You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
CISCOCisco Certified Network Professional Data Center
The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center certification validates your ability to implement and operate core data center technologies, including network, compute, storage network, automation, and security. It is designed for data center engineers and architects who manage complex, mission-critical data center environments. Earning this credential demonstrates that you can run the data centers of today and tomorrow with confidence and expertise.
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration120 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions710
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What 350-601 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
5domains
27objectives
210concepts
US $400exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The CCNP Data Center certification proves your expertise in implementing and operating the core technologies that power modern data centers. The program covers network infrastructure, compute, storage networking, automation, and security — the foundational pillars that keep data center operations reliable, scalable, and secure. This certification is built for professionals who design, deploy, and manage data center environments that support critical business applications and services.
Achieving CCNP Data Center requires passing the 350-601 DCCOR core exam, which validates your knowledge of implementing core data center technologies. You then choose a concentration exam that aligns with your specialization, such as automation, security, or service providers. This certification not only validates your technical skills but also opens doors to advanced career opportunities and serves as a stepping stone toward the CCIE Data Center expert-level certification.
Who it’s for
This certification is for data center engineers, network architects, and IT professionals who are responsible for implementing and operating data center technologies. It is ideal for those who work with Cisco data center solutions and need to demonstrate their ability to manage complex environments that include compute, storage, and network components. Candidates typically have several years of experience in data center operations and are familiar with Cisco data center technologies such as Nexus switches, UCS servers, and ACI. They are comfortable working with automation tools and scripting languages to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Recommended experience
Cisco recommends that candidates have a solid understanding of data center technologies and several years of hands-on experience before attempting the DCCOR exam. Experience with Cisco data center technologies, including Nexus switches, UCS, and ACI; Knowledge of network protocols such as OSPF, BGP, and VXLAN; Familiarity with storage networking protocols like Fibre Channel and FCoE; Understanding of data center automation and orchestration tools; Basic scripting skills in Python or similar languages
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Cisco measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Network
- 1.1 Apply routing protocols
- 1.2 Apply switching protocols such as RSTP+, LACP and vPC
- 1.3 Apply overlay protocols such as VXLAN EVPN
- 1.4 Apply ACI concepts
- 1.5 Analyze packet flow (unicast, multicast, and broadcast)
- 1.6 Describe Cloud service and deployment models (NIST 800-145)
- 1.7 Describe software updates and their impacts
- 1.8 Implement network configuration management
- 1.9 Implement infrastructure monitoring using traditional and AI-powered tools such as NetFlow, SPAN, and Cisco Nexus Dashboard
- 1.10 Explain network assurance concepts such as streaming telemetry
- 1.11 Describe the capabilities and features of Nexus Dashboard
Compute
- 2.1 Implement Cisco Unified Compute System Rack Servers
- 2.2 Implement Cisco Unified Compute System Blade Chassis
- 2.3 Explain UCS-X in Intersight Managed Mode
- 2.4 Describe firmware and software updates and their impacts on Blade and Rack servers
- 2.5 Implement compute configuration management (Backup and restore)
- 2.6 Implement infrastructure monitoring such as SPAN and Cisco Intersight
Storage Network
- 3.1 Implement Fibre Channel
- 3.2 Describe network storage systems and concepts such as NFS and iSCSI
- 3.3 Describe software updates and their impacts (Disruptive/nondisruptive and EPLD)
- 3.4 Implement infrastructure monitoring using traditional and AI-powered tools such as SPAN and Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Automation and Artificial Intelligence
- 4.1 Implement automation and scripting tools
- 4.2 Evaluate automation and orchestration technologies
- 4.3 Describe high-performance network enabling technologies for AI in data center infrastructure
Security
- 5.1 Apply network security
- 5.2 Apply compute security
- 5.3 Apply storage security
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Cisco publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam code350-601
CertificationCisco Certified Network Professional Data Center
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration120 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese
PricingUS $400
Certification levelProfessional
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Cisco lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center
Credential earnedCisco Certified Network Professional Data Center Professional level certification Renewal and maintenance
Cisco certifications are valid for three years. You can recertify by passing a qualifying exam or earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Cisco maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Cisco
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Cisco’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Cisco certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the 350-601 DCCOR exam relate to the CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center certifications?
