Table of Contents1. Introduction to the H13-636 certification2. Career Value of Holding the Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification4. What are the requirements to be an HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636?5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification Huawei H13-636 is a practical certification in the storage field that focuses on the real-world implementation and fault repair of ultra-large-scale storage projects. 1. Introduction to the H13-636 certification The Huawei HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 is a world-class expert level practical certification exam in the storage field launched by Huawei. It is the core intermediate link of the complete HCIE Storage certification system. The H13-636 exam focuses on verifying the practical ability of practitioners to independently complete the entire process of ultra large scale storage projects in Huawei's authorized experimental environment. It aims to cultivate practical technical leaders who can implement complex storage solutions, overcome practical technical difficulties, and ensure the stable operation of large-scale storage systems. It is a key practical ladder for the transformation from "theoretical experts" to "practical storage architects." The core of HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 is the "expert assessment of practical implementation of ultra large scale storage projects," which is not limited to theoretical knowledge memory or solution design ideas, but requires the complete implementation of complex storage architectures based on specific business needs in a real Huawei enterprise level storage hardware simulation environment. Candidates need to independently complete the full process of practical operation from scheme refinement, resource planning, equipment configuration, performance optimization to fault repair, proving their practical ability to lead the delivery of large-scale storage projects, rather than just staying at the level of "knowing how to design" and "understanding principles."   2. Career Value of Holding the Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification The Huawei HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 is a world-class expert level practical certification exam in the storage field launched by Huawei. It is the core intermediate link of the complete HCIE Storage certification system. The H13-636 laboratory exam is the core threshold for HCIE Storage full certification, which proves the practical implementation ability of large-scale storage projects and is a key indicator to distinguish between "theoretical experts" and "practical experts."  When enterprises recruit storage architects, they particularly value the qualification of passing laboratory exams, believing that they have the practical ability to independently lead the delivery of large-scale projects. Passing the experimental exam means having the practical ability to undertake top-level projects such as the "East Digital West Computing" project, national level government cloud, and financial core system storage upgrades.  Priority can be given to participating in the practical delivery of key projects within the Huawei ecosystem, accumulating industry top project experience, and further consolidating the irreplaceable nature of the profession. Internationally, this practical qualification is a core qualification requirement for delivering high-end projects within Huawei's global business system, with a salary premium of approximately 40%-60% for certificate holders. The practical experience of the experimental exam is the core assessment content of the interview process. After passing the experimental exam, one can more confidently respond to in-depth questions about practical abilities during the interview, greatly improving the complete certification pass rate. As the highest level of practical certification in Huawei's storage field, it can prove that practitioners not only understand theory and design, but also can implement complex solutions and overcome practical difficulties. It is the core guarantor of enterprise data asset security and business continuity.   3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification For top experts who have passed theoretical certification and aspire to excel in the storage field, the Huawei HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 is the ultimate testing ground to prove their peak practical ability and ability to solve the industry's most complex engineering problems. Unlike the written test that focuses on theory and design, this is a multi hour "full chain practical marathon" conducted in real or high simulation environments, strictly following the official outline, aimed at cruelly and accurately verifying whether you have the master level hands-on ability to transform a grand architecture into a stable operating system and perform surgical level tuning and fault repair in extreme scenarios. The practical deployment of ultra large scale storage solutions means that you will personally build a hybrid storage empire in the laboratory, complete the integration of high-end centralized and distributed storage networking, full flash NVMe oF cluster deployment, and hybrid cloud data collaboration, testing your engineering ability to build complex systems from scratch. The practical operation of troubleshooting and repairing complex faults is a dual test of your "troubleshooting intuition" and "repair skills." You will face multi component linkage failures, hidden performance bottlenecks, and software and hardware compatibility conflicts, use professional tools to locate the root cause, and implement precise repairs to restore system health. Advanced data protection and disaster recovery configuration practical operation means that you will independently complete the implementation of cross regional multi active disaster recovery architecture, configure the complete process of enterprise level backup and archiving integration, and verify its RTO/RPO indicators to ensure that business is always online. The practical operation of storage security and compliance requires you to implement security policies from paper, configure a defense in depth system, and ensure that all operations meet strict compliance requirements such as cybersecurity 2.0, building a powerful and compliant data foundation.   4. What are the requirements to be an HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636? (1) Qualification prerequisites: Huawei HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 does not have mandatory pre certification requirements, but must have passed the HCIE Storage written test (H13-629) and have 3-5 years of practical experience in large-scale storage projects. Proficient in the core practical skills of HCIP Storage, with a deep understanding of the configuration logic and fault handling process of Huawei's enterprise level storage products, and possessing cross domain practical abilities. Huawei officially recommends that you participate in Huawei's official HCIE Storage experiment special training, or have multiple Huawei large-scale storage project leading practical experience, familiar with the equipment operation and configuration specifications of Huawei's experimental environment.  (2) Training and examinations: The Huawei HCIE Storage (Lab) H13-636 is a purely practical exam conducted at a Huawei authorized experimental center. Candidates are required to independently complete all practical tasks. The exam lasts for 8 hours and revolves around 1-2 large and complex business scenarios, requiring completion of the entire process of practical operation. The scoring criteria are based on a comprehensive score of "task completion rate (60%), configuration correctness (20%), performance optimization effect (10%), and operational standardization and document integrity (10%)." If the score meets Huawei's set qualification line, it is considered passed. The exam fee is approximately 8000 RMB. Within 1-2 weeks after the exam, the experimental exam results can be checked on the Huawei certification platform; after passing, you can schedule an HCIE Storage interview session. Those who fail need to make a new appointment after a certain period of time (usually 30 days), and the reexamination fee is the same as the first examination.  (3) Certificate of association: The laboratory exam (H13-636) is a necessary step to obtain the complete certification of HCIE Storage. It must be passed together with the written exam (H13-629) and interview before obtaining the HCIE Storage expert certificate. Within 2 years from the date of passing, the interview process must be completed, otherwise the score will be invalid and the experimental exam must be retaken.   5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIE-Storage (Lab) H13-636 Certification NCCSSE-Professional (NS0-701) Cisco CCIE Data Center VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN 2024 Hitachi HCE-5711          

