- A
NPV is commonly used in top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to simplify SAN cabling.
NPV switches are placed at the top of the rack to aggregate server connections.
- B
An NPV switch connects to the core switch using E-ports.
Why wrong: NPV switches use N-ports to connect to the core switch's NP-ports.
- C
NPV switches can be used to connect FC and FCoE devices without a separate FCoE VLAN.
Why wrong: FCoE devices require a dedicated VLAN and FCoE initialization protocol (FIP).
- D
NPV reduces the number of FC domain IDs required in the fabric.
NPV switches don't participate in principal switch selection, so no domain ID is consumed.
- E
NPV switches perform fabric login (FLOGI) on behalf of attached devices.
Why wrong: NPV switches forward FLOGI from devices to the core switch, which performs the login.
350-601 Storage Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of storage 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.
Which TWO statements about NPV (N_Port Virtualization) mode in FC networks are correct?
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
NPV is commonly used in top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to simplify SAN cabling.
Option A is correct because NPV is specifically designed for top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to reduce the number of physical cables and simplify SAN cabling. In NPV mode, the ToR switch acts as a transparent proxy, forwarding FLOGI requests from end devices to the core NPV-enabled switch, which handles all fabric services. This eliminates the need for each ToR switch to have its own domain ID, reducing management complexity.
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.
- ✓
NPV is commonly used in top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to simplify SAN cabling.
Why this is correct
NPV switches are placed at the top of the rack to aggregate server connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
An NPV switch connects to the core switch using E-ports.
Why it's wrong here
NPV switches use N-ports to connect to the core switch's NP-ports.
- ✗
NPV switches can be used to connect FC and FCoE devices without a separate FCoE VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
FCoE devices require a dedicated VLAN and FCoE initialization protocol (FIP).
- ✓
NPV reduces the number of FC domain IDs required in the fabric.
Why this is correct
NPV switches don't participate in principal switch selection, so no domain ID is consumed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
NPV switches perform fabric login (FLOGI) on behalf of attached devices.
Why it's wrong here
NPV switches forward FLOGI from devices to the core switch, which performs the login.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between NP-ports and E-ports, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think NPV switches use E-ports for uplinks, when in fact they use NP-ports to avoid introducing additional domain IDs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, NPV operates by having the ToR switch use NP-ports to connect to the core NPV-enabled switch, which uses N-ports. The core switch handles all fabric services, including FLOGI, FDISC, and zone enforcement, while the NPV switch simply forwards these requests. In real-world deployments, this reduces the number of domain IDs from one per ToR switch to just one for the entire core, which is critical in large fabrics where the maximum of 239 domain IDs is a constraint.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-601 question test?
Storage Network — This question tests Storage Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NPV is commonly used in top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to simplify SAN cabling. — Option A is correct because NPV is specifically designed for top-of-rack (ToR) deployments to reduce the number of physical cables and simplify SAN cabling. In NPV mode, the ToR switch acts as a transparent proxy, forwarding FLOGI requests from end devices to the core NPV-enabled switch, which handles all fabric services. This eliminates the need for each ToR switch to have its own domain ID, reducing management complexity.
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: Jun 11, 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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