How do you configure an interface to join an EtherChannel?

To configure an interface to join an EtherChannel, it is essential to use the command that establishes the channel group and its mode of operation. The command format involves specifying a group number and the desired mode, which controls how the switch handles the aggregation of the links in the EtherChannel.

Using the channel-group command with the mode parameter allows you to define the operational parameters for the EtherChannel configuration. The mode can be set to options like "on," "active," or "passive," dictating whether the channel operates in a static fashion or employs protocols like LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) or PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol) for dynamic negotiation. Therefore, this command is crucial for properly integrating the interfaces into a single logical link that improves bandwidth and provides redundancy.

The other options relate to different configurations. For instance, specifying an interface in access mode is about setting the switchport's operational mode, which does not contribute to EtherChannel configuration. Using an interface range does help apply commands to multiple interfaces at once but does not, by itself, configure EtherChannel specifics. The bridge group command pertains to bridging configurations, which is outside the context of EtherChannel setup. Thus, the command to add an interface into an EtherChannel