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the F5 CTP Sales certification2. The Competitive Edge of F5 CTP Sales Certification 3. Core Components of the F5 CTP Sales Certification4. What are the requirements to be an F5 CTP Sales?5. Comparable Certifications to F5 CTP Sales Certification The F5 202 Pre-Sales Fundamentals certification aims to cultivate well-rounded talents by developing sales engineers' technical understanding and solution capabilities. 1. Introduction to the F5 CTP Sales certification F5 202 Pre-Sales Fundamentals (F5 CTP Sales) is a sales technology expert certification exam launched by F5 Networks. It is the only mandatory exam for F5 Certified Technical Professional and Sales (F5 CTP Sales) certification system, which verifies the core competencies of technical sales engineers in the field of F5 solution sales. The F5 CTP Sales certification focuses on verifying the comprehensive ability of technical sales engineers to accurately deliver the value of F5 products to customers, rather than pure sales skills or technical abilities. It is the foundational certification for the role of "sales technology expert" in the F5 certification system, positioned as a bridge between technical capabilities and business value. The core of F5 CTP Sales is to verify the sales engineer's understanding of the technical features of F5 products, ensure accurate answers to customer technical questions, evaluate the ability to accurately match F5 solutions with customer business needs, cultivate professional competence in driving sales through technical means, and ensure that the technical sales team can provide customers with a complete value analysis based on F5 products. When facing clients in the financial industry, F5 202 certificate holders can quickly understand their "high availability of core trading systems" needs and accurately recommend BIG-IP LTM's load balancing and failover solutions; at the same time, it can clearly explain how F5 solutions address customers' concerns about financial compliance and security auditing, perfectly combining technological advantages with business value, and promoting sales opportunities.   2. The Competitive Edge of F5 CTP Sales Certification  The average salary of F5 202 certified employees is 20%-30% higher than that of noncertified sales engineers. Within the F5 partner system, certification is a necessary condition for promotion to sales management positions. In F5 and partner recruitment, "F5 202 certification priority" has become a standard feature, especially in the screening of technical sales positions, where the pass rate of certificate holders has increased by more than 50%. Providing a composite ability certification of "technology+sales" for IT technical personnel to transform into sales positions reduces the threshold for transformation With professional F5 technical knowledge, F5 202 certificate holders can engage in equal dialogue with high-level technical decision-makers such as customer CTOs and CIOs, establish a technical authority image, and improve transaction rates. Can provide more accurate solutions that match customer needs, reduce program errors caused by insufficient technical understanding, and improve customer satisfaction and repurchase rates. Through precise demand analysis and technical matching, quickly identify customer pain points and provide solutions, reducing the average sales cycle by about 30% F5 202 certificate holders are eligible for high-level participation in the F5 Partner Program, enjoying more market resources, technical support, and sales tools. They can participate in advanced technical training and sales seminars organized by F5 to continuously improve their professional abilities, obtain advanced access to the F5 sales platform, demonstration environment, and technical documents, and enhance their sales support capabilities. At the same time, the certificate holder can also establish smoother communication channels with F5's internal technical team and product department to jointly serve customers and improve the win rate of large-scale projects. Provide end-to-end services from sales to technical support, enhance customer loyalty, and create opportunities for cross selling and upward sales in the future. Expand professional influence in the industry and establish a personal brand by participating in F5 user groups, industry seminars, and other activities.   3. Core Components of the F5 CTP Sales Certification For solution consultants who are committed to becoming top technology sales experts and hoping to transform complex technologies into clear business value, F5 Technology Sales Professional Certification is a crucial professional qualification. Unlike pure technical certification aimed at engineers, F5 202 certification aims to systematically cultivate and validate your complete technical sales closed-loop capabilities from understanding customer needs, designing matching solutions, to delivering business value. It is a key step in becoming a trusted technical consultant and outstanding sales expert for customers. The positioning of F5 products and solutions is the cornerstone of certification. You need to have a comprehensive understanding of the differentiated value of the BIG-IP series product matrix, and be able to accurately position the advantages of F5 solutions in the competition with competitors such as Citrix and A10, and clearly explain why you chose F5. Solution design and value delivery mean that your ability will be upgraded from 'selling products' to 'selling value.' You will learn to design architecture solutions based on customer needs, and proficiently master the methods of quantifying business value and return on investment analysis, transforming technological advantages into tangible business benefits such as cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and security for customers. The sales process and skills module focuses on the practical art of sales. You need to master the standard process from clues to transactions, be able to provide professional solution demonstrations, and effectively handle key customer objections in terms of cost, complexity, etc., to drive the sales process. As the underlying language for communicating with clients and engineers, you need to have a deep understanding of network core principles and modern application architecture to ensure that your solution design has solid technical rationality and wins the trust of the client's technical team.   4. What are the requirements to be an F5 CTP Sales? (1) Qualification prerequisites: The prerequisite for obtaining F5 202 certification is that you need to have basic network knowledge, understand the basic concepts of F5 products, and be able to communicate basic technical terms. F5 recommends personnel with over 2 years of experience in IT solution sales, especially those with a background in F5 product sales or technical support, to participate. (2) Training and examinations: The number of questions in the F5 202 exam is about 80 single-choice questions and scenario analysis questions, of which scenario analysis questions account for about 60%. It simulates real sales scenarios and examines problem solving ability. The exam lasts for 90 minutes, which means an average of about 1 minute per question, and requires a high level of proficiency in knowledge mastery. Full score of 350, pass with a score of 245 or above. The exam fee is approximately $180, which is globally standardized, and there may be tax differences in different regions. (3) Qualification maintenance: The F5 202 certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and needs to be regularly updated to maintain certification validity. Before the expiration of the validity period, it is necessary to pass the F5 202 recertification exam or complete F5 officially recognized continuing education courses, submit a renewal application, and pay the corresponding fees.   5. Comparable Certifications to F5 CTP Sales Certification F5 Certified Technical Professional, Sales (F5-CTP, Sales) Cisco Sales Expert (CSE) Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer (PSE) Huawei Certified Sales Engineer (HSE)      

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the H13-629 certification2. Career Value of Holding the HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification4. What are the requirements to be an HCIE-Storage (H13-629)?5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification HCIE-Storage (H13-629) is the "ultimate goal" for storage professionals who focus on designing hyperscale storage architectures and tackling complex technical challenges. 1. Introduction to the H13-629 certification HCIE Storage (H13-629) is a global top expert certification in the storage field launched by Huawei, and is the highest level of Huawei's storage certification system. The H13-629 certification focuses on verifying the comprehensive abilities of practitioners in ultra large scale storage architecture design, complex technology breakthroughs, cross scenario solution implementation, ultimate performance optimization, and fault root cause localization. It aims to cultivate technology leaders who can independently lead industry level storage projects, and is the ultimate ladder for transforming from "intermediate storage experts" to "storage architects." Against the backdrop of digital transformation entering the deep waters, large enterprises, governments, finance, energy and other industries have upgraded their requirements for storage systems to "ultra large scale, ultimate reliability, intelligent resilience, and cross-domain collaboration." The core of HCIE Storage (H13-629) is to cultivate "technology leaders and architecture decision experts in the storage field," who are not simply technical operators or solution executors, but can stand at the level of enterprise strategy and design "future-proof" storage architecture in conjunction with business development planning; overcome complex technical challenges in the storage field; lead the implementation of large-scale storage projects across departments and vendors; and provide authoritative decision support for enterprise storage technology routes and product selection, becoming the core guarantor of enterprise data asset security and business continuity. 