Introducing the Cisco CCNP Data Center Certification and Training Program
Introducing the Cisco CCNP Data Center Certification and Training Program
Validate your Cisco Data Center networking solutions skills
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Introducing you to the Cisco CCNP Data Center certification program
Data is being generated more than ever before with technological progressions; by facilitating new applications and businesses that connect everything – people, devices, and machines. Accompanied with intent-based networking, data center teams can take advantage of automation to scale and secure their infrastructure.
Today’s data center professionals require an extensive range of skills and a deeper focus in strategic technology areas to maximize and capitalize on these opportunities. The CCNP Data Center certification program is your solution to this learning gap, providing you with exactly that breadth and depth. The CCNP Data Certification is designed to help you demonstrate your skills in the ever-changing landscape of data center technologies. This certification covers core technologies and a data center focus area of your choosing.
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Exam and Recommended Training
You will decide on what you would like to focus on and where you want your career to take you. Among the industry’s most widely recognized and respected certifications, CCNP sets you apart. It tells the world that you know what you are doing. Additionally, completing any Cisco CCNP certification exam earns you a Cisco Specialist certification, so you are recognized for your accomplishments along the way.
Gaining CCNP Data Center certification proves your skills with data center solutions. To earn CCNP Data Center certification, you pass two exams, one that covers data center technologies and one data center concentration exam of your choice, so you can customize your certification to your technical area of focus.
- The core exam focuses on your knowledge of data center infrastructure. The core exam is also the qualifying exam for CCIE Data Center certification. Passing the core exam will qualify candidates to schedule and take the CCIE lab within the validity of their core exam.
- Concentration exams focus on emerging and industry-specific topics. You can prepare for concentration exams by taking their corresponding Cisco training courses.
Core exam:
| Required exam | Recommended training |
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| 350-601 DCCOR
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies |
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) |
This exam tests your knowledge of implementing core data center technologies, including:
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The Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) v1.1 course helps you prepare for the Cisco CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center certifications for advanced-level data center roles. In this course, you will master the skills and technologies you need to implement data center compute, LAN and SAN infrastructure.
You will also learn the essentials of automation and security in data centers. You will gain hands-on experience deploying, securing, operating, and maintaining Cisco data center infrastructure including Cisco MDS Switches and Cisco Nexus Switches; Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) B-Series Blade Servers, and Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. This course also earns you 64 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. I Upon passing the 350-601 DCCOR exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Core certification and you satisfy the core requirement for these certifications:
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Concentration exams (choose one):
| Required exam | Recommended training |
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| 300-610 DCID
Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure |
Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) |
This exam tests your knowledge of data center infrastructure design, including:
Automating Cisco Data Center Socertification exam. Introducing al tolutions Introducing al tolutions (DCAUTO) (DCAUTO) |
The Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) v7.0 course helps you master design and deployment options focused on Cisco data center solutions and technologies across network, compute, virtualization, storage area networks, automation, and security.
You will learn design practices for the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) solution based on Cisco UCS B-Series and C-Series servers, Cisco UCS Manager, and Cisco Unified Fabric. You will also gain design experience with network management technologies including Cisco UCS Manager, Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), and Cisco UCS Director. You can expect theoretical content as well as design-oriented case studies in the form of activities. This course earns you 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-610 DCID exam, you earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Design certification and you will have satisfied the concentration exam requirement for the CCNP Data Center certification. |
| 300-615 DCIT
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure |
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) |
This exam tests your knowledge of troubleshooting a data center infrastructure, including:
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The Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) v7.0 course shows you how to troubleshoot LAN, SAN, Cisco® Data Center Unified Fabric, Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®), and Cisco Application-Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®).
You will learn methodologies and tools to identify issues that may occur in data center network architecture. You will get extensive hands-on practice troubleshooting installation, configuration and interconnectivity issues on Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) switches, Cisco Nexus® switches, Cisco Fabric Extenders (FEXs), Cisco UCS, Cisco ACI, and more. This course earns you 50 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-615 DCIT exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Operations certification and you satisfy the concentration exam requirement for new CCNP Data Center certification. |
| 300-620 DCACI
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure |
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI) |
This exam tests your knowledge of Cisco switches in ACI mode including:
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The Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI) v1.1 course shows you how to deploy and manage the Cisco® Nexus® 9000 Series Switches in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®) mode.
