Question 254 of 500

Storage Network →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

350-601 Storage Network Practice Question

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 reports that a new host cannot log into the SAN. The host is connected to a Cisco MDS switch. The switch interface shows up/up but the host is not in the active zone. 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.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
The zone set is not activated.
If the zone set is not activated, even if the WWPN is in the zone, it won't be effective. The host is not in the active zone because the active zone set may not include the zone.
B
The switch port is in an isolated state.
Why wrong: An isolated state would show as isolated, not up/up.
C
The FC cable is faulty.
Why wrong: A faulty cable would cause interface issues, but the interface is up/up.
D
The host's WWPN is not in the zone configuration.
Why wrong: While this could prevent login, the problem statement says the host is not in the active zone, which could be due to an inactive zone set even if the WWPN is in the zone database.
E
The host's driver is not installed.
Why wrong: If the interface is up/up, the physical layer is working, indicating the driver is likely installed.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 zone set is not activated.

The host cannot log into the SAN despite the interface showing up/up because the zone set is not activated. In Cisco MDS Fibre Channel SANs, zone configurations are stored in the zone database but only take effect when the zone set is activated (using the 'zone activate' command). Without an active zone set, no zoning is enforced, and the host's WWPN is effectively invisible to other devices, preventing login even though the physical link is operational.

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 zone set is not activated.
Why this is correct
If the zone set is not activated, even if the WWPN is in the zone, it won't be effective. The host is not in the active zone because the active zone set may not include the zone.
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 switch port is in an isolated state.
Why it's wrong here
An isolated state would show as isolated, not up/up.
✗
The FC cable is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty cable would cause interface issues, but the interface is up/up.
✗
The host's WWPN is not in the zone configuration.
Why it's wrong here
While this could prevent login, the problem statement says the host is not in the active zone, which could be due to an inactive zone set even if the WWPN is in the zone database.
✗
The host's driver is not installed.
Why it's wrong here
If the interface is up/up, the physical layer is working, indicating the driver is likely installed.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between configuring a zone (adding WWPNs) and activating the zone set; candidates mistakenly assume that simply adding a WWPN to a zone is sufficient, overlooking the mandatory activation step that enforces the zoning policy.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
An isolated state would show as isolated, not up/up.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, Fibre Channel zoning uses a zone set (also called zoneset) that contains one or more zones. The 'show zoneset active' command on a Cisco MDS switch reveals whether a zone set is currently enforced. If no zone set is active, the switch operates in 'default zone' mode (typically deny), meaning all devices are isolated from each other, but the host can still perform FLOGI and be seen in the fabric database. A real-world scenario is when an administrator adds a new zone but forgets to activate the zone set, causing the host to be unable to communicate with storage targets despite correct physical connections.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 350-601 question test?

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: The zone set is not activated. — The host cannot log into the SAN despite the interface showing up/up because the zone set is not activated. In Cisco MDS Fibre Channel SANs, zone configurations are stored in the zone database but only take effect when the zone set is activated (using the 'zone activate' command). Without an active zone set, no zoning is enforced, and the host's WWPN is effectively invisible to other devices, preventing login even though the physical link is operational.

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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