Which UCS Port Type Connects Directly to an FCoE Storage Array?

300-610 By islever Editorial Last updated

Evaluate options for storage connectivity Evaluate QoS for lossless Ethernet

Short answer

A Configure the fabric interconnect port as an FCoE storage port to directly attach the 10GbE SAN array with lossless class-fcoe QoS.

Question

An engineer must connect a new storage appliance to a Cisco UCS domain. • The storage array must be directly attached to Cisco UCS fabric interconnects. • Connectivity between UCS and SAN must use 10 Gigabit Ethernet. • The solution should use lossless QoS system class. • Network and storage traffic must traverse different uplinks. Which port types must be used between the fabric interconnect and the storage appliance?
  1. FCoE storage port - Correct Answer
  2. FcoE uplink port -
  3. Fibre Channel storage port -
  4. Fibre Channel storage port -

Key Takeaways

Tests the distinction between FCoE storage ports and FCoE uplink ports when a storage array is directly attached to a UCS fabric interconnect; the trap is choosing the uplink port because 10GbE and lossless class-fcoe are mentioned.

Connecting a storage array directly to Cisco UCS fabric interconnects over 10 Gigabit Ethernet with lossless QoS requires an FCoE storage port. This guide explains why option A is correct and why FCoE uplink and Fibre Channel ports do not fit the direct-attach, lossless-Ethernet requirement.

Common mistake: Choosing FCoE uplink port (B) because the term 'uplink' is associated with 10GbE connectivity and the lossless class-fcoe, but an uplink port connects the fabric interconnect northbound to an upstream FCoE switch, not directly to a storage array.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The storage array is directly attached to the Cisco UCS fabric interconnects, and the transport is 10 Gigabit Ethernet with a lossless QoS system class. In Cisco UCS Manager, the port role that terminates an FCoE storage target directly on the fabric interconnect is the FCoE storage port. This port type automatically uses the system class-fcoe, which is a no-drop class, satisfying the lossless requirement. Because the array is not behind an upstream FCoE switch, no uplink port is involved.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

B (FCoE uplink port) is the role for connecting the fabric interconnect northbound to an upstream FCoE switch or director; it cannot be used to terminate a storage target directly. C and D (Fibre Channel storage port) are native Fibre Channel interfaces (8/16/32 Gbps) that do not run over 10GbE and have no relationship to the class-fcoe lossless Ethernet system class. If option D was intended as a Fibre Channel uplink port, it is also wrong because Fibre Channel uplinks connect to a SAN fabric, not directly to a 10GbE storage array.

Community Comment Notes

Fcpoultry highlighted that the switch provides "a no-drop class for lossless service (class-fcoe)", which supports the lossless QoS requirement in the stem. Another learner (lurker8000) initially commented "actually I'll go with B" but later changed position with "Agree on A for this one." The unanimous 100 votes for A reflect this consensus, but the decisive factor is the direct-attach wording and FCoE storage port role.

Official Reference

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/System-Configuration/4-1/b_UCSM_System_Configuration_Guide_4_1.html

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Focus on the connection endpoint when choosing a UCS port role: if the cable goes directly to a storage array, the port is a storage port; if it goes to an upstream switch, it is an uplink port. Then confirm the transport—10GbE plus lossless class-fcoe means FCoE, not native Fibre Channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is an FCoE uplink port wrong for a directly attached array?

An FCoE uplink port connects the fabric interconnect northbound to an upstream FCoE switch or SAN fabric, not directly to a storage array; using it would imply the array sits behind that upstream device.

Does a Fibre Channel storage port support 10 Gigabit Ethernet and lossless QoS?

No. Fibre Channel storage ports are for native FC speeds (8/16/32 Gbps) and cannot carry FCoE or the lossless class-fcoe Ethernet QoS system class required here.

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Community Votes

A
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. Fcpoultry 👍 2 Answered A
    "The switch provides two default system classes: a no-drop class for lossless service (class-fcoe) and a drop class for best-effort service (class-default). You can define up to four additional system classes for Ethernet traffic." https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5000/sw/qos/421_n2_1/b_Cisco_Nexus_5000_Series_NX-OS_Quality_of_Service_Configuration_Guide_Rel_421_N2_1/Cisco_Nexus_5000_Series_NX-OS_Quality_of_Service_Configuration_Guide_Rel_421_N2_1_chapter3.html
  2. lurker8000 👍 1
    Agree on A for this one.
  3. lurker8000 👍 1
    actually I'll go with B

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