The answer is to verify that the vNIC’s fabric ID matches the pin group’s preferred fabric. This is correct because a UCS pin group defines which Fabric Interconnect (FI) a vNIC should use for upstream traffic, but the server will ignore that pin group if the vNIC’s fabric ID is set to the opposite FI—causing the UCS pin group fabric ID mismatch. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this tests your understanding of how UCS Manager enforces fabric selection; a common trap is assuming the pin group alone guarantees path selection, when in fact the fabric ID must explicitly align. Remember the memory tip: “Pin the group, match the ID—or traffic goes to the other side.”
350-601 Compute Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A data center administrator reports that traffic from a specific UCS server is not flowing through the expected Fabric Interconnect (FI) A. The pin group is configured, but traffic is still sent to FI B. What should the administrator check?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the vNIC's fabric ID is set to match the pin group's preferred fabric.
The pin group configuration determines which Fabric Interconnect a vNIC should use for upstream traffic. If the vNIC's fabric ID is not set to match the pin group's preferred fabric, the server will ignore the pin group and send traffic to the other FI. Option D is correct because the fabric ID mismatch causes the pin group to be ineffective, and verifying this alignment ensures traffic flows through the expected FI A.
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.
✗
Verify that the server is associated with the correct service profile.
Why it's wrong here
Association is correct if the server is online.
✗
Reboot the Fabric Interconnect.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting may cause temporary outage but does not fix configuration issue.
✗
Check if the pin group is deleted.
Why it's wrong here
If deleted, there would be no pinning at all, but traffic would go to primary FI normally.
✓
Ensure the vNIC's fabric ID is set to match the pin group's preferred fabric.
Why this is correct
The vNIC must have the fabric ID set to force traffic to the desired FI.
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 subtle distinction between a pin group being configured and the vNIC's fabric ID being misaligned, leading candidates to assume the pin group is automatically applied without checking the vNIC-level fabric assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco UCS, a pin group is a fabric-level policy that binds a vNIC to a specific FI (A or B) for failover or load-balancing purposes. The vNIC's fabric ID property (e.g., 'A' or 'B') must match the pin group's preferred fabric; otherwise, the pin group is ignored, and the vNIC defaults to the other FI. This behavior is enforced by the UCS Manager's fabric failover logic, which checks the fabric ID before applying pin group rules, and can be verified via the 'show pin-group' and 'show vnic' commands in UCSM.
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: Ensure the vNIC's fabric ID is set to match the pin group's preferred fabric. — The pin group configuration determines which Fabric Interconnect a vNIC should use for upstream traffic. If the vNIC's fabric ID is not set to match the pin group's preferred fabric, the server will ignore the pin group and send traffic to the other FI. Option D is correct because the fabric ID mismatch causes the pin group to be ineffective, and verifying this alignment ensures traffic flows through the expected FI A.
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.
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.