CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT)
The CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) examination conducted by Cisco is designed to check a candidate’s knowledge about troubleshooting a data center infrastructure including network, compute platforms, storage network, automation, management, and operations. This certification will definitely help you achieve great success in the future. It will help you in developing methodologies and tools to identify issues that may occur in data center network architecture.
Exam Prerequisites
For this exam you must be able to:
- Configure, secure, and maintain LAN and SAN based on Cisco Nexus and MDS switches, and Cisco Unified Computing System
- Configure, secure, and maintain Cisco ACI
Target Audience
This course will help in bringing out the best for candidates working in the following profession:
- Network engineers, administrators, and designers
- System engineers
- Datacenter engineers
- Consulting systems engineers
- Technical solutions architects
- Server administrators
- Network managers
- Cisco integrators and partners
Exam Overview
For CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) examination you are given 90 minutes to complete the exam. The exam can contain various questions types that can be Multiple-Choice Single Answer, Multiple-Choice Multiple Answer & Drag and Drop Fill-in-the-Blank & Testlet. However, for passing scores, Cisco does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice. The cost of the exam is $300 USD and the exam is valid for three years. Also, you can give this examination in the English language only.
Exam Registration
For registering you are required to follow the steps below:
- Create an account on Pearson VUE. If you already have an account on Pearson VUE, then login to the account.
- Select Proctored Exams and enter the exam number, 300-615 DCIT
- Follow the prompts to register and make the payment.
For more information, click on CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) FAQ.
Course Outline for 300-615 DCIT
Network: 25%
- Troubleshoot routing protocols
- OSPFv2, OSPFv3 (Cisco Documentation: IPv6 Routing: OSPFv3)
- MP-BGP (Cisco Documentation: MP-BGP)
- PIM
- FHRP (HSRP, VRRP) (Cisco Documentation: FHRP – HSRP Multiple Group Optimization)
- Troubleshoot switching protocols, such as RSTP+, LACP, and vPC (Cisco Documentation: Virtual Port Channels (vPC))
- Troubleshoot Application Centric Infrastructure
- Fabric discovery (Cisco Documentation: Fabric Initialization and Switch Discovery)
- Access policies (Cisco Documentation: Managing Access Policies)
- VMM domain integration (Cisco Documentation: Virtual Machine Manager Domains)
- Tenant policies (Cisco Documentation: Tenants)
- Packet flow (unicast, multicast, and broadcast) (Cisco Documentation: Packet Flow through an ASA Firewall)
- External connectivity (Cisco Documentation: External Connectivity)
Compute Platforms: 25%
- Troubleshoot Cisco Unified Computing System rack servers (Cisco Documentation: Cisco UCS Manager Troubleshooting Reference Guide)
- Troubleshoot Cisco Unified Computing System blade chassis
- Infrastructure such as chassis, power, IOM (Cisco Documentation: Cisco UCS Manager Infrastructure Management Guide)
- Network (VLANs, pools and policies, templates, QoS) (Cisco Documentation: Cisco Prime Network Documentation)
- Storage (SAN connectivity, FC zoning, VSANs, pools, policies, templates) (Cisco Documentation: Storage Networking)
- Server pools and boot policies (Cisco Documentation: Server Pools)
- Troubleshoot packet flow from server to the fabric (Cisco Documentation: Determine Packet Flow)
- Troubleshoot hardware interoperability
- Converged Network Adapters/port expanders (Cisco Documentation: Converged Network Adapter)
- Firmware
- I/O modules / FEX
- Fabric interconnects (Cisco Documentation: Fabric Interconnects and Fabric Extenders)
- Troubleshoot firmware upgrades, packages, and interoperability (Cisco Documentation: Cisco UCS Manager Firmware Management Guide)
Storage Network: 15%
- Troubleshoot Fibre Channel
- Switched fabric initialization (Cisco Documentation: Fabric Initialization and Switch Discovery)
- Fibre Channel buffer credit starvation
- FCID
- Cisco Fabric Services (Cisco Documentation: Cisco Fabric Services)
- Zoning (Cisco Documentation: Zone-Based Policy Firewall Design)
- Device alias (Cisco Documentation: Distributing Device Alias Services)
- NPV and NPIV (Cisco Documentation: N-Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV) and N-Port Virtualization (NPV))
- VSAN (Cisco Documentation: Configuring VSANs)
- Troubleshoot FCoE Cisco Unified Fabric (FIP, DCB) (Cisco Documentation: Unified Fabric White Paper—Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE))
Automation: 15%
- Troubleshoot automation and scripting tools
- EEM (Cisco Documentation: Cisco IOS Embedded Event Manager (EEM))
- Scheduler (Cisco Documentation: Scheduler Documentation)
- Troubleshoot programmability
- Bash shell and guest shell for NX-OS (Cisco Documentation: Guest Shell)
- REST API (Cisco Documentation: APIC REST API Configuration Guide)