2. Career Value of Holding the HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification HCIE Storage is the highest level of Huawei's storage certification system and one of the most recognized storage expert level certifications in the domestic IT industry. In the recruitment of core technical posts in government, enterprise, Internet and other industries, it is often listed as a "prerequisite," which is the core symbol to distinguish "intermediate experts" from "top experts." Having this certification means having the ability to lead large and complex storage projects. Internationally, in the global market covered by Huawei's business, certificate holders are the core competitors for high-end storage projects, with a salary premium of about 40% -60% and no ceiling for career development. HCIE Storage certification is not only a proof of technical ability, but also a reflection of technical leadership and industry discourse power. At the same time, you can join the Huawei HCIE expert community, communicate with global storage technology experts, participate in Huawei's storage product roadmap discussions, and obtain cutting-edge technology and resources in the industry. HCIE Storage is a necessary qualification for undertaking top-level projects such as national level data centers, financial core systems, and energy ultra large scale storage. Holders of the certificate can have priority participation in key projects within Huawei's ecosystem, accumulate industry top-level project experience, and further consolidate their professional competitiveness. After passing HCIE Storage, the career development path is clear and high-end, and one can transition to management positions such as "Storage Architect → Chief Architect → Technical Director → CTO", or become an "authoritative expert in the storage field" by deeply cultivating technology. Whether it is a technical or management route, one can achieve the maximization of professional value.   3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification For professionals aspiring to become top experts, technical decision-makers, or chief architects in the storage field, Huawei's HCIE Storage certification is a pinnacle of their technical career, representing the industry's highest level of technical expertise and strategic architecture capabilities. Unlike Advanced Certification IP (HCIP), which focuses on specific configurations and solution implementation, HCIE certification aims to shape experts who can master the entire storage technology stack, insight cutting-edge trends, design large-scale complex systems, and overcome extreme technical challenges. It strictly follows the official outline and comprehensively tests your master level abilities in the five core dimensions of "architecture design, technical breakthroughs, solution implementation, performance optimization, and root causes of failures." Storage architecture design and strategic planning require you to have a strategic perspective, be able to design ultra large scale, scalable architectures based on business forecasting, and strike the optimal balance between multi-dimensional requirements such as performance, cost, reliability, and compliance, in order to develop a medium - to long-term technology roadmap for the enterprise. The advanced storage technology requires you not only to "know how to use", but also to "understand thoroughly" the deep tackling module. You will delve into the underlying principles and complex challenges of cutting-edge technologies such as NVMe oF, distributed storage consistency protocols, and hybrid cloud data management, solving performance and reliability challenges in extreme scenarios. The design and implementation of complex storage solutions require you to be able to lead the design of customized solutions that meet the stringent requirements of core industries such as finance, energy, and the Internet, and be proficient in the architecture design and implementation of complex scenarios such as cross regional multi activity disaster recovery, super integration and integration. Ultimate optimization of storage performance means that you will become a "performance detective" and "tuning master" of the system, mastering the bottleneck analysis method from the host to the hard disk, and being able to perform specialized ultimate performance tuning for extreme scenarios such as AI training and database OLTP. Storage project management and technical leadership require you to have the ability to lead large-scale projects, manage risks, coordinate cross departmental resources, and provide technical decision-making and guidance to the team, demonstrating excellent technical leadership.   4. What are the requirements to be an HCIE-Storage (H13-629)? (1) Qualification prerequisites: There is no mandatory pre certification requirement for HCIE Storage certification, but we recommend that you have obtained HCIP Storage certification and have 3-5 years of storage related work experience; proficient in the core knowledge points of HCI Storage, with experience in delivering enterprise level storage projects and solving complex problems; Having a deep knowledge base in computer networks, servers, virtualization, and cloud computing. Huawei recommends that you participate in Huawei's official HCIE Storage special training or have experience leading multiple Huawei large-scale storage projects. (2) Training and examinations: HCIE Storage (H13-629) consists of three stages: written test, laboratory test, and interview. Candidates must pass each stage in turn, and those who fail any stage must retake that stage. Experimental exam: Complete practical tasks such as architecture design, configuration deployment, performance optimization, and troubleshooting around 1-2 large and complex scenarios. The interview is about 30-45 minutes of in-depth questioning based on personal project experience, technical understanding, and performance in laboratory exams. The exam duration is 120 minutes for the written test; Experimental exam lasting 8 hours; Interview: 30-45 minutes. The written test has a maximum score of 1000, with a passing score of 600 or above; The experimental exam is scored comprehensively based on completion, correctness, and optimization effects, reaching the qualification line set by Huawei; The interview passed the comprehensive evaluation of Huawei's technical expert team and reached the qualification line. (3) Qualification maintenance: The HCIE Storage (H13-629) certificate is valid for 2 years, and the renewal requirement is that you must pass Huawei HCIE Storage recertification (written test + test+experimental test, no interview required) or automatically renew through Huawei's latest advanced certification in the storage field before the expiration of the certificate; after renewal, the validity period of the certificate will be recalculated for 2 years.   5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIE-Storage (H13-629) Certification Dell EMC Proven Professional (EMCIE) NetApp Certified Architect (NCA) SNIA Certified Storage Architect (CSA) Nutanix Certified Professional (NCP)      

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the F5CAB5 certification2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB5 Certification3. Core Components of the F5CAB5 Certification4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB5?5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB5 Certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Support and Troubleshooting (F5CAB5) is a certification that focuses on key capabilities for troubleshooting and maintenance support of BIG-IP systems. 