350-401 · Question #1236
Lab Simulation 18 Guidelines This is a lab item in which tasks will be performed on virtual devices. - Refer to the Tasks tab to view the tasks for this lab item. - Refer to the Topology tab to access
Lab Simulation: EtherChannel (LACP) + Spanning Tree Root on Sw10 --- Overall Goal Sw10 needs to form a Layer 2 EtherChannel trunk with Sw20 using LACP (802.3ad), then become the guaranteed STP root bridge for VLAN 10 and VLAN 30. Since you can only touch Sw10, every decision must
Question
Exhibits
Explanation
Lab Simulation: EtherChannel (LACP) + Spanning Tree Root on Sw10
Overall Goal
Sw10 needs to form a Layer 2 EtherChannel trunk with Sw20 using LACP (802.3ad), then become the guaranteed STP root bridge for VLAN 10 and VLAN 30. Since you can only touch Sw10, every decision must account for what Sw20 is likely already configured with.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. interface range e0/0 - 1
Selects both physical interfaces simultaneously. EtherChannel bundles ports together - you must configure them identically or the channel won't form. Doing them one at a time risks mismatched settings.
2. switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
Sets the trunking encapsulation to 802.1Q (the industry standard). On some IOS platforms, you must explicitly set this before changing the port mode. If skipped, the switchport mode trunk command will fail with an error on switches that support both ISL and dot1q.
3. switchport mode trunk
Forces the port into unconditional trunk mode. This ensures VLAN traffic is tagged across the link regardless of negotiation. Required for EtherChannel links - access mode ports cannot carry multiple VLANs across a bundle.
4. channel-group 2 mode passive
Assigns both interfaces to EtherChannel group 2 using LACP in passive mode. Passive means "I'll respond to LACP if the other side initiates." Since Sw20 is preconfigured and likely set to active, this is the correct pairing - active + passive = channel forms. Two passive ends will never negotiate (both wait). Two active ends also work, but you can't change Sw20.
LACP modes:
active= always sends LACP PDUs.passive= only responds. At least one side must beactive.
5. no shutdown
Brings the interfaces up. Interfaces may be administratively down, and a shutdown port cannot participate in EtherChannel negotiation. Always explicitly bring them up after configuration.
6. spanning-tree vlan 10 priority 0
Sets the STP bridge priority for VLAN 10 to 0 - the lowest possible value. The switch with the lowest bridge priority wins the root bridge election. Using 0 (vs. the default 32768 or even 4096 used by spanning-tree vlan 10 root primary) guarantees root status regardless of what other switches are configured with.
7. spanning-tree vlan 30 priority 0
Same as above, but for VLAN 30. STP elections are per-VLAN in PVST+, so each VLAN requires its own priority configuration.
What Goes Wrong If Steps Are Skipped or Reordered
| Skipped Step | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Skip encapsulation (step 2) | switchport mode trunk fails on dual-encap platforms |
| Skip trunk mode (step 3) | Ports stay in access mode; EtherChannel forms but only carries one VLAN |
Use active instead of passive | Works if Sw20 is active, but risks double-active conflict if Sw20 is also passive |
Skip no shutdown (step 5) | Interfaces stay down; EtherChannel bundle (Po2) never comes up |
Use priority 4096 instead of 0 | Root status depends on other switches; not guaranteed |
Memory Tips
- LACP pairing rule: At least one side must be
active. Think of it as a conversation - someone has to start talking. - Priority = lower wins: Bridge priority is like a golf score.
0is a hole-in-one - unbeatable. - EtherChannel config order: Encapsulation -> Mode -> Bundle -> Up. Think: "Encode, Mode, Group, Go."
channel-groupvschannel-protocol: You don't needchannel-protocol lacpexplicitly - specifyingmode active/passiveimplicitly uses LACP.mode onuses neither PAgP nor LACP (static).
Topics
Community Discussion
No community discussion yet for this question.

