The answer is that the boot policy lists the local disk before the SAN target. This is the most likely reason because UCS Manager re-evaluates the boot order upon reboot, and if the local disk is present and has a higher priority in the policy, the blade will boot from it instead of the SAN LUN. The initial successful boot from SAN occurred because the local disk was not present at that time, but after a firmware update reboot, the local disk became available and took precedence due to its higher position in the UCS boot order. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how UCS boot policies are applied and re-evaluated after hardware changes or reboots, often trapping candidates who assume a successful boot means the order is correct. A common memory tip: "First in policy, first to boot — if local is listed first, SAN is just a backup."
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A UCS administrator applies a service profile with this boot policy to a blade. The blade boots from the SAN LUN successfully. However, after a reboot due to a firmware update, the blade boots from the local disk instead of the SAN. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The boot order has local disk before the SAN target.
The most likely reason is that the boot order in the service profile's boot policy lists the local disk before the SAN target. After a firmware update, the UCS Manager re-evaluates the boot policy, and if the local disk is present and has a higher priority, the blade will boot from it instead of the SAN LUN. The initial successful boot from SAN occurred because the local disk was not present at that time, but after the reboot, the local disk became available and took precedence.
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 WWPN of the SAN target is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
It worked before.
✗
The SAN target LUN ID changed after the firmware update.
Why it's wrong here
LUN ID is static.
✓
The boot order has local disk before the SAN target.
Why this is correct
Exhibit shows local-disk listed first.
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 local disk was not present at initial association.
Why it's wrong here
Possible but less likely; after reboot, local disk may have been inserted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a firmware update changes SAN parameters (like WWPN or LUN ID), but Cisco tests the concept that the boot order policy itself, not the SAN configuration, determines which device boots first when multiple bootable devices are present.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In UCS Manager, the boot policy defines the boot order using a list of vNICs and vHBAs, and the order is enforced by the BIOS/UEFI firmware. When a local disk is present, the BIOS will attempt to boot from it first if it appears before the SAN target in the boot order list. This behavior is controlled by the 'Boot Order' configuration in the service profile, which can be verified via the 'show boot-order' command in UCSM or by inspecting the boot policy XML.
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
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 boot order has local disk before the SAN target. — The most likely reason is that the boot order in the service profile's boot policy lists the local disk before the SAN target. After a firmware update, the UCS Manager re-evaluates the boot policy, and if the local disk is present and has a higher priority, the blade will boot from it instead of the SAN LUN. The initial successful boot from SAN occurred because the local disk was not present at that time, but after the reboot, the local disk became available and took precedence.
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
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A UCS administrator needs to ensure that server boot order always starts from the local disk if available, and falls back to a SAN LUN if local disk fails. Which boot policy setting should be used?
easy
A.Local Disk alone
B.SAN first, then Local Disk
C.SAN Boot Only
✓ D.Local Disk first, then SAN
Why D: Option D is correct because the UCS boot policy allows you to specify a boot order where the local disk is attempted first. If the local disk is unavailable or fails, the system automatically falls back to the next boot device in the list, which is the SAN LUN. This ensures high availability and aligns with the requirement to prefer local boot while providing a failover path.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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