IT Certification and Career Paths

642-972 DCASD

Data Center Application Services Design

Exam Number 642-972 DCASD
Associated Certifications Data Center Application Services Design Specialist
Duration 75 minutes (45-55 questions)
Available Languages English, Japanese
Register Pearson VUE
Exam Policies Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial Review type of exam questions

The 642-972 DCASD Cisco Data Center Application Services Design exam tests a candidate's knowledge of the skills needed by a sales engineer to design and articulate a Cisco Data Center Application Services platform.

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 foundational technologies and protocols used with DCAS

  • Describe HTTP
  • Describe SSL
  • Describe WCCP
  • Describe the fundamentals of web technologies
  • Describe the fundamentals of the N-tier architecture
  • Describe the TCP connection process
  • Describe UDP
  • Describe the active vs. passive FTP
  • Describe streaming media
  • Describe file systems/protocols/applications

Perform a network and systems analysis

  • Identify the customer's current and future server farm requirements
  • Identify the customer's current and future N-Tier application architecture requirements
  • Identify current and future intersite application communication
  • Identify the customer's current and future application performance requirements
  • Identify the customer's current network configuration and its ability to support DCAS
  • Identify the component's of an DCAS site survey
  • Identify the customer application requirements that would benefit from a DCAS solution

Present the DCAS product set in a customer sales environment

  • Describe the features of the DCAS product family
  • Describe the components of a DCAS solution
  • Describe the ACE appliance product set
  • Describe the ACE service module
  • Describe the ACE GSS
  • Describe the CSS
  • Describe the CSM
  • Describe the ACE XML Gateway
  • Describe the ANM
  • Describe the WAAS product family
  • Describe the ACE licensing models
  • Position Cisco Load Balancing solutions in the data center networking environment
  • Describe the firewall load balancing solutions supported in a Cisco Load Balancing environment

Describe the features of the Cisco Load Balancing solutions

  • Describe the differences between the ACE Service Module and the ACE Appliance
  • Describe the health checking systems of Cisco Load Balancing solutions
  • Describe virtual servers
  • Describe real servers
  • Describe class and policy maps
  • Describe the high availability solutions for the Cisco Load Balancing solutions
  • Describe the firewall capabilities in the Cisco Load Balancing solutions
  • Describe SSL offload
  • Describe the migration path from CSS and CSM to the ACE solution
  • Describe session persistence
  • Describe the implementation of Cisco Load Balancing Solutions
  • Describe the virtualization capabilities of the ACE Service Module and Appliance
  • Describe the compession capabilities of the Cisco Load Balancing solutions
  • Describe the use of digital certificates in a Cisco Load Balancing solution

Describe ACE management and monitoring capabilities

  • Identify the applications used to manage the ACE module
  • Describe the process of managing the virtual contexts
  • Describe the capabilities and limitations of ACE management
  • Describe provisioning of virtualization on ACE
  • Describe provisioning of services on ACE
  • Describe delegated operations of virtual and real servers on ACE
  • Describe the monitoring of ACE
  • Describe the similiarities and differences between ANM and the ACE Appliance Device Manager

Describe the features of the Cisco Global Load Balancing solution

  • Identify appropriate Cisco GLB solutions
  • Describe the Cisco GLB DNS process
  • Describe the GSS deployment models
  • Describe the CNR option for GSS
  • Describe the protocols used by the GSS
  • Describe management and monitoring of the GSS solution
  • Identify the best GLB method to use in a particular environment

Describe the WAAS solution

  • Describe the roles for WAEs
  • Describe WAAS interception methodologies
  • Describe WAAS acceleration methodologies
  • Describe the high level capabilities of Cisco WAAS management and reporting
  • Describe IOS features that provide prioritization and control in a Cisco WAAS network
  • Describe WAAS fan-out
  • Describe wide area bandwidth allocation/provisioning from core to edge

Design a solution to meet customer requirements

  • Size a DCAS solution to meet a particular set of customer requirements
  • Design an ACE solution to meet customer requirements
  • Design a WAAS solution to meet customer requirements
  • Design an integrated ACE and WAAS solution to meet customer requirements
  • Design a firewall load balancing solution
  • Plan the use of digital certificates
  • Design a highly available overall data center network solution based on Cisco Data Center 3.0
  • Design a global load balancing solution to meet customer requirements

The following course is the recommended training for this exam.

  • Designing Cisco Data Center Application Services (DCASD)

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.

      Register at Pearson VUE      

Cisco Learning Network

Get valuable IT training resources for all Cisco certifications. Access study tools, CCNA practice tests, IT salaries, and find IT jobs.

Go Now

Cisco Training Tools

Use the following tools to assist in your certification journey.

Global Learning Locator Self Assessment Tool Certification Tracker Certifications & Communities Online Support

Cisco Learning Labs

Get hands-on routing / switching lab experience using Cisco IOS on UNIX.

Learn More