CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Two switches are connected with EtherChannel using LACP. One side is configured with mode active and the other side with mode passive. What happens?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
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 channel forms successfully
Why this is correct
LACP's active/passive mode is a standard, valid combination. The active switch actively sends LACP PDUs (protocol data units) to negotiate the link, while the passive switch listens and responds, allowing the port-channel to form. Since one side is active, the negotiation completes and the EtherChannel becomes operational as a dynamic LACP bundle.
- ✗
The channel stays down because both sides must be active
Why it's wrong here
LACP does not require both ends to be active; a passive interface will not initiate negotiation but will respond to incoming LACP PDUs from an active peer. The active/passive combination is explicitly designed to allow one side to drive the negotiation, so a single active side is sufficient. Thus, the claim that both must be active is incorrect—both active is only one possible valid pairing.
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 (Port Aggregation Protocol) is a Cisco-proprietary negotiation protocol, whereas LACP is the IEEE 802.3ad open standard. The two protocols are incompatible and cannot be mixed on the same port-channel. Configuring LACP modes active/passive does not require PAgP to be present; the channel forms purely through LACP's own messaging, so this statement is false.
When this WOULD be correct
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.
- ✗
The channel becomes a static Port-Channel
Why it's wrong here
A static port-channel is created only with the 'channel-group X mode on' configuration, which disables any negotiation protocol. In contrast, LACP active/passive modes produce a dynamic, LACP-negotiated bundle where the port-channel is managed by the Link Aggregation Control Protocol. Therefore, the resulting EtherChannel remains an LACP (dynamic) port-channel, not a static one.
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
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 channel forms successfullyCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
LACP's active/passive mode is a standard, valid combination. The active switch actively sends LACP PDUs (protocol data units) to negotiate the link, while the passive switch listens and responds, allowing the port-channel to form. Since one side is active, the negotiation completes and the EtherChannel becomes operational as a dynamic LACP bundle.
✗The channel stays down because both sides must be activeWrong answer — click to see why▾
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.
✗The channel forms only if PAgP is also enabledWrong answer — click to see why▾
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.
✗The channel becomes a static Port-ChannelWrong answer — click to see why▾
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?”
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Key term
EtherChannel
EtherChannel is a technology that bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
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
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.