- A
The fabric interconnect uplinks are configured as 40Gbps, but the port channel is not configured correctly, causing speed negotiation to fail.
Why wrong: The uplinks are correct; the issue is at the vNIC template level, not the physical uplinks.
- B
The vNIC template used in the service profile specifies a requested speed of '10 Gbps' instead of '40 Gbps'.
The vNIC template's speed setting determines the allocated speed; it must be set to 40Gbps.
- C
The server's adapter policy is set to 'Windows' mode, which limits Ethernet speeds to 10Gbps.
Why wrong: Adapter policies affect the number of queues and capabilities, not the link speed.
- D
The QoS policy applied to the vNIC limits the bandwidth to 10Gbps.
Why wrong: QoS policies shape traffic but do not change the negotiated link speed.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the vNIC template used in the service profile specifies a requested speed of '10 Gbps' instead of '40 Gbps'. This is because the UCS vNIC template speed mismatch occurs when the template’s configured bandwidth, not the physical adapter or uplink capability, dictates the virtual interface’s allocated throughput; UCS Manager enforces the template’s requested speed as a hard limit per vNIC, so even with 40Gbps-capable hardware and 40Gbps uplinks, a template set to 10Gbps will cap each vNIC at 10Gbps. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of UCS service profile inheritance and the distinction between physical link speed and virtual NIC bandwidth allocation—a common trap is assuming the adapter or uplink speed automatically determines vNIC performance. Remember the memory tip: “Template sets the throttle; the adapter only enables the potential.”
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 large enterprise is using Cisco UCS Manager to manage a chassis with 8 B-Series blades. The environment uses a combination of Ethernet and Fibre Channel traffic. The UCS fabric interconnect (FI) is configured in end-host mode with two uplinks to the core network. Recently, the engineering team deployed a new service profile for a high-performance computing workload that requires 40Gbps Ethernet per vNIC and 16Gbps Fibre Channel per vHBA. The server has two vNICs and two vHBAs. After deployment, the server's OS shows only 10Gbps connectivity on each vNIC. The engineer checks UCS Manager and sees that the vNIC templates are set to '10 Gbps' and the vHBA templates are set to '16 Gbps' but the actual link speed for vNICs is only 10Gbps. The fabric interconnect ports are configured as 40Gbps uplinks. The engineer has verified that the server adapter supports 40Gbps. What is the most likely cause of the speed mismatch?
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
The vNIC template used in the service profile specifies a requested speed of '10 Gbps' instead of '40 Gbps'.
The vNIC template in the service profile defines the requested speed for the virtual NIC. If the template is set to '10 Gbps', the UCS Manager will allocate only 10 Gbps of bandwidth per vNIC, regardless of the physical adapter's capability or the uplink speed. Since the engineer verified the adapter supports 40 Gbps and the uplinks are 40 Gbps, the mismatch is directly caused by the template configuration.
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.
- ✗
The fabric interconnect uplinks are configured as 40Gbps, but the port channel is not configured correctly, causing speed negotiation to fail.
Why it's wrong here
The uplinks are correct; the issue is at the vNIC template level, not the physical uplinks.
- ✓
The vNIC template used in the service profile specifies a requested speed of '10 Gbps' instead of '40 Gbps'.
Why this is correct
The vNIC template's speed setting determines the allocated speed; it must be set to 40Gbps.
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.
- ✗
The server's adapter policy is set to 'Windows' mode, which limits Ethernet speeds to 10Gbps.
Why it's wrong here
Adapter policies affect the number of queues and capabilities, not the link speed.
- ✗
The QoS policy applied to the vNIC limits the bandwidth to 10Gbps.
Why it's wrong here
QoS policies shape traffic but do not change the negotiated link speed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the physical adapter or uplink speed automatically determines the vNIC speed, when in fact the vNIC template's requested speed is the controlling parameter in UCS Manager.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco UCS Manager, the vNIC template's 'Requested Speed' field directly controls the bandwidth allocated to the vNIC from the fabric interconnect's port bandwidth pool. Even if the physical adapter supports 40 Gbps, the UCS Manager will only allocate the requested speed, and the OS will see that as the link speed. This is a key distinction from traditional NICs where the link speed is negotiated at Layer 1; in UCS, the vNIC speed is a software-defined allocation.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-601 question test?
Compute — This question tests Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The vNIC template used in the service profile specifies a requested speed of '10 Gbps' instead of '40 Gbps'. — The vNIC template in the service profile defines the requested speed for the virtual NIC. If the template is set to '10 Gbps', the UCS Manager will allocate only 10 Gbps of bandwidth per vNIC, regardless of the physical adapter's capability or the uplink speed. Since the engineer verified the adapter supports 40 Gbps and the uplinks are 40 Gbps, the mismatch is directly caused by the template configuration.
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: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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