hardMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Is configuring an EtherChannel between two Cisco…
A network engineer is configuring an EtherChannel between two Cisco switches. The engineer wants to use LACP and ensure that the local switch is the one that determines which ports are active in the channel. Which configuration should be applied?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between system priority (which determines the controlling switch) and port priority (which determines active vs. standby ports within the same switch), causing candidates to confuse the two.
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
✓
Configure 'lacp system-priority 100' on the local switch.
LACP uses the system priority to determine which switch controls port selection when negotiating an EtherChannel. The switch with the lower system priority (higher preference) becomes the 'controlling' switch that decides which ports are active in the channel. By configuring 'lacp system-priority 100' on the local switch, you lower its priority value, making it the preferred decision-maker for active port selection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure 'lacp system-priority 100' on the local switch.
Why this is correct
The local switch should be configured with 'lacp system-priority 100' to make it the controlling switch in the LACP negotiation. LACP uses the system priority value, combined with the switch's MAC address, to form the system ID; the lower numeric system priority is treated as higher priority, so a value of 100 (rather than the default 32768) ensures the local switch wins the election. The controlling switch makes the final decision on which physical ports are bundled into the port-channel, so this is the correct way to configure control.
- ✗
Configure 'lacp port-priority 100' on the physical ports of the local switch.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring 'lacp port-priority 100' on the physical ports affects the selection of which individual ports are placed into the LAG when the number of eligible ports exceeds the allowed maximum, but it has no bearing on determining which switch controls the LACP channel. That controlling-switch decision is made exclusively by comparing the LACP system priorities (and MAC addresses) of the two switches, not by any port-level parameter. Therefore, setting port-priority cannot influence which side becomes the controlling switch.
- ✗
Configure 'channel-group 1 mode active' on the physical ports.
Why it's wrong here
Using 'channel-group 1 mode active' on the physical ports places them in LACP active mode, meaning the local switch actively sends LACPDUs and can form an EtherChannel with a peer that is also in a compatible mode. This command is a prerequisite for LACP operation but does not affect the LACP controlling-switch election; the controlling switch is chosen by the system priority and system ID, not by the operational mode of the negotiation. Even if one side is 'active' and the other 'passive', either side can still end up as the controlling switch depending on system priorities.
- ✗
Configure 'lacp fast-switchover' on the port-channel interface.
Why it's wrong here
The 'lacp fast-switchover' command on a port-channel interface enables the switch to promptly replace a failed member port with a hot-standby port, reducing failover latency but leaving the LACP controlling-system election untouched. This feature only acts after the channel is formed and a member link fails, allowing a standby link to take over without waiting for a new LACP negotiation. It is a high-availability enhancement, not a parameter used in the LACP system priority election.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.