The answer is a zone alias mismatch on the SAN switch, where the alias does not match the initiator’s WWPN. This is correct because the SAN switch sees the initiator login, confirming VSAN membership and fabric connectivity, but the storage array sees no initiator attempts, which means the Fibre Channel zoning is blocking the WWPN from reaching the target. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your ability to isolate SAN boot failures after a firmware upgrade—a common trap is assuming the issue lies in the UCS service profile or boot policy when both are verified correct. The key clue is the asymmetry: the switch logs the initiator, but the array does not, pointing directly to a zoning misconfiguration rather than a VSAN or HBA problem. Memory tip: “Switch sees, array misses—check the zone aliases.”
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. 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 UCS administrator notices that a server in a UCS domain is not booting from SAN after a firmware upgrade. The service profile shows the correct WWPN and boot policy. The SAN switch sees the initiator login. However, the storage array does not see any initiator attempts. What is the most likely 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
✓
The zone alias on the SAN switch does not match the initiator WWPN
The SAN switch sees the initiator login, but the storage array does not see any initiator attempts. This indicates that the Fibre Channel fabric is blocking the initiator's WWPN from reaching the storage target, typically because the zone configuration on the SAN switch does not include the initiator's WWPN or the zone alias does not match the actual WWPN. Since the service profile and boot policy are correct, and the VSAN membership is functional (the switch sees the login), the most likely issue is a zoning mismatch on the SAN switch.
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 boot policy is missing the primary SAN target
Why it's wrong here
The boot policy is verified correct, so this is not the issue.
✗
The WWPN is duplicated on another initiator
Why it's wrong here
Duplication would cause a login failure on the SAN switch, not the storage array.
✓
The zone alias on the SAN switch does not match the initiator WWPN
Why this is correct
The zone alias mismatch would allow login (since zoning is based on WWPN) but the storage may not see the initiator if zones are misconfigured.
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 VSAN membership is incorrect on the fabric interconnect
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect VSAN would prevent the SAN switch from seeing the initiator at all.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between fabric-level visibility (FLOGI success) and zone-level communication (PLOGI/PRLI failure) to trick candidates into assuming the issue is with the boot policy or VSAN membership rather than zoning.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Fibre Channel SANs, zoning is implemented at the switch level using either WWPN zoning or port zoning. When using WWPN zoning, the zone must contain both the initiator's WWPN and the target's WWPN (or their aliases) to allow communication. If the zone alias for the initiator is misspelled, missing, or mapped to a different WWPN, the fabric will not forward frames between the initiator and the target, even though the initiator successfully logs into the fabric (FLOGI completes). This is a common misconfiguration after firmware upgrades if zone sets are not properly reactivated or if aliases are inadvertently changed.
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.
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 zone alias on the SAN switch does not match the initiator WWPN — The SAN switch sees the initiator login, but the storage array does not see any initiator attempts. This indicates that the Fibre Channel fabric is blocking the initiator's WWPN from reaching the storage target, typically because the zone configuration on the SAN switch does not include the initiator's WWPN or the zone alias does not match the actual WWPN. Since the service profile and boot policy are correct, and the VSAN membership is functional (the switch sees the login), the most likely issue is a zoning mismatch on the SAN switch.
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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