IT Certification and Career Paths

The 642-993 DCUCD Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Systems Design exam is associated with the DCUCD certification. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge of designing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing systems. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Systems Design (DCUCD) course.

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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 Cisco data center virtualization solutions

• Describe the elements of Cisco data center virtualization
• Describe the advantages of Cisco data center virtualization
• Given a particular customer business and technical environment, describe the advantage of a Cisco data center virtualization
• Identify the Cisco advanced solution services available to design, install, and maintain a Cisco virtualized data center (appendix) remote management services, support and warranty, preproduction pilot, workshops, and so on
• Describe how Cisco data center virtualization solutions enable policy retention

Evaluate an existing data center infrastructure in light of a Cisco data center virtualization solution

• List the most relevant technical data points to identify in converting an existing data center to a Cisco virtualized data center
• List the most relevant business data points to identify in converting an existing data center to a Cisco virtualized data center
• List the most relevant environmental data points to identify in converting an existing data center to a Cisco virtualized data center
• List the most important historical performance characteristics to examine when converting an existing data center to a Cisco virtualized data center
• Gather key capacity, performance, and other metrics to profile an existing data center
• Given a particular data center, evaluate the existing staff readiness for a Cisco Unified Computing solution

Determine the requirements needed to create a Cisco data center virtualization solution
(B and C Series)

• Given gathered historical performance characteristics of a server infrastructure, appropriately size a Cisco Unified Computing System virtual infrastructure
• Given a particular set of data center applications and servers, identify the number of physical machines necessary to create a Cisco virtualized data center solution
• Given a particular set of data center business drivers, identify the success criteria for a Cisco virtualized data center solution design (availability, reliability, security, financial, regulatory, line-of-business)
• Given a particular set of data center applications and servers, identify the networking requirements to create a Cisco virtualized data center solutions
• Given a particular set of data center applications and servers, identify the storage requirements to create a Cisco virtualized data center solution
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, identify the environmental needs that must be met
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, identify the business continuity needs that must be met

Design a Cisco data center virtualization solution based on determined requirements

• Given a particular data center virtualization project, identify the Cisco data center virtualization network technologies employed (refer to product version list)
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, identify the Cisco data center virtualization storage technologies employed (SAN, NFS, iSCSI, FCoE)
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, choose the necessary Cisco hardware necessary to deploy a Cisco virtualized data center solution
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, choose the necessary Cisco cabling and connectivity components necessary to deploy a Cisco virtualized data center solution (SAN, cabling, network elements, power) (northbound)
• Identify the method used to meet the application dependencies, business continuity considerations, server, storage, and other business dependencies that will impact the migration plan
• Given a particular data center virtualization project, determine an ROI from deploying a Cisco virtualized data center solution (financial, power, cooling, net and app management, and so on)

Identify the environments that best suit a Cisco data center virtualization solution

• Identify the most suitable Cisco data center virtualization environments
• Identify the components, features, and technologies that belong within each specific environment

Describe data center virtualization foundations

• Describe virtualization technologies
• Describe common virtualization solutions
• Describe virtualization in a Cisco Unified Computing System solution

The following course is the recommended training for this exam.

• >Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCD)

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.