Goldfish Networks wordmark
IntermediatePublished 2026-07-02

Lab 7: EtherChannel + Rapid-PVST — One Logical Link

Bundle lab

Build an LACP Layer-2 EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 so Rapid-PVST+ treats two parallel links as one logical Port-channel 7. Without EtherChannel, STP will block one of the two access links. With LACP active on both members and Port-channel 7 as an access port in VLAN 70, STP shows a single forwarding interface (Po7) and both physical links forward as one logical channel. Two hosts in VLAN 70 verify end-to-end connectivity.

Track
Est. time
45 minutes
Difficulty
Intermediate
Topics

Learning objectives

  • Configure Rapid-PVST+ on Cisco IOS Layer-2 switches
  • Bundle two parallel links with LACP using channel-group 7 mode active
  • Build a Layer-2 access EtherChannel (Port-channel 7) for VLAN 70
  • Validate that STP treats the bundle as one logical link (no blocked member ports)
  • Verify EtherChannel state and Port-channel interface health with IOS show commands

Troubleshooting focus

  • If the bundle does not form, confirm both ends use compatible modes (active/active for LACP) on the same channel-group number.
  • Ensure member interfaces have consistent Layer-2 settings (both access in the same VLAN when the Port-channel is access, or both inherited from the Port-channel).
  • Check that Rapid-PVST+ is enabled globally if you expect RSTP behavior and timers.
  • Use show etherchannel summary and show spanning-tree vlan 70 to see whether STP is referencing Port-channel 7 or individual member ports.

Topology

Subscribe to preview this lab's topology.

See plans

Related labs

More hands-on Cisco Modeling Labs practice on the same track and topics.

Study this topic

Free guides, a command cheat sheet, and graded practice for this lab's topic.

Learn EtherChannel

Grade your work

How this lab is graded
  • Build it your way. Where a lab lets you choose a value — a VLAN name, an interface description — grading checks that you configured it, not which name you picked. Names that another line has to reference, like an ACL applied with access-class, are stated in the guide and do have to match.
  • Addresses, modes and protocol keywords are exact. An IP address, a subnet mask, switchport mode trunk, an encapsulation — these carry the meaning of the lab, so they are graded as written in the guide.
  • Grading reads your saved configuration. Export the lab from CML after you have configured it, and make sure anything you set is in the running-config — a change that only exists in a terminal session never reaches the grader.
  • You can submit as many times as you like. Your best score stands, and each attempt tells you which checks passed so you can work the gaps.
  • Scored something you believe is correct? Use Report an issue on this page — that is exactly how the grading fixes in the changelog got found.

Create a free account to submit your lab for grading.

Create a free account
Found a problem with this lab?

Please sign in to report a problem — tying it to your attempts lets us reproduce and fix it faster.