Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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?
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 should form if the other interface settings are compatible.
This is correct because active/passive is a valid LACP negotiation pairing.
B
Distractor review
The EtherChannel fails because both sides must be active.
This is wrong because passive can form a bundle with an active peer.
C
Distractor review
The ports automatically become routed interfaces.
This is wrong because LACP negotiation does not automatically convert them into Layer 3 routed ports.
D
Distractor review
All VLANs are removed from the interfaces before the bundle forms.
This is wrong because LACP does not remove VLAN configuration in that way.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is believing that both sides of an LACP EtherChannel must be set to active mode. This misconception leads to the incorrect assumption that active/passive configurations fail. In reality, active mode initiates negotiation, and passive mode listens and responds, so active/passive pairs successfully form EtherChannels. Another trap is thinking LACP changes port types to routed interfaces or removes VLANs, which does not happen. Recognizing these traps prevents misconfiguring EtherChannels and choosing wrong exam answers.
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, while passive mode only responds to LACP packets without initiating them. This design allows flexible negotiation between devices. For an EtherChannel to form using LACP, at least one side must be in active mode to start the negotiation process. If one switch is active and the other is passive, the active side sends LACP packets, and the passive side responds, successfully establishing the EtherChannel. Both sides must also have compatible interface settings, such as speed, duplex, and VLAN membership, to form the bundle. If these settings mismatch, the EtherChannel will not form despite correct LACP modes. A common exam trap is assuming both sides must be active for LACP to work. However, passive/passive configurations fail because neither side initiates negotiation. Another misconception is that LACP changes Layer 2 ports into routed interfaces or removes VLANs, which it does not. Understanding these behaviors helps avoid mistakes and ensures proper EtherChannel configuration in Cisco environments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) uses active and passive modes to negotiate EtherChannel formation between switches.
- An EtherChannel forms successfully when one side is configured as active and the other as passive, allowing negotiation to initiate and respond.
- Both sides configured as passive will not form an EtherChannel because no side initiates the LACP negotiation.
- EtherChannel requires compatible interface settings such as speed, duplex, and VLAN membership for successful bundle formation.
- LACP does not convert Layer 2 switch ports into routed Layer 3 interfaces automatically during negotiation.
- VLAN configurations remain intact on member interfaces when forming an EtherChannel; LACP does not remove VLAN assignments.
- Active mode actively sends LACP packets to initiate negotiation, while passive mode only responds to received LACP packets.
- EtherChannel bundles multiple physical links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
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 (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) 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 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.
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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