Quick Answer
The answer is a Pin Group policy. This is correct because in a UCS domain with fabric interconnects in end-host mode, the default load-balancing method uses MAC-based hashing, which can lead to uneven traffic distribution. A Pin Group policy overrides this by explicitly mapping a specific vNIC’s traffic to designated uplink ports, ensuring deterministic load balancing across both upstream switches. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of UCS fabric configuration and the distinction between default hashing and explicit pinning. A common trap is confusing Pin Group with a QoS or network control policy—remember that only Pin Group directly controls uplink port selection for a vNIC. Memory tip: think of “pinning” a vNIC to specific ports, like pinning a note to a board, to force traffic where you want it.
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 domain has two fabric interconnects in end-host mode. The engineer needs to implement a policy that ensures all traffic from a specific vNIC is load-balanced across both uplinks to the upstream switches. Which type of policy should be used?
Link aggregation policy
Why wrong: Aggregates uplinks into a logical port-channel, but does not control vNIC traffic distribution per policy.
Pin group policy
Allows pinning a vNIC to specific uplinks or 'no-pin' for load balancing across all.
QoS policy
Why wrong: Defines priority and bandwidth, not uplink selection.
Network control policy
Why wrong: Controls CDP, LLDP, MACsec, etc., not load balancing per vNIC.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Pin group policy
In a UCS domain with fabric interconnects in end-host mode, a Pin Group policy is used to explicitly map a vNIC's traffic to specific uplink ports, ensuring load balancing across the upstream switches. This policy overrides the default MAC-based hashing and allows the engineer to control traffic distribution, which is critical for consistent performance and redundancy.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Link aggregation policy
Why it's wrong here
Aggregates uplinks into a logical port-channel, but does not control vNIC traffic distribution per policy.
Pin group policy
Why this is correct
Allows pinning a vNIC to specific uplinks or 'no-pin' for load balancing across all.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
QoS policy
Why it's wrong here
Defines priority and bandwidth, not uplink selection.
Network control policy
Why it's wrong here
Controls CDP, LLDP, MACsec, etc., not load balancing per vNIC.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between Pin Group policies (which control per-vNIC traffic distribution) and Link Aggregation policies (which bundle ports), leading candidates to mistakenly choose the latter when the question emphasizes load balancing across individual uplinks rather than aggregated bandwidth.
Detailed technical explanation
Pin Group policies in UCS leverage the concept of 'pinning' where each vNIC is assigned to a specific uplink port or set of ports, bypassing the default hash-based load balancing. This is particularly useful in environments with asymmetric traffic patterns or when using features like NPV (N_Port Virtualization) to ensure consistent path selection for Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) traffic. The policy is applied at the vNIC template level and can be configured with a 'primary' and 'secondary' pin group for failover.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Compute — This question tests Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Pin group policy — In a UCS domain with fabric interconnects in end-host mode, a Pin Group policy is used to explicitly map a vNIC's traffic to specific uplink ports, ensuring load balancing across the upstream switches. This policy overrides the default MAC-based hashing and allows the engineer to control traffic distribution, which is critical for consistent performance and redundancy.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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