The answer is that the vHBA must be associated with a VSAN, and the virtual machine must be assigned a unique WWPN. NPIV, or N_Port ID Virtualization, allows multiple virtual machines to share a single physical HBA while each appears as a separate initiator to the SAN fabric, which requires distinct World Wide Port Names so the fabric can manage each VM’s storage traffic independently. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how UCS service profiles enable NPIV for VMware ESXi, often appearing in a choose-two format where a common trap is selecting “the vHBA must be in NPIV mode” instead of recognizing that the vHBA itself does not need a special mode—it is the association with a VSAN and unique WWPN assignment that satisfy the two conditions. A helpful memory tip is “VSAN and WWPN: two keys for NPIV,” reminding you that the VSAN provides fabric visibility while the unique WWPN gives each VM its own identity.
350-601 Compute Practice Question
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.
An engineer is configuring a UCS server for VMware ESXi. The service profile must support NPIV for virtual machine SAN connectivity. Which two conditions must be met? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The WWPN must be unique per virtual machine
Option A is correct because NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) requires each virtual machine to have a unique World Wide Port Name (WWPN) so that the SAN fabric can distinguish and manage each VM's storage traffic independently. This allows multiple virtual machines to share a single physical HBA while each appears as a separate initiator to the SAN.
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 WWPN must be unique per virtual machine
Why this is correct
NPIV assigns unique WWPNs to each VM for SAN access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The vHBA must be associated with a VSAN
Why this is correct
VSAN association is necessary for Fibre Channel connectivity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The vHBA must be set to 'Fabric: A' only
Why it's wrong here
NPIV can work on single or dual fabric; fabric A only is restrictive but not required.
✗
The vHBA must be set to 'Fabric: dual' mode
Why it's wrong here
Dual fabric is optional and does not dictate NPIV capability.
✗
The vHBA must be created with a fabric failover policy
Why it's wrong here
Failover policy is independent of NPIV support.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that NPIV requires a fabric failover policy or dual-fabric mode, when in fact NPIV only requires unique WWPNs and proper VSAN association, with failover handled at the fabric level or by the hypervisor.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NPIV works by assigning a unique WWPN to each virtual machine's virtual HBA (vHBA), which the Fibre Channel switch uses to log in as a separate N_Port. The vHBA must be associated with a specific VSAN to ensure the virtual machine's traffic is correctly isolated and routed within the SAN fabric. In UCS Manager, this is configured under the vHBA policy by setting the 'Fabric ID' to either 'A' or 'B' (not 'dual'), and the VSAN is selected from the available VSAN database.
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 WWPN must be unique per virtual machine — Option A is correct because NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) requires each virtual machine to have a unique World Wide Port Name (WWPN) so that the SAN fabric can distinguish and manage each VM's storage traffic independently. This allows multiple virtual machines to share a single physical HBA while each appears as a separate initiator to the SAN.
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.
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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