1. Introduction to the F5CAB5 certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Support and Troubleshooting (F5CAB5) is an entry-level specialized certification in the field of application delivery network (ADN) management launched by F5 Networks. It is the final stage of the five core exams of F5 Certified Administrator and BIG-IP certification system. The F5CAB5 certification focuses on verifying practitioners' ability to locate, troubleshoot, and solve BIG-IP system faults in all scenarios, as well as their practical skills in daily operation and maintenance support. It aims to cultivate junior technical talents who can independently handle BIG-IP system basic faults, quickly respond to operation and maintenance problems, and ensure stable system operation. It is a key final certification for BIG-IP operation and maintenance capabilities from "configuration operation" to "problem solving." The core of F5CAB5 certification is to cultivate "BIG-IP system full scenario basic fault troubleshooting and operation support experts," focusing on the entire process of "fault location root cause analysis, problem-solving effectiveness, and verification." It is not required to overcome complex deep technical problems, but to accurately identify high-frequency basic faults of the BIG-IP system, proficiently use F5 official tools to collect fault information, locate root causes, quickly implement solutions and verify their effectiveness, ultimately ensuring stable and uninterrupted application traffic carried by BIG-IP. In the event of a sudden "client unable to access application" malfunction in enterprise business, F5CAB5 certificate holders will follow the process to troubleshoot and first collect fault information through WebUI/CLI; Identify the type of fault; Further analyze the root causes; Implementation solutions; Finally, verify the recovery of traffic, review the cause of the fault to avoid recurrence, respond quickly and solve the problem throughout the process, and reduce the duration of business interruption.   2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB5 Certification F5CAB5 is the final core exam for the synthesis of F5-CA and BIG-IP full certification. Without this certification, one cannot obtain the full administrator qualification. The full F5-CA certification is the basic authoritative certificate in the BIG-IP operation and maintenance field, and has stronger competitiveness than single subject specialized certification. Troubleshooting is a core requirement for BIG-IP operations and maintenance positions. The F5CAB5 certification directly verifies the practical ability to troubleshoot, and the holder can independently handle high-frequency basic faults, avoiding the weakness of "being able to configure but not repair." Enterprises do not need additional pre job troubleshooting training, and can immediately undertake operations and maintenance tasks upon joining. Internationally, it is highly recognized in the field of application delivery, with a salary premium of about 15%-25%, which is a standardized proof of operational capabilities. The complete certification of F5-CA and BIG-IP is the prerequisite for advanced certifications such as F5-CTS and F5-CES, while the troubleshooting thinking cultivated by F5CAB5 can lay the core logical ability for tackling advanced complex faults and challenging expert positions in the future. F5CAB5 licensees can quickly respond to BIG-IP failures, shorten the duration of business interruption, and reduce the losses caused by failures. Especially in industries with high requirements for business continuity such as finance and the Internet, F5CAB5 licensees are more popular with enterprises.   3. Core Components of the F5CAB5 Certification For F5 BIG-IP operation and maintenance engineers responsible for ensuring the stable operation of critical application delivery services in enterprises, BIG-IP system basic troubleshooting certification is a highly practical and essential qualification for "firefighting team leaders." Unlike certifications that focus on architecture design or advanced configuration, the core goal of F5CAB5 is to systematically cultivate and validate your core troubleshooting ability to quickly, accurately, and standardly locate the root cause of problems and implement repairs in real production environments when facing various unexpected failures. It is a certification that transforms your operational experience into a replicable and inheritable systematic methodology. The core methodology for troubleshooting is the 'navigation map' of your work. You will master the standardized troubleshooting process and classification logic, establish a rigorous thinking of "foundation before complexity, environment before configuration," and avoid the misconception of blind operation in the face of complex faults. This is the essential difference between professional engineers and ordinary operators. As a top priority in authentication, troubleshooting data plane issues will expose you to the most common business interruption problems. Systematically learn to troubleshoot core data flow failures such as unreachable traffic, uneven load, address translation failure, and health check misjudgment, ensuring that the application traffic path is always smooth. The control plane troubleshooting module focuses on the "brain" and "nerves" of the system. You will thoroughly investigate faults that seriously affect the reliability of the system, such as high availability cluster synchronization failures, abnormal primary/backup switching, and management access interruptions, and safeguard the command center for application traffic. System level failures and operational support require you to tackle more fundamental challenges, including hardware anomalies, resource bottlenecks, upgrade failures, and be able to handle configuration backups, permission management, and other support tasks in daily operations, with comprehensive system "care" capabilities. Troubleshooting tools and log analysis are your "microscope" and "stethoscope" for discovering the truth. You will be proficient in using built-in CLI commands, status panels, tcpdump packet capture tools, and learn to quickly extract key clues from massive system logs, making all faults exposed.   4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB5? (1) Qualification prerequisites: F5CAB5 does not have mandatory educational requirements, but requires a foundation of core knowledge in F5CAB1-4, otherwise it will be difficult to understand the root cause of faults and troubleshooting logic. We recommend that you have about 1 year of daily operation and maintenance experience in BIG-IP systems, or accumulate basic troubleshooting practical experience through F5's official "Administering BIG-IP" full series training courses;In addition, you also need to master TCP/IP protocol, basic network troubleshooting logic, and be able to understand simple network topology and configuration parameters. (2) Training and examinations: The number of F5CAB5 questions is about 60-70, mainly single-choice questions, including a large number of scenario analysis questions. The exam lasts for 90 minutes. Full score of 1000, pass with 700 points or above. The exam fee is approximately 175-200 US dollars. The score will be displayed immediately after the exam, and the official score report can be downloaded from the F5 certification platform in the future.  (3) Qualification maintenance: The F5CAB5 certificate is valid for 2 years, and the renewal requirement is that you need to pass the F5CAB5 re certification exam or a higher-level exam in the F5 certification system within the validity period, submit a renewal application and pay the corresponding fee. After renewal, the validity period will be recalculated for 2 years. By passing all exams of F5CAB1-5, one can obtain comprehensive certifications of F5-CA and BIG-IP, laying the foundation for advanced certification.   5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB5 Certification Cisco CCNA  A10 ACSA CompTIA Network+ VMware NSX ALB          

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the F5CAB4 certification2. Why Earn Your F5CAB4 Certification? 3. Core Components of the F5CAB4 Certification4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB4?5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB4 Certification The F5 BIG-IP Administration Control Plane Administration (F5CAB4) is a BIG-IP system administration certification that focuses on competencies in control plane management. 1. Introduction to the F5CAB4 certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Control Plan Administration (F5CAB4) is a new certification system launched by F5 Networks in 2025, F5 Certified Administrator. It is one of the four core exams in BIG-IP and focuses on verifying practitioners' management abilities in the BIG-IP system control plan. The control plane is responsible for managing the BIG-IP system itself, including key functions such as configuration, monitoring, device synchronization, and system settings. It is the core of ensuring the stable operation and efficient management of the BIG-IP system. In the BIG-IP system architecture, the control plane and data plane have their respective roles, with the data plane handling application traffic and the control plane managing the system itself. The core positioning of F5CAB4 certification is to cultivate "professional managers of BIG-IP system control plane," rather than traffic processing experts. The core value of F5CAB4 lies in enabling practitioners to master "how to manage the core configuration and operating status of BIG-IP system," "how to ensure system high availability," "how to troubleshoot through logs," and independently complete key tasks such as daily management, configuration backup and recovery, high availability deployment and maintenance of BIG-IP system, providing solid guarantee for the stable operation of data plane. In the enterprise data center environment, the F5CAB4 certificate holder will be responsible for configuring the BIG-IP dual machine high availability cluster to ensure that one device seamlessly takes over the service in the event of a failure; Manage system logs and monitoring, promptly identify and resolve potential performance issues; Create and maintain UCS configuration backups to ensure that system configurations can be quickly restored during disaster recovery; Manage user accounts and permissions for the BIG-IP system to ensure secure system access.   