Data Center Architecture

Data Center Architecture Specialization

Become a Data Center Architecture Specialized Partner

Cisco Data Center Architecture Specialization tests knowledge in selling, designing, installing, and supporting the Data Center Architecture.

Data Center Architecture Specializations

Entry Express Advanced Master
     
Related certifications: Advanced Data Center Architecture is required for Gold certification and optional for Silver and Premier.

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The Cisco Data Center Architecture Specialization helps your company:

  • Develop sales, technical, and service capabilities for integrated networking solutions
  • Increase technical competency within your company
  • Achieve recognition as a Specialized Partner in the Cisco Partner Locator

This specialization also entitles you to a range of additional benefits. You can:

Account Manager | Architecture Systems Engineer | Field Engineer

Specialization Requirements

There are five required roles for the Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization: account manager, architecture systems engineer, and 3 field engineers.

The roles provide a targeted roadmap with training content and exams tailored to the types of jobs these individuals would perform in a company.

All costs and training hours are approximate and may vary by region.


Account Manager

Responsible for sales methodology and customer engagement.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Cisco Sales Expert (#646-206 CSE) Exam $80 60 min
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Data Center Sales Specialist for Architecture
#650-987 PSDCUCAM Exam Details Exam $65 75 min
#646-985 DCNSS Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Cisco Sales Essentials (CSE) v6.0 E-learning $0 5 hrs
Quickstart for Data Center/Virtualization Architecture E-learning $0 2 hrs
Cisco Data Center Unified Computing for Account Managers (DCUCAM v1.1) E-learning $0 6 hrs
Data Center Networking Solution Sales (DCNSS v3.0) E-learning $0 6 hrs
Total:   $215 23 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

One qualified individual may fill only the account manager role in up to two architecture specializations.

Architecture Systems Engineer

Presales engineer responsible for Data Center Architecture solution planning and design. Possesses both business and technical skills. Understands customer business needs and issues, business process and transformation.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
There are no prerequisites for this role. - - -
Requirements:      
Data Center Architecture Design Specialist
#650-987 PSDCUCAM Exam Details Exam $65 75 min
#642-991 DCUFD v4 or 642-996 DCUFD v5 Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
#642-993 DCUCD v4 or 642-998 DCUCD v5 Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Quickstart for Data Center/Virtualization Architecture E-learning $0 2 hrs
Cisco Data Center Unified Computing for Account Managers (DCUCAM v1.1) E-learning $0 6 hrs
Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric (DCUFD) v4.0 or v5.0 Instructor-led v4
Instructor-led v5
$3,295
$3,295
40 hrs
40 hrs
Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Design (DCUCD) v4.0 Instructor-led v4 $3,495 40 hrs
or
Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCD)v5.0 Instructor-led v5 $3,495 40 hrs
Total:   $6,955 91 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

One qualified individual may fill only the Architecture Systems Engineer (ASE) role in up to two architecture specializations.

Field Engineer 1 (Unified Computing)

Post-sales engineer responsible for Data Center Architecture unified computing solutions and considerations.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
There are no prerequisites for this role. - - -
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Data Center Support for UC Specialist (Option 1)
#642-994 DCUCI v4 or 642-999 DCUCI v5 Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration

Data Center Unified Computing Implementation (DCUCI) v4

Instructor-ledv4 $3,495 40 hrs
or

Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCI) v5.0

Instructor-ledv5 $3,495 40 hrs
Total:   $3,645 41 hrs
or
Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
There are no prerequisites for this role. - - -
Data Center Unified Computing Support Specialist (Option 2)
#642-994 DCUCIv4 or #642-999 DCUCIv5 Exam Details
#642-035 DCUCT Exam Details
 
Exam
Exam
 
$150
$150
 
60 min
60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration

Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCI) v4.0 or v5.0

Instructor-led v4
Instructor-led v5
$3,495
$3,495
40 hrs
40 hrs
Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Computing (DCUCT) v5.0 Instructor-ledv5 $3,095 24 hrs
Total:   $6,890 66 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

The field engineer cannot fill roles in other architecture specializations (Borderless Network or Collaboration); however, one field engineer can fulfill up to 1 additional field engineer role (2 FE roles total) within the Data Center Architecture Specialization. Role sharing in technology specialization(s) has no impact on architecture specialization(s).

