CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Two switches should form an LACP EtherChannel. One side is configured passive, and the other side is also passive. What is the most likely result?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember, passive mode waits for the other side to initiate. Ensure at least one side is active to form an EtherChannel.
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 is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.
If both sides are passive, the EtherChannel is unlikely to form because passive mode waits for the other side to initiate LACP negotiation. In plain language, both switches are listening, but neither is actively starting the conversation. Because neither side takes the active role, the bundle normally stays down or unformed unless one side is changed to active. This is a classic LACP negotiation question. It reinforces the difference between valid pairings such as active/active or active/passive and the passive/passive pairing that usually fails to initiate negotiation.
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 is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.
Why this is correct
In LACP, the 'passive' mode waits for an incoming LACP PDU and never sends one on its own. Since both switches are configured as passive, neither end transmits the initial LACP negotiation frames required to detect the peer and agree on link parameters, so the EtherChannel remains in a down or unattached state. LACP requires at least one side to be 'active' to begin the exchange.
- ✗
The EtherChannel always forms because passive mode is stronger than active mode.
Why it's wrong here
Passive mode is not stronger than active mode; rather, active mode is the initiator that sends LACP PDUs, while passive mode only responds to received PDUs. The terms 'active' and 'passive' describe behavior during negotiation, not link priority or throughput. When both sides are passive, no one initiates, so the channel cannot form despite both supporting LACP.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where one switch is configured in active mode and the other in passive mode, this option could be correct. In that case, the active switch would initiate the negotiation, and the EtherChannel would successfully form.
- ✗
The link becomes a routed port automatically.
Why it's wrong here
LACP configuration applies to switchport (Layer 2) interfaces and does not automatically change the interface from Layer 2 to Layer 3. A routed port is created by issuing 'no switchport' and assigning an IP address; channel-group membership is independent of that choice. Even if LACP mode is set to active or passive, the interface remains in its current switchport or routed state.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a switch is configured to automatically convert its interfaces to routed ports when no LACP negotiation occurs, the question could state that both switches are configured to operate in passive mode without any additional configurations. In this case, the link would indeed become a routed port due to the lack of LACP negotiation.
- ✗
Both switches delete the port-channel configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Configured LACP parameters such as channel-group numbers and mode are stored in the running configuration and remain intact even if the channel fails to come up. Passive mode does not trigger any automatic removal of the port-channel interface or the member interface's channel-group configuration. The configuration persists until an administrator explicitly deletes it with commands like 'no channel-group'.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question stated that both switches were configured to delete their port-channel configurations due to a misconfiguration or a specific command, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question specified that both switches were set to a mode that requires active negotiation but were misconfigured to passive, leading to a deletion of the port-channel.
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 is unlikely to form because neither side initiates LACP negotiation.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
In LACP, the 'passive' mode waits for an incoming LACP PDU and never sends one on its own. Since both switches are configured as passive, neither end transmits the initial LACP negotiation frames required to detect the peer and agree on link parameters, so the EtherChannel remains in a down or unattached state. LACP requires at least one side to be 'active' to begin the exchange.
✗The EtherChannel always forms because passive mode is stronger than active mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Passive mode does not initiate LACP negotiation; it only responds to incoming LACP packets. Active mode is the one that actively sends LACP packets. Therefore, passive mode is not stronger than active mode.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where one switch is configured in active mode and the other in passive mode, this option could be correct. In that case, the active switch would initiate the negotiation, and the EtherChannel would successfully form.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse passive mode with a more aggressive or 'stronger' mode, or they may think that passive mode always succeeds because it is the default on some platforms.
✗The link becomes a routed port automatically.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LACP configuration does not change the interface type; it only bundles multiple physical links into a logical EtherChannel. The interface remains a Layer 2 or Layer 3 port based on its configuration, not a routed port automatically.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a switch is configured to automatically convert its interfaces to routed ports when no LACP negotiation occurs, the question could state that both switches are configured to operate in passive mode without any additional configurations. In this case, the link would indeed become a routed port due to the lack of LACP negotiation.
Why candidates choose this
Students might associate LACP with link aggregation and mistakenly think it converts the port to a routed port, especially if they confuse it with features like routed ports on multilayer switches.
✗Both switches delete the port-channel configuration.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Passive mode does not cause the switch to delete the port-channel configuration. The configuration remains, but the EtherChannel will not come up because no LACP negotiation occurs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question stated that both switches were configured to delete their port-channel configurations due to a misconfiguration or a specific command, then this option would be correct. For example, if the question specified that both switches were set to a mode that requires active negotiation but were misconfigured to passive, leading to a deletion of the port-channel.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that if the EtherChannel fails to form, the switch automatically cleans up the configuration to avoid errors, but this is not the case.
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
LACP
LACP is a protocol that automatically combines multiple physical network 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
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