2. Why Earn Your F5CAB4 Certification?  F5CAB4 is an officially recognized BIG-IP control plane management special certification by F5, with a high degree of recognition in the global enterprise data center and network operations field When companies recruit BIG-IP system administrators, they often list them as a "priority condition," especially suitable for professionals who wish to work in BIG-IP system management positions in large enterprises or data centers. Internationally, the salary premium for F5CAB4 holders in BIG-IP system management positions is about 10%-20%, which is a "core qualification certificate" for network operation and maintenance professionals to enhance their professional competitiveness. F5CAB4 is one of the four core exams for F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP (F5-CA) certification. Passing the F5CAB4 exam is a necessary condition for obtaining the F5-CA certification, which is the foundation of the F5 technology certification system and lays a solid foundation for obtaining advanced certifications such as F5 Certified Technology Specialist in the future. The F5CAB4 certification covers the core processes and best practices of BIG-IP system control plane management, which proves the comprehensive ability to independently manage BIG-IP systems. It can effectively reduce system failure risks, minimize downtime, improve system management efficiency, and create significant value for enterprises.   3. Core Components of the F5CAB4 Certification For F5 system administrators or senior operations engineers responsible for ensuring the continuous, stable, and secure operation of critical application delivery services for enterprises, F5 BIG-IP system control plane management certification is a crucial professional qualification for "escorts." Unlike the "data plane" certification that focuses on traffic processing and configuration, this certification sets its sights on the "behind the scenes hero" who ensures the reliability of the system itself: the control plane. F5CAB4 aims to systematically verify whether you have the expert level capability to perform advanced operation and maintenance, fault recovery, security reinforcement, and build a high availability architecture for BIG-IP systems, ensuring that this core infrastructure itself is "never down." As the top priority of certification, high availability management requires you to be proficient in the deployment, configuration, and refined management of dual machine clusters, as well as the ability to perform failover testing and health monitoring, to build a zero interruption physical foundation for the hosted application services. System monitoring and log management require you to become a 'diagnostic expert' for the system. This includes deploying local and remote Syslog logging systems, and being able to quickly locate performance bottlenecks and security risks from massive logs, utilizing built-in monitoring tools for proactive operations and maintenance. Configuring backup and recovery is the ultimate "regret medicine" and "life-saving straw" for system administrators. You must be proficient in using user configuration sets for complete backup and recovery, and establish a configuration version control mechanism to achieve rapid disaster recovery of your business in the event of any configuration errors or device failures. System setup and maintenance ensure the robustness and security of the system from the bottom up. This includes secure user access control, standardized processes for system patching and version updates, and basic performance parameter tuning based on business load.   4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB4? (1) Qualification prerequisites: There are no clear mandatory prerequisites for F5CAB4 certification, but it is recommended to have basic knowledge of BIG-IP system and network fundamentals. We recommend that you complete the "Administering BIG-IP" training course provided by F5, which can help candidates systematically master the knowledge and skills required for the exam.  (2) Training and examinations: The F5CAB4 question type is about 60-70 single-choice questions. The exam lasts for 90 minutes. Reaching the passing score set by F5 is considered passing. The exam fee is approximately $125 for F5 members and $175 for nonmembers.  (3) Qualification maintenance: The F5CAB4 certificate is valid for 3 years. The renewal requirement is that you need to accumulate corresponding continuing education credits (CEUs) within the validity period, submit a renewal application, and pay the renewal fee.   5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB4 Certification Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Network Services (DCND) CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV) Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)      

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the H13-624 certification2. Career Value of Holding the Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification4. What are the requirements to be a Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624)?5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification Huawei HCIP-Storage (H13-624) is a globally recognized certification that focuses on the design and advanced configuration of enterprise-level storage systems. 1. Introduction to the H13-624 certification Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) is a globally authoritative intermediate specialized certification in the storage field launched by Huawei. It is the core advanced link of Huawei's storage certification system.  The Huawei HCIP Storage certification focuses on verifying practitioners' comprehensive abilities in complex configuration, solution design, performance optimization, advanced data protection, and troubleshooting of enterprise level storage systems. It aims to cultivate intermediate technical experts who can independently undertake the delivery, solution design, and technical support of medium and large enterprise storage projects. It is a key step in the transformation from "basic storage operation and maintenance" to "storage system engineers." The core positioning of HCIP Storage (H13-624) is to cultivate "solution design and advanced operation and maintenance experts for enterprise level storage systems," not just technical personnel who master basic operations, but those who can deeply understand the core architecture and advanced features of Huawei's enterprise level storage products, independently complete complex storage solution design, advanced data protection policy configuration, performance bottleneck positioning and optimization, as well as troubleshooting and solving complex faults, providing high availability and high-performance storage guarantees for enterprise core data assets. In the core business system upgrade project of large financial enterprises, the holder of HCIP Storage certificate will design an enterprise level storage solution of "all flash storage + remote disaster recovery" according to business needs; Complete cluster configuration, cache optimization, and partition planning for Huawei OceanStor Dorado all flash storage; By using performance monitoring tools to identify and optimize IO bottlenecks in database storage, we ensure zero loss of core business data and uninterrupted business operations.   2. Career Value of Holding the Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification HCIP Storage is an intermediate storage qualification officially recognized by Huawei, which is highly recognized in domestic government enterprises, the Internet and other industries. When recruiting for positions such as storage system engineer, solution designer, and senior operations and maintenance, they are often listed as "essential requirements," especially among Huawei's ecosystem partners. They are the core qualification threshold for participating in the delivery of medium and large-scale storage projects, and those without certification find it difficult to undertake complex tasks. HCAP Storage is a necessary path to HCIE Storage, through which one can systematically master the core technology and solution design capabilities of enterprise level storage, laying a solid foundation for challenging senior positions such as "storage architect" and "technical expert," and having a clear career development path. Internationally, in regions where Huawei's business covers a wide range, the salary premium for certificate holders in intermediate storage positions is about 25%-35%. The holder has the technical capability to undertake Huawei's medium to large-scale storage projects and is given priority to participate in key projects within the Huawei ecosystem; join the Huawei ICT Certification Expert Community to obtain the latest technical documents, product white papers, industry solutions, and opportunities for offline technical exchanges, and accumulate industry resources. The H13-624 certification covers the design, performance optimization, disaster recovery configuration, and complex troubleshooting of enterprise level storage solutions, proving the ability to independently solve core storage problems in medium and large enterprises. It can reduce storage risks, improve data reliability, and optimize IT costs for enterprises, demonstrating significant professional irreplaceability.   