Passing the 350-601 DCCOR exam is the core requirement for both the CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center certifications. It also earns you the Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Core certification.
Do I need to earn a lower-level Cisco certification before taking the 350-601 DCCOR exam?
No, Cisco does not require any formal prerequisites for the 350-601 DCCOR exam. However, a strong background in data center technologies is recommended.
Can I take the 350-601 DCCOR exam online?
Yes, the 350-601 DCCOR exam is available both online and at test centers. You can schedule your exam through the Cisco Certification Tracking System.
What is the retake policy for the 350-601 DCCOR exam?
If you do not pass the exam, you must wait 5 calendar days from the day after your attempt before retaking it. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
Are there any hands-on labs or practical components in the 350-601 DCCOR exam?
The 350-601 DCCOR exam is a written exam that tests your knowledge of data center technologies. It does not include a hands-on lab component. However, the CCIE Data Center certification includes a separate lab exam.
How soon will I receive my exam results?
You will receive a score report immediately after completing the exam, which includes your score for each section and the passing score. Your official results are also available in the Certification Tracking System within 48 hours.
What job roles does the CCNP Data Center certification map to?
The CCNP Data Center certification is designed for data center engineers, network architects, and IT professionals who implement and operate data center technologies. It validates skills needed for roles such as data center engineer, network administrator, and systems engineer.
Can I recertify my CCNP Data Center by passing a different exam?
Yes, you can recertify by passing any qualifying Cisco certification exam or by earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Passing a higher-level exam, such as the CCIE Data Center lab, also renews your CCNP Data Center certification.
Are there any regional differences in the availability of the 350-601 DCCOR exam?
The 350-601 DCCOR exam is available globally through Pearson VUE. Pricing may vary by country or region, and the exam is offered in English and Japanese.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 710 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Cisco measures — each one written out.
5domains
27objectives
210concepts
153free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Network252 questions
1.1 Apply routing protocols9 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.2 Apply switching protocols such as RSTP+, LACP and vPC10 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →1.3 Apply overlay protocols such as VXLAN EVPN5 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.4 Apply ACI concepts7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.5 Analyze packet flow (unicast, multicast, and broadcast)4 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →1.6 Describe Cloud service and deployment models (NIST 800-145)6 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.7 Describe software updates and their impacts4 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →1.8 Implement network configuration management8 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →1.9 Implement infrastructure monitoring using traditional and AI-powered tools such as NetFlow, SPAN, and Cisco Nexus Dashboard7 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →1.10 Explain network assurance concepts such as streaming telemetry6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →1.11 Describe the capabilities and features of Nexus Dashboard4 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →
2Compute169 questions
2.1 Implement Cisco Unified Compute System Rack Servers10 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →2.2 Implement Cisco Unified Compute System Blade Chassis13 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →2.3 Explain UCS-X in Intersight Managed Mode6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →2.4 Describe firmware and software updates and their impacts on Blade and Rack servers7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →2.5 Implement compute configuration management (Backup and restore)7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →2.6 Implement infrastructure monitoring such as SPAN and Cisco Intersight6 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →
3Storage Network108 questions
3.1 Implement Fibre Channel9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →3.2 Describe network storage systems and concepts such as NFS and iSCSI9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →3.3 Describe software updates and their impacts (Disruptive/nondisruptive and EPLD)5 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →3.4 Implement infrastructure monitoring using traditional and AI-powered tools such as SPAN and Cisco Nexus Dashboard7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
4Automation and Artificial Intelligence87 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
1.1 Apply routing protocols5 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
23 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
710 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
710questions
153pages
27objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Network252 questions
2Compute169 questions
3Storage Network108 questions
4Automation and Artificial Intelligence87 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
210concepts
710free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Cisco
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
5official links
210concepts mapped
The source
Cisco’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Cisco outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 27 objectives, 210 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Cisco changes the outline, this page changes with it.
27objectives on the outline→210concepts written→710free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.