350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
A company is deploying a new storage network using Cisco MDS 9700 switches. They have multiple host servers and storage arrays. The security policy requires that each host can only access its own LUNs. The solution must be efficient and not require reconfiguration when new hosts are added. Which approach best meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that VSAN zoning or traditional pWWN zoning can provide LUN-level isolation, but they only operate at the port level, failing to meet the per-host LUN access requirement without excessive administrative overhead.
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
✓
Smart Zoning
Smart Zoning is correct because it automatically creates LUN-specific access controls based on the host initiator and target storage port, ensuring each host can only see its own LUNs without manual reconfiguration when new hosts are added. This approach reduces the number of zone objects and simplifies management by using LUN-level granularity within a single zone, unlike traditional zoning which requires per-LUN zones.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Traditional zone-based zoning with pWWNs
Why it's wrong here
This requires manual zone creation for each new host, which is inefficient.
- ✗
VSAN zoning
Why it's wrong here
VSANs separate traffic at a higher level, not per initiator-target.
- ✗
FSPF metric tuning
Why it's wrong here
FSPF is for routing, not access control.
- ✓
Smart Zoning
Why this is correct
Smart Zoning reduces zone objects and simplifies management by automatically handling LUN masking.
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JA
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.