- JSON and XML encodings (Cisco Documentation: XML/JSON variables)
Management and Operations: 20%
- Troubleshoot firmware upgrades, packages, and interoperability (Cisco Documentation: Updating the Firmware on Cisco UCS C-Series Servers)
- Troubleshoot integration of centralized management (Cisco Documentation: Centralized Management Using Clusters)
- Troubleshooting network security
- Fabric binding and port security (Cisco Documentation: Configuring Fabric Binding)
- AAA and RBAC (Cisco Documentation: Role-Based Access with AAA)
- First-hop security such as dynamic ARP, DHCP snooping, and port security (Cisco Documentation: Understanding and Configuring Dynamic ARP Inspection)
- Troubleshoot CoPP (Cisco Documentation: Control Plane Policing (CoPP))
- Troubleshoot storage security
- AAA and RBAC
- Port security (Cisco Documentation: Configuring Port Security)
- Fabric binding (Cisco Documentation: Configuring Fabric Binding)
Exam Policies for 300-615 DCIT
There are various policies to which the candidate is required to adhere to. Cisco includes various exam policies to help candidates understand the terms and procedures for the certification exam. Also, it is advised to check the policies beforehand to avoid any kind of confusion. Some of them are:
Exam Retake Policy
The candidate has to wait for five calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt. However, once passed, a candidate must wait for a minimum of 180 days before taking the same exam with an identical exam number.
Exam Reschedule Policy
Candidates who want to reschedule their online proctored exam must contact Pearson VUE or access an online Pearson VUE account to reschedule the exam up until the scheduled start time of your appointment. However, failure to reschedule before your appointment time or failure to appear for your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee.
Cancellation Policy
To cancel the online proctored exam candidates must contact Pearson VUE or access your online Pearson VUE account to cancel your exam up until the scheduled start time of your appointment. However, failure to cancel before your appointment time or failure to appear for your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee.
Preparatory Guide for CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT)
The next step to success is your exam preparation. To help you out with it, our experts have provided you with Preparatory Guide for CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) examination. Let’s get started.
Refer the Exam Guide
Before preparing for an examination, it is important to know the course outline and guide. Also, Cisco also provides the complete course guide on its official website. Also, it is the most authentic site to provide any information regarding the CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) exam. After you’ve gone through the basic exam details. It’s time to hit the exam guide. Therefore, for your assistance we have also provided you with the exam objectives:
- Network (25%)
- Compute Platforms (25%)
- Storage Network (15%)
- Automation (15%)
- Management and Operations (20%)
Learning Resources
Official Cisco Training
Cisco provides an official training course to help candidates prepare for the CCNP Data Center (300-615 DCIT) examination. The Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) training helps you in developing the skills and knowledge which you helps you in 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.
Private Group Training
Cisco offers Private group training that brings the Cisco classroom experience anywhere, whether it’s an office, or to an offsite location of your choice. Also, this can deliver any Cisco course in this format, from certification classes to the latest technology and business transformation training. Moreover, Private group training is a convenient, cost-effective choice for groups with many people who all need the same training.
Reference Books
Along with preparation guidance, you will need books and study material. We are here to help you. Below are the books for your assistance:
- CCNP Data Center Application Centric Infrastructure 300-620 DCACI Official by Ammar Ahmadi
Join Study groups
Joining study groups is a good way to get yourself fully involved with the certification exam you applied for. There is no harm in being a part of a healthy discussion. Also, these groups contain both beginners as well as professionals. Also, you can ask any query related to the exam or you can talk about the exam without any hesitation. Moreover, here you can start any discussion about the issue related to the exam or any query. By doing so, you will get the best possible answer to your query.
Practice Tests
After completing your preparation, it is time to start practicing sample paper. Also, sample papers will help you in finding out your weak areas and help you improve and excel in your examination. Moreover, the best way to start doing practice tests is after completing one full topic as this will work as a revision part for you. So, start your preparation now!