Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What is the maximum number of physical links that can be bundled in an EtherChannel?

1. 4

2. 6

3. 8

4. 10

The correct answer is: 8

EtherChannel is a technology used in networking to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link for increased bandwidth and redundancy. The maximum number of physical links that can be bundled in an EtherChannel configuration is indeed 8. This allows for the aggregation of up to 8 individual Ethernet connections, which can enhance overall throughput and provide fault tolerance. When configured correctly, EtherChannel can balance the traffic across all the links, improving utilization and providing a failover mechanism—if one link in the group fails, the remaining links continue to carry the traffic. The ability to combine these links also simplifies network management, as the EtherChannel can be treated as a single interface in many configurations. The other options do not meet the specifications set by Cisco for EtherChannel configurations. This understanding highlights not only the capabilities of EtherChannel but also reinforces the importance of adhering to the standards established by networking vendors for optimal performance and interoperability.