The answer is that the interface is up but has no license, meaning the port is administratively and operationally up at Layer 1 and Layer 2, yet it cannot pass production traffic because the required feature license is missing. In Cisco MDS switches, the line protocol can show as up even when a license is absent, but the switch will flag the interface with a status like “license not installed” or “no license,” preventing licensed features such as Fibre Channel or FCoE from functioning. On the Cisco DCCOR and CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of MDS licensing behavior—a common trap is assuming that an “up” interface is fully operational, when in fact it may be in a licensed grace period or permanently restricted. Remember the memory tip: “Up is not enough; a license makes it tough.”
350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of storage network. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
switch# show interface fc1/1
fc1/1 is up
Hardware is Fibre Channel, SFP is short wave laser
Port WWN is 20:01:00:05:9b:6d:4a:00
Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is auto
Port mode is F, FCID is 0x010100
VSAN ID: 100
Receive data field size is 2112
Beacon is turned off
Port is not licensed
Found fctracert route.
Based on the exhibited output, what is the status of the interface?
Refer to the exhibit.
switch# show interface fc1/1
fc1/1 is up
Hardware is Fibre Channel, SFP is short wave laser
Port WWN is 20:01:00:05:9b:6d:4a:00
Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is auto
Port mode is F, FCID is 0x010100
VSAN ID: 100
Receive data field size is 2112
Beacon is turned off
Port is not licensed
Found fctracert route.
A
The interface is up but has no license.
The interface is up but lacks a license; it may be using grace period.
B
The interface is in trunk mode and licensed.
Why wrong: Trunk mode is auto but port mode is F; also no license.
C
The interface is operational and licensed.
Why wrong: The output says 'Port is not licensed'.
D
The interface is down due to no license.
Why wrong: It is up, so license is not preventing operation.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The interface is up but has no license.
The interface is up (line protocol is up) but the output shows 'license not installed' or similar, meaning the port is administratively up but lacks the required license for full functionality. In Cisco MDS/Nexus storage networks, interfaces can be in an 'up' state without a license, but they will not pass traffic or operate in the licensed mode until the license is installed.
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 interface is up but has no license.
Why this is correct
The interface is up but lacks a license; it may be using grace period.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The interface is in trunk mode and licensed.
Why it's wrong here
Trunk mode is auto but port mode is F; also no license.
✗
The interface is operational and licensed.
Why it's wrong here
The output says 'Port is not licensed'.
✗
The interface is down due to no license.
Why it's wrong here
It is up, so license is not preventing operation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between an interface being 'up/up' and being fully licensed, leading candidates to assume that an up interface is automatically operational and licensed, when in fact it may be in a 'no-license' state that prevents data forwarding.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The output says 'Port is not licensed'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco NX-OS for Fibre Channel interfaces, the 'show interface' output includes a 'License Status' field; if it says 'not installed', the port is in a 'no-license' state where it can be up but cannot carry traffic. This is enforced by the Cisco NX-OS license manager, which requires a valid license for each port beyond the base ports. The 'show license usage' command can verify which ports are consuming licenses.
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.
Storage Network — This question tests Storage Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The interface is up but has no license. — The interface is up (line protocol is up) but the output shows 'license not installed' or similar, meaning the port is administratively up but lacks the required license for full functionality. In Cisco MDS/Nexus storage networks, interfaces can be in an 'up' state without a license, but they will not pass traffic or operate in the licensed mode until the license is installed.
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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