350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
A company is deploying a new SAN with two MDS 9148S switches in a single VSAN. They want to ensure that a failure of one switch does not affect storage traffic. Which technology should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between link-level redundancy (port channels) and fabric-level redundancy (multiple switches/paths), leading candidates to mistakenly choose port channels as a solution for switch failure.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a redundant fabric by connecting both switches to each storage array and host via multiple paths.
Implementing a redundant fabric by connecting both switches to each storage array and host via multiple paths ensures that if one switch fails, the other switch continues to carry storage traffic. This is achieved through multipathing software (e.g., Fibre Channel multipathing) and redundant physical connections, which provide active-active or active-passive failover without disrupting the SAN.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement FCoE to Ethernet storage.
Why it's wrong here
FCoE is for convergence, not redundancy.
- ✗
Enable NPIV on all ports.
Why it's wrong here
NPIV is for multiple N-port IDs.
- ✗
Configure a port channel between the switches.
Why it's wrong here
Port channels provide link-level redundancy but not switch-level if one switch fails.
- ✓
Create a redundant fabric by connecting both switches to each storage array and host via multiple paths.
Why this is correct
This provides path redundancy; if one switch fails, the other continues.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.