The answer is the show process cpu sort command, because it directly displays all running processes on a Nexus 9000 switch sorted by CPU consumption, with the highest consumer listed first. This real-time, sorted output eliminates the need to manually parse through unsorted process lists, allowing a network engineer to instantly pinpoint the offending process during high CPU troubleshooting. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this command tests your ability to efficiently diagnose control-plane congestion, a common scenario in data center environments. A frequent trap is confusing this with show processes cpu history (which shows historical trends) or show system resources (which shows overall memory and CPU load but not per-process details). Remember the memory tip: “Sort to snag the hog”—if you need to catch the top CPU consumer, sort is your shortcut to the culprit.
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 network engineer is troubleshooting high CPU utilization on a Nexus 9000 switch. Which command is most useful to identify the process consuming the most CPU?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show process cpu sort
Option B is correct because the 'show process cpu sort' command on Nexus 9000 switches displays the current CPU utilization sorted by the process consuming the most CPU, allowing the engineer to quickly identify the top CPU consumer. This command provides a real-time, sorted list of processes with their CPU usage percentages, which is directly useful for troubleshooting high CPU utilization.
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.
✗
show processes cpu history
Why it's wrong here
This command shows historical CPU usage data, not the current top consuming processes.
✓
show process cpu sort
Why this is correct
This command sorts processes by CPU usage, allowing identification of the most intensive process.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
show system resources
Why it's wrong here
This command shows overall CPU and memory utilization, but does not break down by process.
✗
show cpu usage
Why it's wrong here
This is not a valid command on Cisco Nexus switches.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'show processes cpu' (which lists all processes unsorted) and 'show process cpu sort' (which sorts by CPU usage), and the trap here is that candidates may confuse 'show cpu usage' with a valid command or assume 'show system resources' provides process-level detail.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command shows historical CPU usage data, not the current top consuming processes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'show process cpu sort' command leverages the Nexus 9000's process scheduler to query the kernel's process control block (PCB) for each running process, extracting CPU time consumed and sorting the output in descending order. In real-world scenarios, a process like 'netstack' or 'sysmgr' may spike due to a routing protocol loop or a hardware forwarding exception, and this command helps isolate the process before using 'show process cpu sort | include <process>' to drill down further.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-601 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
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: show process cpu sort — Option B is correct because the 'show process cpu sort' command on Nexus 9000 switches displays the current CPU utilization sorted by the process consuming the most CPU, allowing the engineer to quickly identify the top CPU consumer. This command provides a real-time, sorted list of processes with their CPU usage percentages, which is directly useful for troubleshooting high CPU utilization.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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