This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of 350-601 exam topics. 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 storage administrator is configuring Fibre Channel zoning on a Cisco MDS switch. The administrator creates a zone, adds members, and activates the zone set. However, the hosts still cannot access the storage targets. What is the most likely cause?
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.
The WWPNs are incorrectly typed.
Why wrong: While possible, the most common mistake is not activating the zone set.
The VSAN was not created.
Why wrong: The VSAN typically exists; zoning is the issue.
The ports are in trunk mode.
Why wrong: Trunk mode does not prevent zoning from working.
The zone set was not activated.
The active zone set must be set; otherwise, zoning configuration is not applied.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The zone set was not activated.
Zoning changes only take effect when the zone set is activated. If the zone set is not activated, the zones are not enforced.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The WWPNs are incorrectly typed.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the most common mistake is not activating the zone set.
The VSAN was not created.
Why it's wrong here
The VSAN typically exists; zoning is the issue.
The ports are in trunk mode.
Why it's wrong here
Trunk mode does not prevent zoning from working.
The zone set was not activated.
Why this is correct
The active zone set must be set; otherwise, zoning configuration is not applied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Common exam traps
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-601 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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FAQ
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
The correct answer is: The zone set was not activated. — Zoning changes only take effect when the zone set is activated. If the zone set is not activated, the zones are not enforced.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-601 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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