The correct action is to add a Cisco MDS 9148S Fibre Channel switch and connect it to the Fabric Interconnect via FC uplinks. This is required because the UCS Mini with a single Fabric Interconnect 6324 lacks native Fibre Channel ports—it only supports Ethernet uplinks, so it cannot directly terminate Fibre Channel links to the SAN. Instead, you must introduce an external MDS switch to handle FC connectivity, with the 6324’s unified ports configured as FC uplinks to bridge the traffic. On the Cisco DCCOR and CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of UCS Mini architecture limitations and the role of external SAN switches; a common trap is assuming the 6324 has built-in FC ports like larger Fabric Interconnects. Remember: no native ports on the Mini means you must add an MDS to make the FC connection—think “Mini needs MDS for FC.”
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is deploying a new Cisco UCS Mini with a single Fabric Interconnect 6324. They need to connect to an existing Fibre Channel SAN. Which action is required to enable Fibre Channel connectivity?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a Cisco MDS 9148S Fibre Channel switch and connect it to the Fabric Interconnect via FC uplinks.
The Cisco UCS Mini with a single Fabric Interconnect 6324 does not have native Fibre Channel ports; it only supports Ethernet uplinks. To connect to an existing Fibre Channel SAN, an external Fibre Channel switch (such as the Cisco MDS 9148S) must be added, and the Fabric Interconnect connects to it via FC uplinks, which are typically configured as unified ports. This allows the UCS Mini to leverage the MDS switch for Fibre Channel connectivity, as the 6324 itself cannot directly terminate Fibre Channel links.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable NPV mode on the Fabric Interconnect to connect to the SAN.
Why it's wrong here
NPV mode is used on the FI to connect to a core FC switch, but the FI must have FC ports.
✗
Install a Fibre Channel module in the Fabric Interconnect.
Why it's wrong here
The 6324 does not have expansion slots for FC modules.
✓
Add a Cisco MDS 9148S Fibre Channel switch and connect it to the Fabric Interconnect via FC uplinks.
Why this is correct
A dedicated FC switch provides SAN connectivity for UCS Mini.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure the uplink Ethernet ports as unified ports to support Fibre Channel.
Why it's wrong here
The UCS Mini 6324 does not support unified ports; it requires an external FC switch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the UCS Fabric Interconnect 6324 can directly connect to a Fibre Channel SAN by simply enabling NPV mode or using unified ports, but the key trap is that the 6324 lacks native Fibre Channel ports and requires an external Fibre Channel switch (like the MDS) to bridge the FCoE traffic to the FC SAN.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Cisco UCS Mini 6324 Fabric Interconnect uses a cut-through architecture and supports unified ports that can operate as either Ethernet or Fibre Channel (FCoE) ports. However, these unified ports are designed to connect to FCoE-capable endpoints or to an upstream Fibre Channel switch via FCoE-to-FC conversion; they cannot directly attach to a native Fibre Channel SAN because the 6324 lacks Fibre Channel PHY layers. In a real-world deployment, the MDS 9148S switch acts as a Fibre Channel gateway, performing FCoE-to-FC conversion, and the UCS Mini connects to it using FCoE uplinks (typically over 10GbE or 25GbE unified ports), enabling end-to-end Fibre Channel connectivity without requiring native FC ports on the UCS side.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Compute — This question tests Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a Cisco MDS 9148S Fibre Channel switch and connect it to the Fabric Interconnect via FC uplinks. — The Cisco UCS Mini with a single Fabric Interconnect 6324 does not have native Fibre Channel ports; it only supports Ethernet uplinks. To connect to an existing Fibre Channel SAN, an external Fibre Channel switch (such as the Cisco MDS 9148S) must be added, and the Fabric Interconnect connects to it via FC uplinks, which are typically configured as unified ports. This allows the UCS Mini to leverage the MDS switch for Fibre Channel connectivity, as the 6324 itself cannot directly terminate Fibre Channel links.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This 350-601 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-601 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.