A new UCS dual fabric cluster is being configured with a single chassis. The administrator notices that the cluster is not in High Availability (HA) mode. What is the possible cause?

Question

Options

• ANo uplinks are active into the data center.
• BThe links to the chassis are not enabled
• CThe HA plugin has not been installed in UCS Manager
• DThe UCS-FI-HA license has not been activated in UCS Manager

• A
  13% (5)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  75% (30)
• D
  10% (4)

Explanation

Option C identifies a software configuration gap rather than a hardware or connectivity issue. In Cisco UCS, even with dual Fabric Interconnects physically cabled and powered on, the cluster will not enter HA mode if the necessary software component within UCS Manager has not been installed or enabled - the hardware alone is insufficient to activate cluster HA behavior.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A is incorrect because uplink status to the upstream data center network is a northbound connectivity issue; it has no bearing on the HA relationship between the two Fabric Interconnects themselves.
• B is incorrect because chassis link status affects server-facing (southbound) fabric connectivity, not the FI-to-FI cluster HA state.
• D is a plausible-sounding trap, but UCS HA is not a licensed feature - there is no "UCS-FI-HA" license SKU in UCS Manager. License-based distractors are common on Cisco exams precisely because licensing is a real factor for other features (e.g., port licensing on FIs).

Memory tip: Think "hardware enables, software activates." Dual FIs give you the capability for HA, but UCS Manager must have the appropriate software configuration installed before the cluster recognizes and operates in HA mode. If everything looks physically correct but HA still isn't showing, suspect a missing software/plugin component first.

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