350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
On a Cisco MDS 9700, an engineer configures an FC port channel with 4 member interfaces. The connected storage array also supports port channels. Which load-balancing algorithm provides the best distribution of I/O when the array uses multiple LUNs per target?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between static identifiers (SID, DID, WWPN) and dynamic per-exchange identifiers (OXID/RXID), trapping candidates who assume that any source-destination pair will distribute I/O evenly across a port channel, ignoring the reality of multiple LUNs behind a single target.
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
✓
Source FC ID (OXID) and destination FC ID (RXID)
The OXID (Originator Exchange ID) and RXID (Responder Exchange ID) provide per-exchange granularity, which distributes I/O across all member links in the FC port channel. When multiple LUNs are presented under a single target (same DID), algorithms based on SID/DID or WWPN would hash all traffic to the same link, causing imbalance. The OXID/RXID algorithm ensures that each Fibre Channel exchange (e.g., each SCSI command) can be load-balanced independently, maximizing throughput.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Source ID (SID) and Destination ID (DID)
Why it's wrong here
This could cause polarization if single initiator to single target.
- ✗
Source and destination port ID
Why it's wrong here
Port ID load balancing is similar to SID/DID and may cause polarization.
- ✓
Source FC ID (OXID) and destination FC ID (RXID)
Why this is correct
Using exchange IDs (OXID/RXID) provides per-exchange load balancing, spreading I/O across LUNs better.
- ✗
Source and destination WWPN
Why it's wrong here
WWPN load balancing treats all traffic between pair as single flow.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 350-601 question is part of Courseiva's 984-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.