- A
1:1
Why wrong: This would require equal server and uplink bandwidth.
- B
4:1
Why wrong: Incorrect calculation.
- C
2:1
Why wrong: Incorrect calculation.
- D
3:1
480/160 = 3:1.
Question 334 of 1,000
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. 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.
In a spine-leaf architecture, the oversubscription ratio between leaf switches and spine switches is 3:1. Each leaf has 48 x 10G server ports and 4 x 40G uplinks to the spine. What is the oversubscription ratio at the leaf level?
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
✓
3:1
The oversubscription ratio at the leaf level is calculated by comparing the total bandwidth of the server-facing ports to the total bandwidth of the uplink ports. Each leaf has 48 x 10G server ports (480 Gbps) and 4 x 40G uplinks (160 Gbps). The ratio is 480:160, which simplifies to 3:1. This matches the given spine-leaf oversubscription ratio, confirming that the leaf-level ratio is 3:1.
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.
- ✗
1:1
Why it's wrong here
This would require equal server and uplink bandwidth.
- ✗
4:1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect calculation.
- ✗
2:1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect calculation.
- ✓
3:1
Why this is correct
480/160 = 3:1.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between per-port bandwidth and total bandwidth, and the trap here is that candidates might incorrectly calculate the ratio by comparing the number of ports (48:4 = 12:1) instead of the aggregate bandwidth, or they might misinterpret the given 3:1 spine-leaf ratio as the leaf-level ratio without performing the calculation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In spine-leaf architectures, oversubscription is a key design consideration to balance cost and performance. The calculation uses full-duplex bandwidth: 48 ports × 10 Gbps × 2 (full-duplex) = 960 Gbps server capacity, but the standard practice is to use the nominal bandwidth (480 Gbps) for oversubscription ratio. Real-world deployments often use 25G or 100G links, and the ratio directly impacts congestion; a 3:1 ratio is common for general-purpose data centers, while 1:1 is used for high-performance computing.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-601 question test?
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 3:1 — The oversubscription ratio at the leaf level is calculated by comparing the total bandwidth of the server-facing ports to the total bandwidth of the uplink ports. Each leaf has 48 x 10G server ports (480 Gbps) and 4 x 40G uplinks (160 Gbps). The ratio is 480:160, which simplifies to 3:1. This matches the given spine-leaf oversubscription ratio, confirming that the leaf-level ratio is 3:1.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 350-601 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-601 exam.
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