Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure, also known as the Cisco 300-615 DCIT, is an exam related to the CCNP Data Center and Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Operations certifications. In particular, this test certifies the learner’s ability to troubleshoot a data center infrastructure, covering compute platforms, automation, storage network, network, and management and operations.

Certification Overview

The CCNP Data Center certificate is meant for IT specialists seeking to prove their mastery of data center networking solutions. The certification requirements entail passing two exams, the core test or 350-601 (Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) and a concentration evaluation. That being said, the vendor provides a total of 6 concentration exams associated with this learning path and candidates should pass one of those to qualify for the certificate. Apart from the aforementioned 300-615, the other 5 concentration exams include 300-610, 300-620, 300-625, 300-630, and 300-635.

It's important to note that the Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Operations is nothing more than a Specialist title that recognizes your ability to manage data center networking solutions at the professional level and that can be earned by nailing 300-615 alone.

300-615 Exam Facts

The Cisco 300-615 evaluation costs $300 and should be completed in 90 minutes. It is only available in its English version and students can either opt to take the online form or schedule and take it from designated testing centers as a physical exam.

Cisco 300-615 Domains

In general, the 300-615 test will address a total of 5 objectives associated with managing data center networking solutions. This means every candidate working toward the CCNP Data Center certificate should focus on mastering the key objectives before facing the actual test. Keep reading to find out what every section will address, in particular:

• Domain 1: Network (25%)

  This topic measures the knowledge of troubleshooting routing protocols, switching protocols, overlay protocols, and infrastructure that is application-centric. This implies the exam-takers should be willing to demonstrate their ability to work with MP-BGP, PIM, FHRP, OTV, VXLAN EVPN, fabric discovery, packet flow, and OSPFv2, OSPFv3 among other technologies.

• Domain 2: Compute Platforms (25%)

  Conversely, this portion proves that the candidate is adept at troubleshooting rack servers for the Unified Computing System by Cisco and its blade chassis, and solving issues of the packet flow from the server straight to the fabric. Also tested is the candidate’s familiarity with troubleshooting hardware interoperability as well as packages, and firmware upgrades.

• Domain 3: Storage Network (15%)

  Storage network in the official Cisco 300-615 exam is designed to certify the knowledge of troubleshooting Fibre Channel and FCoE Cisco Unified Fabric (FIP, DCB). For this reason, students should first understand the details of zoning, device alias, NPV together with NPIV, FCID, and VSAN before attempting this test.

• Domain 4: Automation (15%)

  This section will highlight what the candidate should know when troubleshooting programmability and tools for both automation and scripting. In common, these include EEM, Scheduler, REST API, and encodings for JSON & XML just to mention a few.

• Domain 5: Management and Operations (20%)

  In conclusion, the Cisco 300-615 evaluation will cover management and operations. Here, a lot of emphases will be on understanding the steps for troubleshooting packages, interoperability and firmware upgrades, resolving the integration of unified management, and solving issues with the security of networks. What’s more, this section covers the skills of troubleshooting role mapping alongside the security domains of ACI, the compute security of data centers, and lastly, storage security like AAA, RBAC, binding of fabric, and the security of ports.

Potential Job Roles

The CCNP Data Center certification is designed to enhance the candidate’s skills relating to managing data center networking technologies. As a rule, it gives in-depth coverage of data center solutions and prepares the exam-takers for the following roles:

• Datacenter Network Engineer

  Datacenter network engineers are knowledgeable IT professionals who unify the everyday operations of Network Operations Centers (NOC). They interconnect network-centered and physical devices to the equipment that exists in data centers. Also, they are responsible for providing network WAN/LAN design, monitoring data network infrastructure to streamline its functionality, and gathering as well as analyzing the business requirements from the existing components. According to ZipRecruiter, a typical data center network engineer can make an average salary of $94,116 per year.

• Senior Network Engineer

  Commonly, senior network engineers are in charge of the workflow that’s used to maintain an organization’s enterprise network. They design and implement network infrastructure, resolve support issues at a more advanced level, and supervise the junior IT staff. In general, the resume of a senior network engineer should highlight the skills of installing or configuring hardware, performing scheduled network optimization tests, handling a wide range of support issues, designing reports, and creating network security measures. In many IT departments, senior network engineers report directly to the Chief Technology Officer and are guaranteed to get an average salary of $101,812 per annum. That’s according to PayScale.com.

• Data Center Analyst

  Overall, a data center analyst is responsible for performing comprehensive research to achieve the best practices, gathering & analyzing data to detect possible improvements or modifications, and implementing solutions in line with the identified issues. Also, these individuals are involved in managing on-call rotation, rebooting UNIX servers and Windows, installing desktop Windows, and installing as well as configuring server OS, databases, applications, and clusters. Going by the latest information, PayScale states that a typical data center analyst is sure to get the average pay of $56,708 per year.

Certification Path

The CCNP Data Center certificate is an impressive addition to your resume. But you should never stop at this point. After obtaining this certificate, you should focus on verifying your expert-level skills in managing data center networking solutions by pursuing the CCIE Data Center designation. This is an advanced-level program that confirms you as a frontrunner in managing advanced data center networking solutions. In more detail, it requires success in the Cisco 350-601 core test and an 8-hour long lab exam, the CCIE Data Center v3.0.