Field Engineer 2 (Unified Fabric)

Post-sales engineer responsible for Data Center Architecture unified fabric solutions.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
CCNP professional-level certification
or
CCIE Service Provider, CCIE Design, CCIE ISP Dial, CCIE Routing & Switching, CCIE Security, CCIE SNA/IP Integration, CCIE Service Provider Comprehensive, CCIE Storage Networking, CCIE Voice, CCIE WAN Switching, CCIE Wireless, or CCIE SP Operations
Exam $300 2 hrs
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Data Center UF Support Specialist (Option 1)
#642-992 DCUFI v4 or 642-997 DCUFI v5 Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric (DCUFI) v4.0 or v5.0 Instructor-led v4
Instructor-led v5
$3,295
$3,295
40 hrs
40 hrs
Total:   $3,745 43 hrs
or
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Data Center Unified Fabric Support Specialist (Option 2)
#642-992 DCUFI v4 or #642-997 DCUFI v5 Exam Details
#642-980 DCUFT Exam Details
 
Exam
Exam
 
$150
$150
 
60 min
60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric (DCUFI) v4.0 or v5.0 Instructor-ledv4
Instructor-led v5
$3,495
$3,495
40 hrs
40 hrs

Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Fabric (DCUFT) v5.0

Instructor-ledv5 $3,095 24 hrs
Total:   $6,890 66 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

The field engineer cannot fill roles in other architecture specializations (Borderless Network or Collaboration); however, one field engineer can fulfill up to 1 additional field engineer role (2 FE roles total) within the Data Center Architecture Specialization. Role sharing in technology specialization(s) has no impact on architecture specialization(s).

Field Engineer 3 (Application Services):

Post-sales engineer responsible for Data Center Architecture application services.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration

CCNA associate-level certification
or
CCNP, CCIE Service Provider, CCIE Design, CCIE ISP Dial, CCIE Routing & Switching, CCIE Security, CCIE SNA/IP Integration, CCIE Service Provider Comprehensive, CCIE Storage Networking, CCIE Voice, CCIE WAN Switching, CCIE Wireless, CCIE SP Operations, or CCDE

Exam $250 2 hrs
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Data Center AS Support Specialist
#642-975 DCASI Exam Details Exam $150 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Implementing Cisco Data Center Application Services (DCASI) 2.0 E-learningv2
Instructor-ledv2
$0
$3,295
32 hrs
32 hrs
Total:   $3,695 35 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

The field engineer cannot fill roles in other architecture specializations (Borderless Network or Collaboration); however, one field engineer can fulfill up to 1 additional field engineer role (2 FE roles total) within the Data Center Architecture Specialization. Role sharing in technology specialization(s) has no impact on architecture specialization(s).

Country Requirements:

Learn more about Country Groupings

Do you currently hold the Unified Computing ATP? See the requirement gaps to achieve the Data Center Architecture specialization.

See specialization requirements in a consolidated view

Your company must be a Cisco Registered Partner before you apply for specialization or certification. Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Visit the "Become a Registered Partner" page if you are new to the Cisco Channel Partner Program and have not registered.
  2. Verify that the certified individuals fulfilling job roles are allocated to your company with their CSCO testing number. Partner Administrators and internal Cisco employees (associated through the CAM Assignment tool) are able to verify this information using the Partner Self Service tool . (It takes five to ten business days on average for Cisco to receive the exam results data from its respective testing agencies.)
  3. Complete and submit the Specialization application.
    If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, please open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.

To renew a specialization:

  1. Begin the recertification process 90 days before your anniversary date.
  2. Verify that you are in compliance with the current specialization requirements.
  3. Submit your application using the Certification and Specialization Application online web tool.

You must meet all requirements to submit your application. If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, open a case with the Cisco Partner Relationship Team.

If you fail to submit a recertification application within 10 days after your anniversary date, you will lose your specialization.

Note: If a partner does not remain in compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the specialization or certification at any time. Partners must notify Cisco of its non-compliance promptly, but in no event more than thirty (30) days after partner fi rst becomes aware of its non-compliance. Upon receipt of such notice, partner may qualify for an extension of time in which to renew its compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements. Partner's failure to provide such notice may disqualify partner from receiving such an extension. If no extension is granted or if partner fails to comply with the certification or specialization requirements by the end of the extension period, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the applicable specialization or certification immediately. Additional information regarding non-compliance may be found in the Audit and Policies Document.