350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
A Fibre Channel switch port is experiencing high latency due to insufficient buffer credits. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between congestion (oversubscription) and flow control (buffer credits), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly associate high latency with oversubscription (Option B) rather than recognizing that long-distance links specifically require more buffer credits to avoid credit starvation.
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
✓
Long-distance link between switches
In Fibre Channel (FC) networks, buffer credits are a flow control mechanism that allows a sender to transmit frames without waiting for an acknowledgment. Long-distance links require more buffer credits to keep the link fully utilized because the round-trip time (RTT) is higher. If insufficient buffer credits are allocated, the port will experience high latency as it must wait for credits to be returned before sending more frames.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
CRC errors on the fibre optic cable
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: CRC errors indicate signal integrity issues, not buffer credits.
- ✗
High oversubscription ratio on the port
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Oversubscription affects bandwidth utilization, not buffer credit availability.
- ✓
Long-distance link between switches
Why this is correct
Correct: Long-distance links require more buffer credits to maintain throughput.
- ✗
VSAN ID mismatch between end devices
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: VSAN mismatch prevents communication but does not cause buffer credit starvation.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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