You will learn how to configure and manage Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches in ACI mode, how to connect the Cisco ACI fabric to external networks and services, and the fundamentals of Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) integration. You will gain hands-on practice implementing key capabilities such as fabric discovery, policies, connectivity, VMM integration, and more. This course earns you 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-620 DCACI exam, you earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center ACI Implementation certification and you satisfy the concentration exam requirement for the CCNP Data Center certification. |
| 300-625 DCSAN
Implementing Cisco Storage Area Networking |
Configuring Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches (DCMDS) |
This exam tests your knowledge of Cisco MDS 9000 series switches, including:
Automating Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUTO) certification exam. Introducing al to |
The Configuring Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches (DCMDS) v3.6 course shows you how to implement, manage, and troubleshoot Cisco® MDS 9000 Series Switches, to build highly available, scalable storage networks.
Through expert instruction and extensive hands-on practice, you will learn how to deploy and use capabilities such as Virtual Storage Area Networks (VSANs), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), N-Port Virtualization (NPV) fabric security, zoning, automation with NX-API, Slow Drain Analysis, SAN analytics, Fibre Channel over TCP/IP (FCIP) tunnels, and more. You will learn how to configure and implement platform features and learn troubleshooting techniques pertaining to Fibre Channel (FC) domains, firmware upgrades, zones, and zone mergers. After passing the 300-625 DCAN examination, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center SAN Implementation certification and satisfied the concentration exam requirement for new CCNP Data Center. To complete your CCNP Data Center certification, pass the Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (350-601 DCCOR) exam or its equivalent. |
| 300-630 DCACIA
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure – Advanced |
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure – Advanced (DCACIA) |
This exam tests your knowledge and skills of Cisco switches in ACI mode, including:
Automating Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUTO) |
The Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure–Advanced (DCACIA) v1.1 course shows you how to integrate the capabilities of the Cisco® Nexus® 9000 Series Switches in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®) mode.
You will learn how to configure and manage Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches in ACI mode providing enhanced management and policy framework, along with the protocols used in the underlying fabric. The course also covers how to use Cisco ACI as a policy-driven solution that integrates software and hardware, and how to implement Cisco ACI Multi-Pod and Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator (NDO) deployments. You will gain hands-on practice implementing advanced ACI capabilities such as Rogue Endpoint Feature, Transit Routing, VRF Route Leaking, Contracts and Zoning Rules, Policy Based Redirect to Layer 4–7 Service Node, Multi-Pod Fabric and Cisco ACI® Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator. This course earns you 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-630 DCACIA exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – ACI Advanced Implementation credential. |
| 300-635 DCAUTO
Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions |
Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUI) |
This exam tests your knowledge of implementing data center automated solutions, including:
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The Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUI) v1.0 course teaches you how to implement Cisco® Data Center automated solutions including programming concepts, orchestration, and automation tools.
Through a combination of lessons and hands-on practice, you will manage the tools and learn the benefits of programmability and automation in the Cisco-powered Data Center. You will examine Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®), Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for data center and cloud networks, Cisco Nexus® (Cisco NX-OS) platforms for device-centric automation, and Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS®) for Data Center compute. This course prepares you for the 300-635 Automating Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUTO) certification exam. Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions (CSAU) is required prior to enrolling in Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUI) because it provides crucial foundational knowledge essential to success. This course earns you 24 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-635 DCAUTO exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Data Center Automation and Programmability certification, and you satisfy the concentration exam requirement for these professional-level certifications:
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Here are some of the benefits that you achieve when you become certified:
78% of technology executives and managers consider technical certification as a critical success factor.
99% of organizations use certifications to make hiring decisions.
- Show the world you know your stuff with a high-value certification
- Customize your certification within your technical focus
- Position yourself for advancement in the fast-paced world of information technology
- Add automation skills to your areas of expertise
- Earn a Specialist certification for passing any CCNP exam-core or concentration
- Qualify for CCIE lab exams by passing CCNP core exams
- Link that CCNP certification badge to all your social media profiles.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for CCNP Data Center, but you should have a good understanding of the exam topics before taking the exam.
CCNP candidates often also have three to five years of experience implementing data center solutions.
The Continuing Education program is intended to encourage candidates to maintain, grow, and diversify skillsets by offering flexible, configurable pathways to validate skills and recertify existing certifications. This will result in IT professionals bringing value to their organization and the industry by maintaining their status as a Cisco professional.
The Cisco Continuing Education Program offers Associate, Specialist, Professional and Expert level Cisco certification holders’ flexible options to recertify by completing a variety of eligible Continuing Education (CE) items.
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