IT Certification and Career Paths

The 642-991 DCUFD Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric Solutions Design exam is the exam associated with the DCNID certification. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge of designing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric solutions. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric Solutions Design (DCUFD) course.

Courses listed are offered by Cisco Learning Partners are the only authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. Check the Global Learning Partner Locator for a Cisco Learning Partner near you.

Exam Topics

The following topics are general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam.

Describe the technologies used within the Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Describe the Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture
• Describe switching protocols used in a data center network
• Describe routing protocols used in the data center
• Describe how various data center protocols impact the design of a data center network
• Describe data center server deployment topologies
• Describe how traffic flows may impact the design of a data center network
• Describe methods for deploying a Green data center
• Determine when to use each networking technology within a Cisco Data Center solution

Describe the products used within the Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Describe the Catalyst 6500 data center product set
• Describe the Catalyst 49xx
• Describe the Nexus 7000 platform
• Describe the Nexus 4000 platform
• Describe server fabric switches (SFS)
• Describe Cisco Data Center Application Services
• Describe the data center network management and monitoring products
• Describe the Nexus 2000 platform
• Describe the Nexus 5000 platform
• Describe the Nexus 1000 platform
• Describe the MDS platform

Design the core layer of a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Describe the data center core layer
• Select the appropriate platforms and modules for use in the data center core layer
• Design a data center core layer to meet customer scalability, availability, performance, and connectivity requirements
• Design a data center core layer to meet customer security requirements
• Design network managing and monitoring functionality into the data center core layer
• Design for traffic flows in the core
• Design for a common or collapsed core

Design the distribution layer of a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Describe the data center distribution layer
• Select appropriate platforms and modules in the data center distribution layer
• Design a data center distribution layer to meet customer scalability, availability, and performance requirements
• Design a data center distribution layer to meet customer security requirements
• Design for traffic flows in the data center distribution layer
• Design network managing and monitoring functionality into the data center distribution layer
• Design virtualization into the data center distribution layer
• Describe the use of a logical versus physical distribution layer

Design the access layer of a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Describe the data center access layer
• Select appropriate platforms and modules in the data center access layer
• Design an access layer to meet customer scalability, availability, performance, and connectivity requirements
• Design an access layer to meet customer security requirements
• Design network managing and monitoring functionality into the data center access layer
• Design for traffic flows in the access layer
• Design a cabling plan and topology for the access layer in a data center

Design application services considerations into a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Design data center application high availability and load balancing using ACE
• Design data center virtual server high availability and load balancing using ACE with VMotion and VCenter
• Design data center high availability and load balancing using GSS
• Design data center services availability using OTV
• Design data center application optimization using the WAAS appliance
• Design data center application optimization using virtual WAAS
• Describe Cisco Data Center Application Services

Design security considerations into a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Design network resource protection into a data center network
• Design secure connectivity into a data center network
• Design secure infrastructure management into a data center network
• Design security for routing protocols into a data center network
• Design access control into a data center network
• Design compliance into a data center network
• Describe the role of common industry and Cisco specific security products in a data center environment

Design network management considerations into a Cisco Data Center Business Advantage Architecture

• Design a network data collection strategy for a data center
• Utilize the network management tools available in a data center network
• Utilize network analysis tools to scope an existing network and manage a new network
• Describe the common industry and Cisco specific data center network management tools

The following course is the recommended training for this exam.

• Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric (DCUFD)

Courses listed are offered by Cisco Learning Partners-the only authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. Check the List of Learning Partners for a Cisco Learning Partner nearest you

A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, directly from Cisco Press.