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.
An engineer is troubleshooting a UCS B-Series server that fails to boot from SAN. The SAN boot LUN is correctly zoned and presented. The service profile has WWPNs configured. What is a likely cause?
Server firmware mismatch
Why wrong: Firmware mismatch might cause issues but is less specific to SAN boot failure.
Missing vNIC template
Why wrong: vNIC templates define Ethernet connectivity; not directly related to SAN boot.
VLAN mismatch
Why wrong: VLAN mismatch affects network connectivity, not SAN boot.
Incorrect boot policy order
The server will attempt boot devices in the order defined; if SAN is not first, it may fail.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Incorrect boot policy order
The SAN boot LUN is correctly zoned and presented, and the WWPNs are configured in the service profile, so the connectivity and identity are set. However, if the boot policy order is incorrect (e.g., the SAN boot target is listed after a local disk or another boot device), the server will attempt to boot from the wrong device first and fail to boot from the SAN. The boot policy defines the sequence of boot devices, and a misconfigured order is a common cause of boot failures in UCS B-Series.
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.
Server firmware mismatch
Why it's wrong here
Firmware mismatch might cause issues but is less specific to SAN boot failure.
Missing vNIC template
Why it's wrong here
vNIC templates define Ethernet connectivity; not directly related to SAN boot.
VLAN mismatch
Why it's wrong here
VLAN mismatch affects network connectivity, not SAN boot.
Incorrect boot policy order
Why this is correct
The server will attempt boot devices in the order defined; if SAN is not first, it may fail.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that SAN boot failures are always due to zoning or WWPN misconfiguration, when in fact the boot policy order is a separate, critical setting that must be correctly configured in the service profile.
Detailed technical explanation
In UCS Manager, the boot policy defines the boot order using a list of vHBAs and their associated SAN targets. The server's BIOS or UEFI firmware uses the boot policy to determine which device to attempt booting from first. If the SAN boot LUN is not the first entry in the boot policy, the server may attempt to boot from a local disk or other device, failing to reach the SAN LUN. This is often overlooked because engineers assume that if the LUN is zoned and the WWPNs are correct, the boot will work, but the boot policy order must explicitly prioritize the SAN target.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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FAQ
Compute — This question tests Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Incorrect boot policy order — The SAN boot LUN is correctly zoned and presented, and the WWPNs are configured in the service profile, so the connectivity and identity are set. However, if the boot policy order is incorrect (e.g., the SAN boot target is listed after a local disk or another boot device), the server will attempt to boot from the wrong device first and fail to boot from the SAN. The boot policy defines the sequence of boot devices, and a misconfigured order is a common cause of boot failures in UCS B-Series.
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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