The answer is a CIMC firmware mismatch between the new blade and the Fabric Interconnect. In Cisco UCS, the CIMC firmware on each server must be compatible with the firmware version running on the Fabric Interconnects for the server to be discovered and transition from an 'Unassigned' to an 'Associated' state. When a blade is inserted with an incompatible CIMC version, the Fabric Interconnect cannot establish management communication, leaving the server stuck in 'Unassigned' indefinitely. This scenario is a classic trap on the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, testing your understanding of UCS server discovery and firmware management—many candidates mistakenly blame hardware faults or cabling issues. A key memory tip: think of CIMC as the server’s “voice” to the Fabric Interconnect; if they don’t speak the same firmware language, the server stays silent and unassigned.
350-601 Compute Practice Question
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
UCS-A# show inventory chassis 1
Chassis: 1
Overall Status: OK
Power Supply: 1: OK, 2: OK
Fan Modules: 1: OK, 2: OK, 3: OK
Server Slots:
1: Unassigned
2: OK
3: OK
4: Unassigned
FEX Fabric Status: Fabric A: Up, Fabric B: Up
Firmware Version: 4.0(4)
UCS-A# show server inventory chassis 1 server 2
Server 1/2:
Overall Status: OK
Discovery: Complete
Memory: 256 GB
Cores: 16
Adapters: 1: VIC 1340
Service Profile: ESXi-Host2
State: Associated
Association Time: 2023-03-15 09:21:00
Serial Number: FCH2123VXYZ
Refer to the exhibit. The server in slot 2 is associated and working. A new server is inserted into slot 1, but after 30 minutes it remains in 'Unassigned' state. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
UCS-A# show inventory chassis 1
Chassis: 1
Overall Status: OK
Power Supply: 1: OK, 2: OK
Fan Modules: 1: OK, 2: OK, 3: OK
Server Slots:
1: Unassigned
2: OK
3: OK
4: Unassigned
FEX Fabric Status: Fabric A: Up, Fabric B: Up
Firmware Version: 4.0(4)
UCS-A# show server inventory chassis 1 server 2
Server 1/2:
Overall Status: OK
Discovery: Complete
Memory: 256 GB
Cores: 16
Adapters: 1: VIC 1340
Service Profile: ESXi-Host2
State: Associated
Association Time: 2023-03-15 09:21:00
Serial Number: FCH2123VXYZ
A
The service profile is already associated with another server.
Why wrong: A new server would get default profile or stay unassigned until associated.
B
The server is not powered on.
Why wrong: If powered off, the slot would show 'Power Off' or 'Unconfigured', not 'Unassigned'.
C
The server's CIMC firmware is not compatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware.
Incompatibility can cause discovery to fail, leaving the slot unassigned.
D
The Fabric Interconnect ports are not configured as server ports.
Why wrong: If ports were misconfigured, the entire chassis would have issues.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The server's CIMC firmware is not compatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware.
The server in slot 1 remains in 'Unassigned' state because its CIMC firmware is incompatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware. In Cisco UCS, the CIMC on each blade must match a supported firmware version for the Fabric Interconnect to discover and manage the server. When firmware versions are mismatched, the server cannot transition to the 'Associated' state and stays 'Unassigned'.
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 service profile is already associated with another server.
Why it's wrong here
A new server would get default profile or stay unassigned until associated.
✗
The server is not powered on.
Why it's wrong here
If powered off, the slot would show 'Power Off' or 'Unconfigured', not 'Unassigned'.
✓
The server's CIMC firmware is not compatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware.
Why this is correct
Incompatibility can cause discovery to fail, leaving the slot unassigned.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The Fabric Interconnect ports are not configured as server ports.
Why it's wrong here
If ports were misconfigured, the entire chassis would have issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'Unassigned' (server not discovered/manageable) and 'Unassociated' (server discovered but not bound to a service profile), leading candidates to incorrectly attribute the issue to service profile association or power state.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
If powered off, the slot would show 'Power Off' or 'Unconfigured', not 'Unassigned'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cisco UCS Manager uses a firmware management framework where the Fabric Interconnect acts as the firmware repository and orchestrator. When a blade is inserted, its CIMC firmware version is compared against the host firmware pack (HFP) or the current infrastructure firmware. If the CIMC version is unsupported, the blade is placed in an 'Unassigned' state and cannot be discovered until the firmware is updated via the CIMC update mechanism or the Fabric Interconnect's firmware auto-install policy. This is a common issue when mixing blade generations (e.g., B200 M4 with M5) without updating the firmware bundle.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: The server's CIMC firmware is not compatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware. — The server in slot 1 remains in 'Unassigned' state because its CIMC firmware is incompatible with the Fabric Interconnect firmware. In Cisco UCS, the CIMC on each blade must match a supported firmware version for the Fabric Interconnect to discover and manage the server. When firmware versions are mismatched, the server cannot transition to the 'Associated' state and stays 'Unassigned'.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.