350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
A company is deploying a new storage array with dual controllers. Each controller has two 16 Gbps Fibre Channel ports. The engineer wants to connect each controller to two separate MDS switches for redundancy. What is the recommended port type configuration on the MDS switches for the storage-facing ports?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between port types (F, E, NP, and auto) in storage networking, and the trap here is that candidates confuse 'auto' (a speed negotiation setting) with a port type, or mistakenly think NP ports are used for direct storage connections instead of NPV environments.
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
✓
F port
A is correct because an F port (Fabric port) is the standard port type on an MDS switch for connecting to an N_port (Node port) on a storage array's Fibre Channel controller. Since each controller has two 16 Gbps FC ports and each connects to a separate MDS switch for redundancy, the switch-facing ports must operate as F ports to establish a point-to-point link with the array's N_ports, enabling fabric services and proper zoning.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
F port
Why this is correct
F ports connect N ports of end devices.
- ✗
Configure the port as auto to allow negotiation
Why it's wrong here
Auto might work but F port is best practice for targets.
- ✗
NP port
Why it's wrong here
NP ports are for NPV switches to core.
- ✗
E port
Why it's wrong here
E ports are for switch-to-switch connections.
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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.