350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
An engineer is configuring zoning on a Cisco MDS switch. The requirement is to allow a single host HBA to access two storage array ports. Which zone configuration meets this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is to think that using port IDs (Option A) is acceptable because they are dynamic and can change after a link reset, leading to unintended access. Also, avoiding a single zone with all three WWPNs (Option D) prevents storage ports from communicating directly, which could cause LUN masking issues or instability.
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
✓
Create one zone with the host's WWPN and one storage port WWPN, and another zone with the host's WWPN and the second storage port WWPN.
The recommended practice for Fibre Channel zoning is to use single-initiator zones, where each zone contains one host WWPN and one storage port WWPN. To allow a single host HBA to access two storage array ports, two zones should be created: the first zone includes the host's WWPN and the first storage port's WWPN, and the second zone includes the same host's WWPN and the second storage port's WWPN. This prevents direct communication between storage ports (which could cause issues) and follows Cisco best practices for MDS zoning. Option C correctly implements this configuration. Options A and B use port IDs or a single zone with multiple targets, which are less secure and not recommended. Option D creates a single zone with all three WWPNs, which allows the storage ports to communicate with each other, potentially leading to errors or instability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a zone with the host's port ID and both storage port IDs.
Why it's wrong here
Using port IDs is not recommended because they are dynamic and can change after a reboot, making the zone configuration unstable. This option is incorrect.
- ✗
Create one zone with all three WWPNs.
Why it's wrong here
Creating one zone with all three WWPNs allows the storage ports to communicate with each other, which can cause issues. This is not best practice.
- ✓
Create one zone with the host's WWPN and one storage port WWPN, and another zone with the host's WWPN and the second storage port WWPN.
Why this is correct
Creating two zones with the host's WWPN and each storage port WWPN separately follows the single-initiator zoning best practice. This is correct.
- ✗
Create a zone with the host's WWPN and both storage ports as a single zone.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a single zone with the host's WWPN and both storage ports allows the storage ports to see each other, potentially leading to errors. This option is incorrect.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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