The correct approach is to use a single EPG with appropriate encapsulation for both UCS B-Series blades and C-Series rack servers. This works because Cisco ACI allows one Endpoint Group to span heterogeneous compute types by associating it with both a physical domain (for blades connected via Fabric Interconnects) and a VMM domain (for rack servers managed by vCenter), using consistent VLAN or VXLAN encapsulation to enforce uniform contracts and QoS policies. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of ACI domain profiles and EPG scope—a common trap is assuming separate EPGs are required for blade versus rack servers, but ACI’s policy model is hardware-agnostic. Remember the memory tip: “One EPG, two domains—blades and racks share the same policy lanes.”
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 organization deploys compute resources using both UCS B-Series blades and C-Series rack servers. The network uses Cisco ACI. Which approach ensures consistent connectivity policies across both compute types?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a single EPG with appropriate encapsulation for both
Option A is correct because Cisco ACI allows a single Endpoint Group (EPG) to span both UCS B-Series blades and C-Series rack servers by using the appropriate encapsulation (e.g., VLAN or VXLAN) and associating the EPG with both a physical domain (for blades connected via Fabric Interconnects) and a VMM domain (for rack servers managed by VMware vCenter). This ensures consistent connectivity policies, such as contracts and QoS, are applied uniformly across all compute types without requiring separate EPGs.
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.
✓
Use a single EPG with appropriate encapsulation for both
Why this is correct
Single EPG ensures consistent policy application
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create separate EPGs for blade and rack servers
Why it's wrong here
Separate EPGs increase complexity and inconsistency
✗
It is not possible to have consistent policies between blade and rack
Why it's wrong here
It is possible with proper design
✗
Use a physical domain for blades and a VMM domain for rack servers
Why it's wrong here
VMM domain is for virtualization, not rack servers
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that different compute types (blade vs. rack) require separate EPGs, when in fact a single EPG can span multiple domains to enforce consistent policies, and the trap here is assuming that physical and VMM domains are mutually exclusive rather than complementary.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cisco ACI uses the concept of a 'domain' to define the connectivity profile for endpoints; a physical domain handles VLAN encapsulation for bare-metal servers (including UCS blades via Fabric Interconnects), while a VMM domain integrates with hypervisor managers to automate VXLAN or VLAN encapsulation for virtualized rack servers. The EPG acts as a logical grouping of endpoints with identical policy requirements, and when attached to multiple domains, the APIC automatically resolves encapsulation mappings (e.g., VLAN-to-VXLAN translation) to ensure seamless policy application across heterogeneous compute. In real-world scenarios, this unified approach simplifies operations in data centers with mixed compute, reducing administrative overhead and preventing policy drift.
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 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.
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: Use a single EPG with appropriate encapsulation for both — Option A is correct because Cisco ACI allows a single Endpoint Group (EPG) to span both UCS B-Series blades and C-Series rack servers by using the appropriate encapsulation (e.g., VLAN or VXLAN) and associating the EPG with both a physical domain (for blades connected via Fabric Interconnects) and a VMM domain (for rack servers managed by VMware vCenter). This ensures consistent connectivity policies, such as contracts and QoS, are applied uniformly across all compute types without requiring separate EPGs.
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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