3. Core Components of the Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification For professionals who are committed to becoming experts in enterprise data center storage architecture and proficient in Huawei's high-end storage products and solutions, Huawei certification of HCIP Storage is an authoritative qualification representing advanced technical level and design capabilities. The H13-624 certification strictly follows the official outline and aims to systematically verify whether you have the expert level ability to design, deploy, optimize, and operate a full stack storage solution with Huawei OceanStor as the core in complex enterprise environments. Enterprise level storage architecture and product advancement require you to have a deep understanding of core architectures such as unified storage, all flash, and distributed, as well as proficiency in the positioning and advanced features of Huawei's OceanStor, Dorado, and FusionStorage series products. As the foundation for implementing complex storage networking design and configuration, you will learn to design FC/IP SAN and hybrid networking, and achieve deep integration and advanced configuration of storage with virtualization platforms such as VMware and OpenStack. Advanced data protection technology and configuration are one of the core values of authentication. You need to be proficient in a complete set of data protection solutions, from local snapshots and clones to cross site dual active/replication disaster recovery, and be able to design and implement enterprise level backup and archiving integration strategies. Storage performance optimization means that you will learn the full process performance governance methods from performance monitoring, bottleneck localization to parameter tuning, SmartQoS/Tier configuration, and be able to perform specialized optimizations for key businesses such as databases. Advanced storage system management and operation require you to master advanced operation and maintenance skills such as automated operation and maintenance, fine capacity management, and system rolling upgrades to ensure the stability and efficiency of the storage platform. The complex troubleshooting module hones your practical troubleshooting skills. You will apply systematic methodology and specialized tools to solve various complex faults such as hardware, multipath, disaster recovery, and performance. Storage solution design and planning require you to be able to complete the entire process from requirement analysis, architecture design to proposal writing based on business and industry needs, achieving a leap from technical expert to solution consultant. Finally, you will learn how to configure storage security policies through storage security and compliance, and ensure that the solution meets industry compliance requirements such as cybersecurity 2.0.   4. What are the requirements to be a Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624)? (1) Qualification prerequisites: There is no mandatory pre-certification requirement for H13-624 certification, but we recommend that you obtain HCIA Storage certification first and have 1-2 years of storage related work experience. Before taking the exam, you need to master the core knowledge points of HCIA Storage proficiently; Have a basic understanding of computer networks, servers, and virtualization platforms. Huawei officially recommends learning the "Huawei Storage HCIP Certification Training" course through official training channels, or having experience in delivering Huawei enterprise level storage product projects.  (2) Training and examinations: The number of H13-624 certification questions is about 70-80, including multiple choice questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, situational analysis questions, etc. The exam lasts for 120 minutes Full score of 1000 points, passing with a score of 600 or above. The exam fee is approximately $300. The scores will be displayed immediately after the exam, and the official score report can be checked on the Huawei certification platform within 1-3 working days.  (3) Qualification maintenance: The validity period of the H13-624 certificate is 3 years, and the renewal requirement is that you need to pass the Huawei Technology Certification Renewal Examination (free of charge) or automatically renew the HCIE Storage certification before the expiration of the validity period. After renewal, the validity period of the certificate will be recalculated for 3 years.   5. Comparable Certifications to Huawei HCIP Storage (H13-624) Certification Dell Technologies Associate – Storage (DCA-Storage) NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer – SAN (NCIE-SAN) VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV) IBM Certified Specialist – Storage Solutions V5 (C9000-012)      

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) certification2. The Competitive Edge of CCQM Certification3. Core Components of the ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) Certification4. What are the requirements to be a Certified Construction Quality Manager?5. Comparable Certifications to Certified Construction Quality Manager Certification The ASQ CCQM is the top-tier certification in the construction industry that focuses on quality management throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects. 1. Introduction to the ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) certification ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) is a globally authoritative certification for quality management in the construction industry, launched by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), which focuses on verifying the comprehensive ability of practitioners to implement effective quality management strategies throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects, ensuring that projects meet quality standards and sustainable development requirements. CCQM is the official certification of "Full Process Quality Control Expert" in the field of construction quality, aiming to cultivate mid to senior level technical management talents who can independently lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of construction project quality, especially suitable for professionals responsible for quality control in fields such as construction engineering and infrastructure construction. In the construction industry, quality is not only related to project delivery and customer satisfaction, but also directly affects public safety and social responsibility. The core positioning of CCQM certification is to cultivate leaders and decision-makers for quality control throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects, rather than technical personnel responsible for quality inspection in a single link. The core value of CCQM lies in enabling practitioners to master "how to establish and implement a quality management system at all stages of a construction project" and "how to balance the relationship between quality, cost, schedule, and safety."   2. The Competitive Edge of CCQM Certification CCQM is an officially recognized specialized quality management qualification in the construction industry by ASQ, with a high degree of recognition in the global construction engineering and infrastructure construction fields. When companies recruit mid to senior level positions such as Construction Quality Manager and Project Director, they often list them as a "priority condition." Especially suitable for professionals who wish to serve as quality managers in large-scale construction projects, solving the pain point of "lack of authoritative qualifications for building quality control." CCQM certification covers the entire lifecycle quality management process and best practices of construction projects. After passing, it can prove the comprehensive ability to independently lead construction project quality management, effectively reduce project quality risks, reduce rework costs, improve customer satisfaction, and create significant value for enterprises. Especially in large-scale infrastructure projects, the professional competence of CCQM holders is more trusted by owners and regulatory authorities. Internationally, CCQM holders earn a salary premium of approximately 20%-30% for their positions in construction quality management, making it a "core qualification certificate" for professionals in the construction industry to enhance their professional competitiveness. The CCQM certification emphasizes the concept of green building and sustainable development, which proves the ability to integrate sustainability requirements into quality management at all stages of construction projects.   