This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of storage 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 storage administrator notices that a newly deployed Fibre Channel initiator cannot log in to the SAN switch. The switch is configured for NPV mode. Which condition is most likely causing the issue?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
NPIV is disabled on the upstream switch.
In NPV mode, the switch acts as a transparent proxy, forwarding FLOGI requests from initiators to the upstream NPIV-capable core switch. If NPIV is disabled on the upstream switch, it will reject the FLOGI because it cannot register multiple N-Port IDs on a single physical link, causing the initiator to fail login.
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.
✓
NPIV is disabled on the upstream switch.
Why this is correct
NPIV must be enabled on upstream switches for NPV mode to work.
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 initiator is not using a device alias.
Why it's wrong here
Device aliases are optional for zoning, not for login.
✗
The switch is configured for NPIV mode instead of NPV.
Why it's wrong here
NPIV mode is for upstream switches; NPV is for edge switches.
✗
The switch port is configured as an E port.
Why it's wrong here
E ports are for inter-switch links, not for host login.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between NPV (a switch mode) and NPIV (a feature on the upstream switch), leading candidates to confuse the two or assume the issue is with the NPV switch's own configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NPV mode relies on NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) on the upstream switch to allow multiple initiators to share a single physical uplink by assigning unique FCIDs to each virtual N_Port. If NPIV is disabled, the upstream switch treats the NPV switch's uplink as a single N_Port and rejects additional FLOGI requests, causing all downstream initiators to fail login. This is commonly verified with the 'show npv status' and 'show flogi database' commands on the NPV switch.
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.
Storage Network — This question tests Storage Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NPIV is disabled on the upstream switch. — In NPV mode, the switch acts as a transparent proxy, forwarding FLOGI requests from initiators to the upstream NPIV-capable core switch. If NPIV is disabled on the upstream switch, it will reject the FLOGI because it cannot register multiple N-Port IDs on a single physical link, causing the initiator to fail login.
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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Question Discussion
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