LPIC-2 Advanced Networking Configuration Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking configuration. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A network administrator wants to improve network performance by bonding two gigabit Ethernet interfaces (eth0 and eth1) on a Linux server. The switch supports IEEE 802.3ad (LACP). Which bonding mode should be used to provide both load balancing and fault tolerance?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
802.3ad (mode 4)
Option D (802.3ad mode 4) is correct because it uses the IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to negotiate with the switch, providing both load balancing (based on a configurable hash policy) and fault tolerance (if a link fails, traffic is redistributed among the remaining links). This mode is specifically designed for switches that support LACP, as stated in the question.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
active-backup (mode 1)
Why it's wrong here
Only one slave active at a time; provides fault tolerance but no load balancing.
✗
balance-xor (mode 2)
Why it's wrong here
Uses XOR of MAC addresses; not dynamically negotiated with switch, may not work with LACP.
✗
balance-rr (mode 0)
Why it's wrong here
Round-robin without LACP; can cause out-of-order packets and does not negotiate with the switch.
✓
802.3ad (mode 4)
Why this is correct
Standard LACP mode; dynamically negotiates aggregation with switch, providing both load balancing and fault tolerance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
balance-tlb (mode 5)
Why it's wrong here
Adaptive transmit load balancing; does not use LACP, receive load balancing not supported by switch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'load balancing' with 'round-robin' (mode 0) or 'XOR' (mode 2), but the key requirement for LACP support and both load balancing and fault tolerance points specifically to 802.3ad mode 4.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, 802.3ad mode uses the LACP protocol (IEEE 802.3ad, now part of 802.1AX) to dynamically aggregate links, exchanging LACPDU frames to negotiate aggregation parameters. The load balancing hash policy (e.g., layer2, layer3+4) determines how traffic is distributed across the bonded interfaces, and the switch must be configured with the same LACP mode (active or passive) to form a proper LAG. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured hash policies can lead to uneven load distribution, especially with small numbers of flows.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-2 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Advanced Networking Configuration — This question tests Advanced Networking Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 802.3ad (mode 4) — Option D (802.3ad mode 4) is correct because it uses the IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to negotiate with the switch, providing both load balancing (based on a configurable hash policy) and fault tolerance (if a link fails, traffic is redistributed among the remaining links). This mode is specifically designed for switches that support LACP, as stated in the question.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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