This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: lACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically 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 are connected with EtherChannel using LACP. One side is configured with mode active and the other side with mode passive. What happens?
The channel forms successfully
Active initiates and passive responds.
The channel stays down because both sides must be active
Why wrong: Both active works, but it is not required.
The channel forms only if PAgP is also enabled
Why wrong: PAgP is a different negotiation protocol.
The channel becomes a static Port-Channel
Why wrong: LACP mode active/passive still creates an LACP bundle, not a static one.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The channel forms successfully
LACP forms an EtherChannel when at least one side actively negotiates. Active plus passive is a valid combination, so the bundle comes up if the physical settings match.
Key principle: LACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The channel forms successfully
Why this is correct
Active initiates and passive responds.
Related concept
LACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches.
The channel stays down because both sides must be active
Why it's wrong here
Both active works, but it is not required.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified that both switches were configured with LACP but required both to be in active mode for the channel to form, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could state that both switches must be in active mode for LACP to function properly.
The channel forms only if PAgP is also enabled
Why it's wrong here
PAgP is a different negotiation protocol.
The channel becomes a static Port-Channel
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where both switches are configured to use static EtherChannel without LACP or PAgP. In that case, if one side is set to dynamic negotiation, it would not form a channel, and the static configuration would prevail.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
Active initiates and passive responds.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because LACP allows for one side to be in active mode and the other in passive mode, enabling the EtherChannel to form successfully. Both sides do not need to be in active mode for the channel to be established.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified that both switches were configured with LACP but required both to be in active mode for the channel to form, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could state that both switches must be in active mode for LACP to function properly.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of LACP's operational modes, mistakenly believing that both sides must actively negotiate for the channel to form, leading to confusion about the requirements for successful EtherChannel setup.
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) does not require PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol) to be enabled for the EtherChannel to form; LACP operates independently of PAgP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that both switches are configured for PAgP and that LACP is not supported or enabled, the answer could be correct if the exam asks about the necessity of PAgP for channel formation.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to confusion between LACP and PAgP, mistakenly believing that both protocols must be enabled simultaneously for EtherChannel to function properly.
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because when one switch is set to LACP active and the other to passive, they can still negotiate and form an EtherChannel, contrary to the claim that it becomes a static Port-Channel.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where both switches are configured to use static EtherChannel without LACP or PAgP. In that case, if one side is set to dynamic negotiation, it would not form a channel, and the static configuration would prevail.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may find this option tempting because they might confuse the negotiation modes of LACP with static configurations, leading them to believe that a mismatch in modes would default to a static setup.
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
A frequent exam trap is believing that both sides of an LACP EtherChannel must be configured in active mode for the channel to form. This misconception leads to the incorrect assumption that active-passive combinations will fail. In reality, LACP requires only one side to be active to initiate negotiation, while the other side can be passive and respond. Another trap is confusing LACP with PAgP, expecting that enabling PAgP alongside LACP will help form the channel, which is false because these protocols are incompatible. Understanding these nuances prevents misinterpretation of EtherChannel negotiation behavior on the exam.
Detailed technical explanation
EtherChannel is a technology that bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is an IEEE standard (802.3ad) protocol used to dynamically negotiate and maintain these bundles between switches. LACP uses modes such as active and passive to determine how the negotiation occurs: active mode actively initiates negotiation by sending LACP packets, while passive mode only responds to LACP packets but does not initiate them. For an EtherChannel to form using LACP, at least one side must be in active mode to initiate the negotiation. If one switch is set to active mode and the other to passive mode, the active side sends LACP packets, and the passive side responds, allowing the channel to form successfully. This behavior contrasts with static EtherChannels, which do not use negotiation protocols and require manual configuration on both sides. Cisco switches support this dynamic negotiation to simplify link aggregation and ensure compatibility. A common exam trap is assuming both sides must be active for LACP to form an EtherChannel. This is incorrect because passive mode can respond to active mode’s negotiation requests, enabling the channel to come up. Another confusion is mixing LACP with PAgP, Cisco’s proprietary protocol, which is incompatible with LACP. Understanding these distinctions is critical for configuring EtherChannel correctly and avoiding misconfigurations that cause link bundles to stay down or behave unexpectedly in production networks.
Key takeaway
LACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Review lACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — LACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches..
The correct answer is: The channel forms successfully — LACP forms an EtherChannel when at least one side actively negotiates. Active plus passive is a valid combination, so the bundle comes up if the physical settings match.
Review lACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
LACP uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel bundles dynamically between switches.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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