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Cisco CCNP Data Center DCCOR 350-601 - All Domains Network Compute Storage Automation Security

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Question 1

Which Cisco Nexus NX-OS feature allows zero-touch provisioning of new switches, automatically downloading their configuration from a DHCP/TFTP/HTTP server upon first boot?

Answer choices

  • A. ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade)

  • B. POAP (PowerOn Auto Provisioning) (Correct)

  • C. Smart Install

  • D. DCNM Image Management

Explanation

POAP (PowerOn Auto Provisioning) enables zero-touch deployment of Cisco Nexus switches. On first boot (or if no startup-config is found), the switch enters POAP mode: obtains an IP via DHCP, downloads a Python or TCL script from a TFTP/HTTP server, which then fetches the appropriate configuration and NX-OS image. This enables rapid, consistent deployment of large data center fabrics. ISSU upgrades software without rebooting. Smart Install is a Cisco IOS feature for campus switches. DCNM provides centralized image management but not zero-touch boot provisioning.

Question 2

An engineer needs to configure NX-OS for an EVPN BGP fabric. Which address family must be enabled for EVPN route distribution?

Answer choices

  • A. `address-family ipv4 unicast`

  • B. `address-family l2vpn evpn` (Correct)

  • C. `address-family vpnv4 unicast`

  • D. `address-family ipv6 unicast`

Explanation

BGP EVPN uses the `l2vpn evpn` address family for distributing MAC/IP binding information (EVPN Route Types 1-5) between VTEPs. This address family carries the control plane information for VXLAN overlays: Type 2 routes (MAC+IP advertisements), Type 3 routes (inclusive multicast), Type 5 routes (IP prefix routes). IPv4/IPv6 unicast is the underlay routing address family. VPNv4 is used for MPLS L3VPN, not VXLAN EVPN.

Question 3

A storage network engineer needs to zone Fibre Channel devices on a Cisco MDS switch. What is the recommended zoning method for security and flexibility?

Answer choices

  • A. Port zoning — zone by physical switch port

  • B. WWN zoning (World Wide Port Name) — zone by device WWPN (Correct)

  • C. VSAN zoning with IP-based access control

  • D. Domain/Area/Port (D,A,P) zoning for all FC devices

Explanation

WWN (World Wide Name) zoning — specifically WWPN (World Wide Port Name) zoning — is the recommended method for SAN zoning on Cisco MDS switches. It identifies devices by their unique hardware identifier, providing consistent access control regardless of which physical port they connect to (flexibility for server maintenance/replacement). Port zoning ties policy to physical ports, so moving a cable breaks the zone. VSAN zoning refers to VSAN membership, not host-level zoning. D,A,P zoning uses FC address notation, which can change if the fabric reloads.

Question 4

A Cisco UCS engineer is configuring a Fabric Interconnect for a blade server chassis. What is the role of the Fabric Interconnect (FI) in Cisco UCS?

Answer choices

  • A. The FI is a standalone server running the UCS Manager software

  • B. The FI serves as the management and data plane, connecting blade servers to the upstream network while hosting UCS Manager for centralized management (Correct)

  • C. The FI acts exclusively as a storage controller for SAN connectivity

  • D. The FI provides only out-of-band management connectivity

Explanation

Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects serve multiple roles: (1) Host UCS Manager (the centralized management plane for the entire UCS domain), (2) Connect blade servers and rack servers to the upstream LAN and SAN networks, (3) Handle all server-facing I/O through Virtual Interface Cards (VICs) and unified fabric (FCoE). They run in end-host mode (Ethernet) and NPV mode (Fibre Channel). FIs are not standalone servers. They provide both Ethernet and FC connectivity. Management is in-band and out-of-band.

Question 5

A network engineer is configuring a VPC (Virtual Port Channel) on Cisco Nexus switches. Which statement about VPC peer links and peer-keepalive links is correct?

Answer choices

  • A. The peer-keepalive link carries VPC data traffic during failover

  • B. The peer link carries all control plane traffic and forwarded frames; the peer-keepalive link detects split-brain scenarios (Correct)

  • C. VPC requires both switches to share a single management IP address

  • D. The peer link must be a single dedicated 10GbE connection

Explanation

In Cisco VPC, the peer link (typically 40/100GbE port channel) carries: VPC control messages, BPDUs, IGMP snooping entries, and traffic destined for hosts connected to the peer switch. The peer-keepalive link (a separate L3 path, often through OOB management) sends periodic heartbeats between VPC peers to detect if the peer is alive. In a split-brain scenario (peer link fails), the keepalive determines which peer remains primary. The peer-keepalive carries only heartbeats, NOT data traffic. The peer link should be a multi-interface port channel for redundancy.