- A
MTU mismatch on the peer-link
Why wrong: MTU mismatch may cause packet drops but not typically member port suspension.
- B
Peer-keepalive link failure causing dual-active detection issues
Peer-keepalive failure can trigger a dual-active situation, leading to member port suspension.
- C
Mismatched vPC domain ID
Why wrong: Mismatched domain ID prevents vPC formation entirely.
- D
Incorrect VLAN configuration on member ports
Why wrong: VLAN mismatch can cause issues but not directly related to peer-keepalive failure.
Question 36 of 1,000
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. 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 data center engineer is configuring vPC on a pair of Cisco Nexus switches. The vPC peer-link is established but the vPC member ports remain suspended. After checking the configuration, the engineer notices that the vPC peer-keepalive link is not functioning. What is the most likely cause of the suspended member ports?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Peer-keepalive link failure causing dual-active detection issues
When the vPC peer-keepalive link fails, each vPC peer switch cannot detect whether the other peer is operational. This triggers the dual-active detection mechanism, causing the secondary switch to suspend its vPC member ports to prevent a split-brain scenario where both switches forward traffic for the same vPC VLAN. The suspended state is a protective measure until the peer-keepalive link is restored or the vPC role is resolved.
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.
- ✗
MTU mismatch on the peer-link
Why it's wrong here
MTU mismatch may cause packet drops but not typically member port suspension.
- ✓
Peer-keepalive link failure causing dual-active detection issues
Why this is correct
Peer-keepalive failure can trigger a dual-active situation, leading to member port suspension.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Mismatched vPC domain ID
Why it's wrong here
Mismatched domain ID prevents vPC formation entirely.
- ✗
Incorrect VLAN configuration on member ports
Why it's wrong here
VLAN mismatch can cause issues but not directly related to peer-keepalive failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between peer-link failure (which causes both switches to suspend member ports) and peer-keepalive failure (which causes only the secondary switch to suspend member ports), and the trap here is that candidates confuse the two or assume any link failure leads to the same outcome.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The vPC peer-keepalive link uses a Layer 3 path (typically a dedicated management or routed interface) to exchange keepalive messages via UDP port 3200. If this link fails, the vPC system relies on the peer-link itself for keepalive, but if that also fails or the secondary switch cannot confirm the primary's liveness, the secondary switch invokes the 'dual-active' recovery mechanism, suspending its vPC member ports. In a real-world scenario, a common misconfiguration is using the same physical interface for both peer-link and peer-keepalive, which defeats the redundancy purpose and can cause unnecessary suspensions.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-601 question test?
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Peer-keepalive link failure causing dual-active detection issues — When the vPC peer-keepalive link fails, each vPC peer switch cannot detect whether the other peer is operational. This triggers the dual-active detection mechanism, causing the secondary switch to suspend its vPC member ports to prevent a split-brain scenario where both switches forward traffic for the same vPC VLAN. The suspended state is a protective measure until the peer-keepalive link is restored or the vPC role is resolved.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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