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Lab 4 is where redundancy becomes real. You'll configure root bridge priority to control STP topology, bundle multiple links into an EtherChannel for both redundancy and bandwidth, and verify that when a link fails, traffic continues over the remaining links without user impact.
! On both switches — set STP modeSW1(config)# spanning-tree mode rapid-pvstSW2(config)# spanning-tree mode rapid-pvst! Make SW1 the root for VLANs 10 and 20SW1(config)# spanning-tree vlan 10 priority 4096SW1(config)# spanning-tree vlan 20 priority 4096! Make SW2 root for VLANs 30 and 40 (load-balancing across redundant paths)SW2(config)# spanning-tree vlan 30 priority 4096SW2(config)# spanning-tree vlan 40 priority 4096! Configure EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2SW1(config)# interface range gi0/23 - 24SW1(config-if-range)# switchport mode trunkSW1(config-if-range)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30,40SW1(config-if-range)# channel-group 1 mode activeSW1(config-if-range)# exitSW1(config)# interface port-channel 1SW1(config-if)# switchport mode trunkSW1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30,40SW1(config-if)# exit! Mirror config on SW2SW2(config)# interface range gi0/23 - 24SW2(config-if-range)# switchport mode trunkSW2(config-if-range)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30,40SW2(config-if-range)# channel-group 1 mode activeSW2(config-if-range)# exit
Configure the EtherChannel bundle and STP priorities. Verify with `show etherchannel summary` — both members should show (P). Verify STP with `show spanning-tree vlan 10` — SW1 should be root. Then disconnect one member link and verify the bundle stays up. Reconnect and verify it rejoins.
After configuring the EtherChannel, you disconnect Gi0/24. What do you expect to see in `show etherchannel summary`?
Select the safest next action.
STP and EtherChannel together provide the redundancy that keeps networks up during maintenance and failures. The combination is standard in every enterprise campus. Get comfortable with the verification commands — `show etherchannel summary`, `show spanning-tree` — because you'll use them constantly.
Finish the lesson once you have worked through the material. This awards ★ 20 XP.