3. Core Components of the ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) Certification For senior managers committed to building comprehensive and systematic quality leadership in the construction industry, the certification of quality management throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects is an authoritative qualification representing forward thinking management thinking. CCQM certification goes beyond the traditional focus on the construction process, placing quality management at the forefront of the contract and design phase, and extending to long-term operation after project handover. Its aim is to cultivate your strategic control ability to connect the entire project, coordinate all parties, achieve quality goals, and maximize the value of the building's entire life cycle. The pre contract and quality planning stages serve as the starting point for certification, emphasizing source control. You will learn to anchor quality requirements in contract terms and develop a scientific quality plan and KPI system, establishing clear quality benchmarks and implementation paths for the project. As the core execution link of construction quality control, you will deepen the practical methods of key process control, material inspection, and non-conforming product management, and understand how to deeply integrate safety management into the quality process to ensure the quality of physical construction. The unique value of handover and operational quality control lies in focusing on the "second half" of the project. You will master the management of completion acceptance and defect liability period, ensure smooth delivery, and learn to develop operation and maintenance quality plans, integrate green building concepts, and achieve long-term performance and sustainability of buildings.   4. What are the requirements to be a Certified Construction Quality Manager? (1) Qualification prerequisites: The prerequisite for CCQM certification is that you need to have 8 years of full-time work experience in the construction industry, of which 3 years must be in a "decision-making position." The definition of a decision-making position is a position that has the authority to define, execute, or control project processes and is responsible for the results, not necessarily a management or supervisory position. Educational background can be used to offset some work experience requirements (only one option can be selected for deduction) Diploma from a technical or trade school—1-year exemption Associate Degree - 2-year Reduction Bachelor's degree - 4-year exemption Master's or PhD degree - 5-year exemption Up to 1 year of internship or apprenticeship experience can be counted towards the length of work experience.  (2) Training and examinations: The CCQM certification consists of 165 single-choice questions, 150 of which are scored and 15 of which are non scored prediction questions. The total appointment time for the exam is 4.5 hours, and the actual exam time is 4 hours and 18 minutes. The exam fee is $533 for ASQ members and $633 for nonmembers. The makeup exam fee is $333. The exam nature is an open-book exam; candidates can bring their own reference materials (bound).  (3) Qualification maintenance: The CCQM certificate is valid for 3 years, and the renewal requirement is that you need to accumulate 18 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) during the validity period, submit a renewal application, and pay the renewal fee.   5. Comparable Certifications to Certified Construction Quality Manager Certification ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C) ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Certified Construction Manager (CCM)        

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the F5CAB3 certification2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB3 Certification3. Overview of the F5CAB3 Certification4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB3?5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB3 Certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Configuration (F5CAB3) is a practical configuration certification focused on application delivery of core data plane components. 1. Introduction to the F5CAB3 certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Data Plan Configuration (F5CAB3) is a global authoritative application delivery network (ADN) management entry-level specialized certification launched by F5 Networks. It is one of the five core exams of F5 Certified Administrator and the BIG-IP certification system. The F5CAB3 certification focuses on verifying the practical ability of practitioners to configure, manage, and optimize the core components of the BIG-IP data plane. It is the "core key" for IT operation and maintenance personnel to master the practical skills of BIG-IP traffic management, aiming to cultivate junior technical talents who can independently complete BIG-IP data plane traffic forwarding configuration, load balancing strategy implementation, and basic traffic optimization. The core of F5CAB3 certification is to cultivate "BIG-IP data plane configuration practical experts." Unlike F5CAB2, F5CAB3 requires candidates to master "how to configure" rather than just "understanding what it is." The F5CAB3 certification focuses on the actual configuration process and best practices of BIG-IP data plane core components, ensuring that the certificate holder can independently complete the complete data forwarding path configuration from the "traffic entrance" to the "backend server," achieving load balancing, high availability, and basic optimization of application traffic. In the enterprise new application launch project, F5CAB3 certificate holders will be responsible for configuring standard virtual servers as application traffic entry points; Configure appropriate load balancing algorithms; Set up a health monitor to ensure that traffic is only forwarded to servers that are running normally; Enable session persistence to ensure user experience continuity; Ultimately verify the availability and performance of the entire data forwarding path.   2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB3 Certification F5CAB3 is the most recognized BIG-IP data plane configuration certification in the world. It is often listed as a "prerequisite" in the recruitment of IT operation and maintenance positions in the Internet industry. Especially in enterprises using F5 BIG-IP products, it is the core symbol that distinguishes between "theoretical understanding" and "practical ability," providing direct proof of capability for enterprise application release work. F5CAB3 is a core component of the F5 certification system, which allows for seamless advancement to F5CAB4 and F5CAB5, thereby challenging higher-level specialized certifications. Internationally, the salary premium for certificate holders in the basic management position of application delivery is about 10%-20%, which is a "standardized ability proof" for IT operation and maintenance personnel to transform into the field of application delivery. The F5CAB3 certification covers the core configuration process and best practices of BIG-IP data plane, which proves the ability to independently complete BIG-IP application publishing, avoiding common problems such as "application unavailability caused by configuration errors" and "server overload caused by unreasonable load balancing strategies" for beginners. Enterprises do not need extensive pre job practical training, and can quickly get started after joining.   3. Overview of the F5CAB3 Certification For practical engineers who have mastered the basic management and core concepts of F5 BIG-IP and are committed to becoming capable of independently deploying and optimizing application delivery services, F5 BIG-IP data plane configuration certification is a crucial advanced practical qualification. The F5CAB3 certification has made a leap from theoretical understanding to practical configuration operations, systematically verifying whether you have the engineering ability to translate core concepts such as virtual servers, load balancing, and high availability into concrete, stable, and efficient operational configurations. Virtual server configuration serves as the overall gateway for all traffic, and you will be proficient in selecting and creating various types of virtual servers, as well as mastering advanced configurations such as TCP/HTTP profiles to finely control traffic behavior. This is the cornerstone of external service release. Health monitor configuration is a sentinel system that ensures service availability. You will configure ICMP, TCP, HTTP/HTTPS and other monitors in depth, set reasonable detection parameters, ensure that faults can be actively detected, and avoid directing user requests to expired services. Address translation configuration focuses on network stealth and reachability. The core lies in mastering the three modes of SNAT, especially the configuration of SNAT pools, to solve the problem of server packet routing and achieve source address translation, which is a necessary configuration for most production environments.   4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB3? (1) Qualification prerequisites: There are no mandatory educational or professional requirements for F5CAB3 certification, but it is recommended to have basic network knowledge and F5CAB2 certification knowledge. Certification does not require advanced network or security certification, making it suitable for beginners in the IT operations field. We recommend that you complete the F5 official training course or the online learning platform SPOTO's F5CAB3 specialized training to master core configuration skills.  (2) Training and examinations: The number of F5CAB3 certification questions is about 60-70 single-choice questions, including scenario analysis questions and configuration operation questions. The exam lasts for 90 minutes. Full score of 1000 points, reaching 700 points or above to pass. The exam fees vary slightly in different regions, ranging from approximately $175 to $200.  (3) Qualification maintenance: The F5CAB3 certificate is valid for 2 years. To renew the certificate, you need to pass the F5CAB3 recertification exam or a high-level exam in the F5 certification system within the validity period, submit a renewal application, and pay the renewal fee. Special note: The F5 certification system underwent significant updates in April 2025, with new exams such as F5CAB3 replacing the data plane configuration section of the original 201-TMOS Administration exam.   5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB3 Certification A10 Certified Professional System Administration 4 Radware Alteon Entry-Level Configuration Certification Fortinet NSE 4: FortiADC Module      

