CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Two switches should form an EtherChannel using LACP. One side is configured active and the other passive. If the port settings otherwise match, what is the expected result?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember that active/passive works for LACP, but passive/passive does not initiate negotiation.
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 EtherChannel should form if the other interface settings are compatible.
The EtherChannel should form successfully. In plain language, active mode initiates LACP negotiation and passive mode listens and responds. Because one side is active, the negotiation can begin and the bundle can come up as long as the underlying interface settings are compatible. This is a standard LACP pairing. The important lesson is that active/passive works, while passive/passive usually does not. The correct answer is the one that recognizes active/passive as a valid combination.
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 should form if the other interface settings are compatible.
Why this is correct
LACP requires at least one side in active mode to initiate negotiation; passive waits for the peer. Active on one switch and passive on the other therefore forms the bundle, provided speed, duplex, VLAN and trunk settings match on both members.
- ✗
The EtherChannel fails because both sides must be active.
Why it's wrong here
LACP active on one side and passive on the other forms successfully, because passive waits for the peer to initiate while active sends LACPDUs; the channel bundles. Requiring both sides active applies only when neither end can initiate, which is not this scenario.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that both switches must be configured in active mode for an EtherChannel to form, this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that both switches were required to be in active mode for LACP to function, then this option would accurately reflect that requirement.
- ✗
the bundle forms but only in PAgP mode
Why it's wrong here
LACP and PAgP are separate protocols; an LACP-configured bundle never negotiates into PAgP mode. Active/passive LACP forms a working EtherChannel. PAgP applies only when both sides run PAgP, typically with desirable/auto settings on Cisco switches.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup, if the scenario involved a configuration where the switches were set to operate in a Layer 3 mode and the interfaces were configured to act as routed ports, then the statement about ports becoming routed interfaces could be correct.
- ✗
only the active side attempts to bundle
Why it's wrong here
LACP requires at least one side in active mode; active with passive still bundles successfully, since the passive side responds to the active side's LACPDUs. The option is tempting because passive ports do not initiate, but they do participate once negotiation starts.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the interfaces are configured to operate in a mode that requires VLANs to be explicitly removed before forming an EtherChannel, this option could be correct. For example, if the question states that the interfaces must be in a specific mode that does not support VLAN tagging, then this option would apply.
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 should form if the other interface settings are compatible.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
LACP requires at least one side in active mode to initiate negotiation; passive waits for the peer. Active on one switch and passive on the other therefore forms the bundle, provided speed, duplex, VLAN and trunk settings match on both members.
✗The EtherChannel fails because both sides must be active.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP allows a passive side to form an EtherChannel with an active peer; both sides do not need to be active. The passive mode simply means the port does not initiate negotiation but responds to LACP packets from the active side.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that both switches must be configured in active mode for an EtherChannel to form, this option would be correct. For example, if the question stated that both switches were required to be in active mode for LACP to function, then this option would accurately reflect that requirement.
Why candidates choose this
Students often think that both sides must be in the same mode (active/active or passive/passive) for negotiation to work, but active/passive is a standard and functional combination.
✗the bundle forms but only in PAgP modeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP and PAgP are incompatible, so the bundle cannot form in PAgP mode when one side is configured for LACP active and the other for LACP passive.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup, if the scenario involved a configuration where the switches were set to operate in a Layer 3 mode and the interfaces were configured to act as routed ports, then the statement about ports becoming routed interfaces could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Some might confuse LACP with routing protocols or think that bundling ports automatically changes their interface type, but EtherChannel is independent of Layer 3 configuration.
✗only the active side attempts to bundleWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The active side initiates negotiation, but the passive side will respond to LACP packets, allowing the EtherChannel to form successfully.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the interfaces are configured to operate in a mode that requires VLANs to be explicitly removed before forming an EtherChannel, this option could be correct. For example, if the question states that the interfaces must be in a specific mode that does not support VLAN tagging, then this option would apply.
Why candidates choose this
Test-takers might think that LACP clears VLANs to ensure compatibility, but in reality, VLAN mismatch is a common cause of EtherChannel failure, not something LACP resolves automatically.
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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Troubleshoot: VLAN Mismatch Between Switches
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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.