Which condition requires using a device alias rather than a Fibre Channel alias?

Question

Options

• AThe zone database must be distributed over the fabric.
• BThe same alias must be used in zoning as well as DPVM.
• CAll aliases being used are being configured in the same VSAN.
• DAliases must be saved within a central database on the fabric.

• A
  82% (28)
• B
  9% (3)
• C
  6% (2)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

Option A is correct because device aliases use a fabric-wide distributed database, meaning the alias definition is automatically propagated to every switch across the fabric. Fibre Channel (FC) aliases are local to a single switch and cannot be distributed, so whenever your zone database needs to be shared across the fabric, device aliases are required.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B is a trap: Device aliases can be used in both zoning and DPVM, but this alone doesn't mandate choosing them over FC aliases - DPVM doesn't inherently force that choice.
• C is wrong because operating within a single VSAN imposes no requirement for device aliases; local FC aliases work fine in that scenario.
• D is subtly misleading: it sounds like it describes device aliases, but device aliases use a distributed (replicated) database across all switches - not a "central" (single-location) database. That distinction makes D an incorrect description.

Memory tip: Think "Device = Distributed." Device aliases travel across the entire fabric; FC aliases are Fixed to one switch. When the fabric needs to share the zone database, you need the alias type that can travel with it.

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