How Hard is the CCNA Data Center?

The Cisco Data Center certification track would be quite new and I have read that lots of people fail on their first attempt. In order to gain the CCNA Data Center certification, you would be needed to clear two exams: No.1 640-911 DCICN and No.2 640-916 DCICT. After you would be giving the first look at the objectives for DCICN, it would be looked like CCNA Routing & Switching but on the Nexus platform. Well, after I have attempted it for the first time so as to clear the exam, I would be realized that it would be required lots more studying as well as that the official books would be able to cover the exam objectives completely. I would suggest you gain the prep courses which would be gained through the prep courses offered by the SPOTO. I learned it the hard way.

About the exam:

So as to prepare for the DCICN (640-911) exam, I bought the DCICN (640-911) Official Certification Guide from Cisco Press as well as went through the book completely. In order to verify the topics and information, I also had a look at the book created by Todd Lammle. Going through both books made me think that the DCICN-exam would be just like the CCNA R&S on the Nexus platform. Since I already have acquired the CCNA Routing & Switching as well as passed from the first attempt on both exams, I was just focused on studying the differences between Nexus & IOS and took some practice on that. Of course, I would be also repeating details of basic networking concepts as well as did some practice exams supplied with the book.

As it would be turned out, both books really don’t prepare you enough for the exam. There would be a whole list of topics that isn’t even briefly mentioned in the books. Probably the exam would be changing over time, becoming a lot more difficult and would have some new topics introduced as well.

After finding out the above information the hard way, I would have decided to read a little more about the exam and its objectives. A lot of information, as well as people, can be found on the CCNA Data Center study group that would have acquired the exact same experience as me. This would be the first place you should start, to my idea. Especially the posts about people that would have failed their 640-911 and learned what should be dome to do extra so as to clear, helped me a lot.

If you’re new to Cisco and have no prior experience in working with Cisco devices, the exam would be hard. I don’t really think it would be a good starting point. To my idea, it’s like all contents of a CCNA R&S plus a lot of detailed information about Nexus trust me, really detailed and understanding most concepts of the 640-916 (DCICT) exam.

Preparation of CCNA Data Center:

In order to prepare for my second attempt, I created a summary of the information which I would gather everywhere around. What I did extra this time, was getting enroll myself in the prep courses offered by the SPOTO. Thanks to my friend, who suggested me to check out their courses and it really helped me a lot. Their trainers have helped me a lot to gain this certification. By only studying the information in this post, you won’t get there. You really need to understand basic network concepts completely. Knowing basic information about IOS as well as the differences between Nexus and IOS isn’t bad either. And for all of that, SPOTO would be your best bet.