Question 293 of 2,015

EtherChannel →hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

CCNP EtherChannel Practice Question

This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of etherchannel. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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.

Which two statements about EtherChannel configuration and verification are true? (Choose two.)

Question 1hardmulti select

Read the full EtherChannel explanation →

A
On IOS-XE, the 'channel-group 1 mode active' command creates the port-channel interface automatically if it does not exist.
Correct because when the first physical port is added with a mode that enables LACP, the port-channel interface is dynamically created.
B
The 'show etherchannel load-balance' command displays the current load-balancing method and the hash algorithm used.
Correct because this command shows the configured load-balancing method and, on some platforms, the hash algorithm details.
C
In a Layer 3 EtherChannel, you must assign an IP address to the port-channel interface and also to each member interface.
Why wrong: Incorrect because in a Layer 3 EtherChannel, the IP address is assigned only to the port-channel interface, not to the member interfaces.
D
The 'channel-group 1 mode desirable' command is valid on both IOS-XE and NX-OS platforms.
Why wrong: Incorrect because 'desirable' is a PAgP mode, which is not supported on NX-OS; NX-OS only supports LACP (active/passive) and 'on' mode.
E
If physical ports in an EtherChannel have different speed or duplex settings, the EtherChannel will still form but with reduced bandwidth.
Why wrong: Incorrect because all physical ports in an EtherChannel must have identical speed and duplex settings; otherwise, the EtherChannel will not form.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

On IOS-XE, the 'channel-group 1 mode active' command creates the port-channel interface automatically if it does not exist.

EtherChannel interfaces can be configured as Layer 2 (switchport) or Layer 3 (no switchport). The 'channel-group' command assigns a physical port to a port-channel. The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the state and bundle information. On NX-OS, the 'channel-group' command uses the 'force' option to override mismatched parameters.

Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
On IOS-XE, the 'channel-group 1 mode active' command creates the port-channel interface automatically if it does not exist.
Why this is correct
Correct because when the first physical port is added with a mode that enables LACP, the port-channel interface is dynamically created.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✓
The 'show etherchannel load-balance' command displays the current load-balancing method and the hash algorithm used.
Why this is correct
Correct because this command shows the configured load-balancing method and, on some platforms, the hash algorithm details.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
In a Layer 3 EtherChannel, you must assign an IP address to the port-channel interface and also to each member interface.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because in a Layer 3 EtherChannel, the IP address is assigned only to the port-channel interface, not to the member interfaces.
✗
The 'channel-group 1 mode desirable' command is valid on both IOS-XE and NX-OS platforms.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because 'desirable' is a PAgP mode, which is not supported on NX-OS; NX-OS only supports LACP (active/passive) and 'on' mode.
✗
If physical ports in an EtherChannel have different speed or duplex settings, the EtherChannel will still form but with reduced bandwidth.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because all physical ports in an EtherChannel must have identical speed and duplex settings; otherwise, the EtherChannel will not form.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need

A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.

TExam Day Tips

Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.

Key takeaway

A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-401 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 350-401 question test?

EtherChannel — This question tests EtherChannel — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: On IOS-XE, the 'channel-group 1 mode active' command creates the port-channel interface automatically if it does not exist. — EtherChannel interfaces can be configured as Layer 2 (switchport) or Layer 3 (no switchport). The 'channel-group' command assigns a physical port to a port-channel. The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the state and bundle information. On NX-OS, the 'channel-group' command uses the 'force' option to override mismatched parameters.

What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.

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