is wrong because the configuration is not automatically removed.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is selecting that two passive LACP sides will form an EtherChannel because both are configured for LACP. However, passive mode only listens and never initiates negotiation. Without an active side to start the LACP exchange, the EtherChannel does not form. This mistake often arises from confusing passive mode with an automatic or default negotiation state. Remember, passive/passive results in no negotiation packets sent, so the bundle stays down or unbundled, which is a key detail tested on the CCNA exam.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standardized protocol used to bundle multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link called an EtherChannel. This bundling increases bandwidth and provides redundancy. LACP operates in two modes: active and passive. Active mode actively initiates negotiation by sending LACP packets to the peer, while passive mode only responds to LACP packets but does not initiate them. The negotiation process ensures that both ends agree on which links to aggregate and maintain consistent configurations. When configuring LACP EtherChannel, at least one side must be set to active mode to initiate the negotiation process. If both sides are set to passive mode, neither device sends LACP packets to start the negotiation. As a result, the EtherChannel does not form because the switches wait indefinitely for the other side to initiate. This behavior is specific to LACP and differs from other EtherChannel protocols like PAgP, which have different negotiation rules. The exam trap here is assuming that passive mode alone can establish an EtherChannel. Many candidates incorrectly believe that two passive sides will negotiate successfully, but since passive mode only listens and never initiates, the bundle remains down. In practical networking, this means the physical links remain separate and do not provide the benefits of EtherChannel such as increased bandwidth or redundancy. Understanding this behavior is critical for configuring EtherChannel correctly and troubleshooting link aggregation issues.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- LACP bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical EtherChannel to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
- LACP operates in two modes: active mode initiates negotiation, while passive mode only responds to negotiation packets.
- An EtherChannel using LACP requires at least one side to be in active mode to start the negotiation process.
- If both switches are set to passive mode, neither side sends LACP packets, so the EtherChannel does not form.
- Passive/passive LACP configurations cause member links to remain unbundled and do not provide link aggregation benefits.
- LACP negotiation ensures both ends agree on link aggregation parameters before forming the EtherChannel.
- Incorrect assumptions about passive mode initiating negotiation are a common cause of EtherChannel formation failures.
- Understanding LACP mode behavior is essential for configuring and troubleshooting EtherChannel in Cisco networks.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
LACP bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical EtherChannel to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EtherChannel is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation. — The most likely outcome is that the EtherChannel does not form. In practical terms, passive mode listens for LACP negotiation but does not actively start it. If both sides are passive, neither side initiates the conversation, so the bundle usually stays down or the member links remain unbundled. This is one of the most common LACP behavior questions. Active/passive works. Passive/passive generally does not.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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