The Cisco 300-635 exam, from the name, covers the implementation of automated solutions for data centers. These include automation tools, orchestration, and programming concepts. On that note, success in this test will clear your path to obtain the CCNP Data Center, Cisco Certified DevNet Professional, and Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Data Center Automation and Programmability certifications. In other words, the 300-635 is one concentration exam associated with the above-mentioned certification programs.

Leading Certification Options

To begin with, the Cisco CCNP Data Center certificate was designed to help students prove their mastery of data center networking solutions. This is a comprehensive learning path at the professional level that requires candidates to take and pass 2 exams. These comprise the core exam, 350-601 by code, and a concentration evaluation that can be selected from a list of 6 tests including the 300-635. Conversely, the Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certificate verifies the mastery of software and infrastructure skills at the professional level. Obtaining it confirms that you have what it takes to effortlessly build or maintain applications that run on Cisco platforms. The qualification criterion for obtaining this certificate entails passing the core exam, 350-901, together with the relevant concentration exam from a list of 8 options. Finally, the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Data Center Automation and Programmability is a specialist title that candidates obtain after passing the 300-635 exam alone.

Tested 300-635 Domains

In summary, the 300-635 evaluation will address a total of 4 knowledge areas as we are going to find out shortly:

1. Network Programmability Foundation (10%)

Network programmability foundation covers the utilization of popular version control options using git, a description of the features of API styles, and the challenges involved in the synchronous or asynchronous consumption of APIs. Also, it measures the skills related to interpreting Python scripts with data classes, conditions, looping, and types, defining the perks of working with Python virtual environments, and explaining the significance of basic tools for configuring networks such as Puppet and Ansible.

2. Data Center Networking That Is Controller-Based (30%)

Such a topic is centered on describing a wide range of products and solutions such as the ACI target policy and ACI apps center, leveraging the API inspector for checking REST API calls and constructing Python scripts for the creation of an app policy with the ACI Cobra SDK. Also covered is an understanding of the construction of the Ansible playbook for the successful creation of an app policy and the description of the bonuses of Kubernetes infrastructure when they are integrated with the plugin of ACI CNI.

3. Networking That Is Data Center Device-Centric (30%)

This section, in particular, covers the skills of describing the provisioning of Day 0 using NX-OS, contrasting the telemetry that is model-driven, for example, YANG Push, to traditional strategies for monitoring networks, and constructing a Python script for the consumption of the telemetry that is model-driven utilizing NX-OS. Also covered are the skills related to deploying Off-Box automation and programmability by taking advantage of NX-OS. In more detail, such a domain details the concepts like POAP by Cisco, bash, the guest shell of NX-OS, Nexus NX-API, and the like.

4. Data Center Compute (30%)

Data center compute in the actual Cisco 300-635 exam focuses on the knowledge of configuring Cisco UCS via the tools for developing, describing the abilities of the DCNM API and identifying the key steps of the authentication method for Intersight API. What’s more, it assesses the learner’s knowledge of defining the basic step for implementing various workflows necessary for virtual and physical infrastructure with the UCS Director and utilizing the browser for the UCS Director REST API.

Job Opportunities

In more detail, the 300-635 examinees will be ready for the following roles as soon as they pass the official test:

• Network Development Engineer

  Network development engineers are skilled IT professionals who build and scale data networks. For that reason, one can also say these individuals create, develop, and automate networks to streamline data movement between data centers. Depending on the organization’s priorities, these individuals may also engage in a wide range of activities from testing the existing solutions to designing new ones that suit the company profile, and understanding user’s needs. Given their important role in many organizations today, it's fair to say network development engineers are the experienced networking professionals who combine project management skills with problem-solving ones to manage a wide variety of issues affecting data transmission. Thus, according to ZipRecruiter, these individuals are guaranteed an average salary of $100,298 per year in the US.

• Network Engineer

  A network engineer is a highly experienced IT professional involved in setting up and managing computer networks. What is more, these individuals provide full support to users when called upon and install as well as maintain tasks on routers, switches, cables, and other network components. In some organizations, these individuals may also be called network architects, support engineers, or VoIP/Cisco engineers responsible for managing a wide range of network types such as LANs, WANs, WLANs, SAN, and VoIP just to mention a few. According to the latest reports by industry experts at PayScale.com, a typical network engineer with modern skills is sure to make an average annual income of $75,168.

• Senior Automation Engineer

  A senior automation engineer, as a rule, utilizes a variety of engineering methods to automate infrastructure and IT processes. He/she then stabilizes the testing processes, troubleshoots equipment, tests new plans for complex projects, and designs highly functional systems in line with the business requirements. Besides, these professionals may be involved in the creation of engineering documentation, the development of efficient testing phases, and keeping track of performance metrics. Other roles that these individuals may assume depending on the nature and size of the organization include researching to identify new technologies and features, writing scripts for isolating bugs, and training junior IT specialists as directed by the company. Going by the latest reports, a senior automation engineer in the current employment market earns an average salary of $100,304 per annum. That’s according to the PayScale website.

Certification Path

The CCNP Data Center is a professional-level certificate for anyone seeking to validate the knowledge of data center networking solutions. You can take your training a notch higher by obtaining the expert-level CCIE Data Center certification soon after completing the Cisco 300-635 exam. Overall, this program demands success in two exams, the core test 350-601 and the lab evaluation, known as the CCIE Data Center v3.0.