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Cisco 350-601 DCCOR (CCNP Data Center Core Exam) Study Guide

By: Author Melissa Palmer

Posted on Last updated:

This is my attempt at creating a 350-601 DCCOR exam guide.  This exam is the CCNP Data Center Core Exam, and its full name is Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies.  This guide is made up of completely FREE resources I have found on the Internet.  

While some of these resources may seem a little dated if you look at the publish date, the truth is some of these concepts on the exam have been around for a long time, and have not changed much over the years.

As we talked about in The Ultimate CCNP Data Center Guide, the new CCNP is composed of a core exam and a specialty exam.  This is a study guide for the core exam, with links to resources on each exam topic.  It is not meant to be a completely exhaustive guide, but to point you in the right direction to help you determine what topics you are already comfortable with, and what topics you need to spend more time on.

This guide is currently in process so be sure to bookmark it and check back for updates!  I will also post when I have made an update on my Twitter account, @vMiss33.

More About 350-601-DCCOR, CCNP Data Center Core Exam

The 350-601 exam, Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies, is also known as the CCNP Data Center Core Exam.

This Exam will be available on February 24, 2020.

The 350-601 Exam is 120 minutes long.

The most important document when studying for this exam are the Exam Topics published by Cisco, which we are about to take a closer look at.

350-601 DCCOR Exam Topics

When it comes to any Cisco Certification Exam, the Exam Topics tell you what topics you need to study for the test.  I am going to break down each section of the Exam Topics, and list some resources to go along with it.  Be sure to pay attention to how heavy each section of the exam topics is weighted.

You can find the Exam Topics for 350-601 here.

Section 1 – Networking – 25%

1.1 Apply routing protocols

1.2 Apply switching protocols such as RSTP+, LACP and vPC
Spanning-Tree Protocol Types

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) (802.3ad) for Gigabit Interfaces

Cisco NX-OS Software Virtual PortChannel: Fundamental Concepts 5.0

1.3 Apply overlay protocols such as VXLAN EVPN and OTV

What is VXLAN?

Ethernet VPN (EVPN)

Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV)

1.4 Apply ACI concepts

Cisco ACI for Data Center

Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)

  • 1.4.a Fabric setup

Setting up Cisco ACI From Scratch

  • 1.4.b Access policies
  • 1.4.c VMM

Configure Access Policies, Static Binding (Paths), L2Outs, L3Outs, and VMM Integration (vDS) (Covers 1.4.b and 1.4.c)

  • 1.4.d Tenant policies

Operating Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure, Chapter: Tenants

1.5 Analyze packet flow (unicast, multicast, and broadcast)

A Practical Guide to Differentiate Unicast, Broadcast & Multicast

1.6 Analyze Cloud service and deployment models (NIST 800-145)

The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing

1.7 Describe software updates and their impacts

  • 1.7.a Disruptive / nondisruptive
  • 1.7.b EPLD

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series FPGA/EPLD Upgrade Release Notes, Release 9.2(4)

  • 1.7.c Patches

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide, Release 9.3(x), Chapter: Performing Software Maintenance Upgrades

1.8 Implement network configuration management

What is network configuration management?

1.9 Implement infrastructure monitoring such as NetFlow and SPAN

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide, Release 9.3(x), Chapter: Configuring NetFlow

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide, Release 9.3(x), Chapter: Configuring SPAN

1.10 Explain network assurance concepts such as streaming telemetry

Streaming Telemetry Has Arrived. Why You Should Care?

Section 2 – Compute – 25%

Coming Soon.  Mostly Cisco UCS.

Section 3 – Storage Network – 25%

Coming Soon.  Mostly Cisco MDS.

Section 4 Automation – 15%

Coming Soon.

Section 5 – Security -15%

Coming Soon.

Cisco CCNP Data Center Core Exam (350-601 DCCOR) Study Tips

When it comes to studying for 350-601 DCCOR the resources in this guide are a great starting point.  Be sure to note which topics you are currently comfortable with, and which topics you know you need to spend more time on.  Personally, I like to dedicate a good old fashioned paper notebook per test when it comes to studying for a certification exam.