Table of Contents1. Introduction to the F5CAB2 certification2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB2 Certification3. Overview of the F5CAB2 Certification4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB2?5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB2 Certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Concepts (F5CAB2) is a basic certification for application delivery that focuses on concepts and traffic behavior of the BIG-IP data plane. 1. Introduction to the F5CAB2 certification F5 BIG-IP Administration Data Plan Concepts (F5CAB2) is a global authoritative application delivery network (ADN) management entry-level specialized certification launched by F5 Networks. It is one of the five core exams of the F5 Certified Administrator and the BIG-IP certification system. The F5CAB2 certification focuses on verifying practitioners' understanding of the core concepts, component relationships, and traffic behavior of the BIG-IP data plane. It is the "key" for IT operations personnel to master the basics of BIG-IP traffic management, aiming to cultivate junior technical talents who can understand the working principles of the BIG-IP data plane, identify traffic processing paths, and analyze basic traffic problems. In enterprise network architecture, the data plane is the core layer responsible for "actual data transmission," handling the reception, forwarding, and response of user application traffic; the control plane is responsible for "management and decision-making," handling configuration, monitoring, and managing traffic. The core of F5CAB2 certification is to cultivate "BIG-IP Data Plane Concept Experts," which does not require proficiency in configuring data plane components, but rather the ability to deeply understand the differences between data plane and control plane, master the functions and relationships of BIG-IP data plane core components, understand the complete forwarding path of traffic from the client to the server, and the impact of high availability mechanisms on the data plane, laying a solid foundation for subsequent data plane configuration and troubleshooting. In the scenario of enterprise application release, F5CAB2 certificate holders can clearly explain how client requests enter the system through the physical interface of BIG-IP; how they are received by virtual servers and allocated to backend pool members based on load balancing algorithms; and how to ensure uninterrupted data plane traffic and maintain user session continuity through the fault transfer mechanism when the main device fails.   2. Career Value of Holding the F5CAB2 Certification F5CAB2 is the most recognized BIG-IP data plane concept certification in the world. It is often listed as a "priority" in the recruitment of IT operation and maintenance positions in the financial, Internet and other industries. Especially in enterprises that use F5 BIG-IP products, it is the core symbol that distinguishes the ability of "basic operations" from "understanding principles," laying the foundation for subsequent learning of F5CAB3. F5CAB2 is an important component of the F5 certification system, which allows for seamless advancement to higher-level specialized certifications and a clear career development path. Internationally, the salary premium for certificate holders in the basic management position of application delivery is about 10%-20%, which is a "standardized ability proof" for IT operation and maintenance personnel to transform into the field of application delivery. The F5CAB2 certification covers the core concepts and traffic behavior of the BIG-IP data plane. After passing, it can prove the ability to "understand the BIG-IP traffic forwarding principle," avoiding common problems such as "configuration errors causing traffic congestion" and "inability to analyze basic traffic problems" for beginners. It lays a solid foundation for subsequent participation in BIG-IP system configuration and troubleshooting work, and enables quick understanding of the existing BIG-IP traffic architecture of the enterprise after joining.   3. Overview of the F5CAB2 Certification For professional engineers who are committed to a deep understanding of the core of enterprise level application delivery and wish to master how the F5 BIG-IP system intelligently processes network traffic, the F5 BIG-IP data plane technology certification is a professional qualification that delves into the core principles. The F5CAB2 certification does not focus on basic management, but directly targets the BIG-IP system as the core of the 'traffic brain.' The data plane aims to systematically verify whether you have a thorough understanding of the complete data path, key component interactions, and advanced optimization mechanisms from client requests to server responses. The foundation of data plane and control plane means that you will establish a clear architectural perspective, deeply understand the separation of responsibilities among the three major planes of BIG-IP, and how the TMOS operating system works together, which is the cornerstone of understanding all advanced features. As a "highway system" for traffic, data plane network components require proficiency in VLAN traffic isolation logic, the core differences and high availability of floating and non floating self IPs, and how Trunk and routing ensure network connectivity and reliability. The core component of traffic forwarding is the absolute core of authentication. You will gain a deep understanding of the precise collaboration between the "traffic entry" virtual server, backend logical group pool and pool members, and health check hub nodes and health monitors, and comprehend the essence of various load balancing algorithms. Address translation and traffic optimization mean you will learn the "invisibility" and "acceleration" magic of the data plane. The key points include how various modes of SNAT can hide servers and solve routing problems, as well as how optimization techniques such as connection reuse and HTTP compression can significantly improve application performance and efficiency. High availability of data plane is the key to ensuring business sustainability. You need to understand the triggering conditions for failover, how to achieve session persistence through connection mirroring, and how device service clusters can achieve unified management and seamless switching of multiple devices.   4. What are the requirements to be an F5CAB2? (1) Qualification prerequisites: There is no mandatory educational or professional requirement for F5CAB2 certification, but we recommend having basic network knowledge and F5CAB1 certification knowledge. The F5CAB2 certification does not require advanced network or security certification and is suitable for beginners in the IT operations field. We recommend that you master the core knowledge points through F5 official training courses or SPOTO's F5CAB2 specialized training. (2) Training and examinations: The number of F5CAB2 questions is about 60-70 single-choice questions, including scenario analysis questions. The exam lasts for 90 minutes. Full score of 1000 points, reaching 700 points or above to pass. The exam fees vary slightly in different regions, ranging from approximately $175 to $200.  (3) Qualification maintenance: The F5CAB2 certificate is valid for 2 years, and the renewal requirement is that you must pass the F5CAB2 recertification exam or submit a renewal application and pay the renewal fee through a high-level exam in the F5 certification system within the validity period. Special note: The F5 certification system underwent significant updates in April 2025, with new exams such as F5CAB2 replacing the data plane concept section of the original 201-TMOS Administration exam.   5. Comparable Certifications to F5CAB2 Certification Citrix 1Y0-241: Deploy and Manage Citrix ADC with Traffic Management A10 Certified System Administrator (ACSA) F5 101: Application Delivery Fundamentals NGINX Fundamentals Accreditation