- A
All member ports in an EtherChannel must have the same speed and duplex settings.
Correct because mismatched speed or duplex will prevent the channel from being established.
- B
The 'channel-group 1 mode on' command enables LACP negotiation on the interface.
Why wrong: Incorrect because 'mode on' forces the channel without any negotiation protocol (neither LACP nor PAgP).
- C
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the port-channel interface status and which member ports are bundled.
Correct because this command provides a concise view of the EtherChannel, including the 'SU' (Layer 2 up) and 'P' (bundled) flags.
- D
If a member link is configured as a trunk but the port-channel interface is an access port, the channel will still form.
Why wrong: Incorrect because all member ports must have the same Layer 2 mode (all trunk or all access) to form a channel.
- E
When using LACP, the 'lacp rate fast' command reduces the interval for sending LACPDUs from 30 seconds to 1 second.
Correct because fast rate sets the LACPDU interval to 1 second, speeding up convergence.
Quick Answer
The answer is that when using LACP, the 'lacp rate fast' command reduces the interval for sending LACPDUs from 30 seconds to 1 second. This is correct because LACP operates by exchanging Link Aggregation Control Protocol Data Units to negotiate and maintain the EtherChannel; the default slow rate sends these packets every 30 seconds, while the fast rate (set with 'lacp rate fast') accelerates that to once per second, enabling quicker detection of link failures. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this question tests your understanding of both EtherChannel configuration and verification, often appearing alongside commands like 'show etherchannel summary'—where you must interpret the SU (Layer 2 in use) and P (bundled) states—and the requirement for consistent settings across member ports such as speed, duplex, and VLAN. A common trap is confusing LACP fast rate with PAgP or assuming the 'on' mode uses negotiation; remember that 'on' forces the channel without any protocol. Memory tip: think "fast LACP, one second snap" to recall the 1-second interval.
350-401 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 three statements about EtherChannel configuration and verification are true? (Choose three.)
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
All member ports in an EtherChannel must have the same speed and duplex settings.
EtherChannel configuration requires consistent settings across member ports (speed, duplex, VLAN, trunking). The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the state (SU for Layer 2 in use, P for bundled). The 'on' mode forces the channel without negotiation. Misconfigurations can cause the channel to not form or to flap.
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.
- ✓
All member ports in an EtherChannel must have the same speed and duplex settings.
Why this is correct
Correct because mismatched speed or duplex will prevent the channel from being established.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
The 'channel-group 1 mode on' command enables LACP negotiation on the interface.
- ✓
The command 'show etherchannel summary' displays the port-channel interface status and which member ports are bundled.
Why this is correct
Correct because this command provides a concise view of the EtherChannel, including the 'SU' (Layer 2 up) and 'P' (bundled) flags.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
If a member link is configured as a trunk but the port-channel interface is an access port, the channel will still form.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because all member ports must have the same Layer 2 mode (all trunk or all access) to form a channel.
- ✓
When using LACP, the 'lacp rate fast' command reduces the interval for sending LACPDUs from 30 seconds to 1 second.
Why this is correct
Correct because fast rate sets the LACPDU interval to 1 second, speeding up convergence.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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: All member ports in an EtherChannel must have the same speed and duplex settings. — EtherChannel configuration requires consistent settings across member ports (speed, duplex, VLAN, trunking). The 'show etherchannel summary' command displays the state (SU for Layer 2 in use, P for bundled). The 'on' mode forces the channel without negotiation. Misconfigurations can cause the channel to not form or to flap.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements about EtherChannel configuration and verification are true? (Choose two.)
hard- ✓ A.On IOS-XE, the 'channel-group 1 mode active' command creates the port-channel interface automatically if it does not exist.
- ✓ B.The 'show etherchannel load-balance' command displays the current load-balancing method and the hash algorithm used.
- C.In a Layer 3 EtherChannel, you must assign an IP address to the port-channel interface and also to each member interface.
- D.The 'channel-group 1 mode desirable' command is valid on both IOS-XE and NX-OS platforms.
- E.If physical ports in an EtherChannel have different speed or duplex settings, the EtherChannel will still form but with reduced bandwidth.
Why A: 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.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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