Cisco Data Center UCS Specialist Certification

Last week I was in training for the Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Implementation course. This course prepares the student to implement the Cisco UCS from racking, cabling, creating VLANs/VSANs, service profiles, resource pools, and everything in between. Cisco and VMware have strict demands on what it takes for an individual to achieve the Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Support Specialist certification. This post will hopefully help any readers in what is needed to achieve this certification.

The requirements to obtain the UCS certification are:

VMware Certified Professional 3 or 4
Data Center Storage Networking Support Specialist
Data Center Networking Infrastructure Support Specialist
Passing the 642-983 DCUCI exam.

The UCS Support certification requires the VMware Certified Professional (VCP) 3 or 4. The VCP4 certifies you to work on VMware vSphere 4 and requires a week of VMware authorized training and passing the exam afterwards.

In addition to the VCP, you’ll need to achieve the Storage Networking Support Specialist and Networking Infrastructure Support Specialist certifications. The Storage Networking Support certification requires you pass the 642-359 ICSNS exam; to take this exam you won’t need any prerequisite certifcations, but Cisco recommends studying CCNA material to help prepare. The Networking Infrastructure Support certification requires you pass the the 642-973 DCNIS-1 and 642-974 DCNIS-2 exams; to take these exams, you must have your CCNP.

Finally, you’ll also need to pass the Data Center Unified Computing Implementation, 642-983 DCUCI, exam. This is the exam that my training last week covered. In a nutshell this exam ensures you know how to implement the UCS (install, configure, deploy, etc.). The only prerequisite to take this exam is the CCNA. Since I’m currently studying for my CCNP, I haven’t had time yet to obtain either of the Data Center certifications mentioned earlier or my VCP4. I was glad that I could still take the 642-983 exam while the material was fresh in my mind. Training really prepared me for the exam and I walked out with an 888 (needed 790 out of 1000 or higher) on my first attempt.

Once those four requirements are met, you’ll have your Cisco Data Center Unified Computing System Specialist certification!!! I’m on that path as we speak…

– Andrew

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You’re currently reading “Cisco Data Center UCS Specialist Certification,” an entry on Andrew Travis's Blog

Published:: April 1, 2010 / 3:12 pm

Category:: Cisco, VMware

Tags:: certification, Cisco, UCS, VMware

G 5.28.10 / 12pm

Hi Andrew.

I passed DCUCI with 888/1000 today, now hopefully by next week will clear the Design level.

supergoop 5.28.10 / 4pm

Congratulations! The design exam isn’t too bad either according to one of my co-workers who passed it. Good luck!
– Andrew

Ade 10.21.10 / 12pm

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for the above information. I’m currently on my way to obtaining this specialization as well. I currently hold a VCP, along with a CCNA…

I noticed that you didn’t mention the need for the Cisco 642-979 DCUCI Qualifier Exam. According to the Cisco Cert progress site (where you log in and check your personal certifications), it looks like that is also required.

Regards

supergoop 10.21.10 / 1pm

Ade, great point! If you have your CCNA, but don’t want to take the ICSNS or DCSNS certifications you can do the “fast start” option by taking the DCUCI Qualifier exam. Cisco has it listed under the Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Support Specialist pyramid. I didn’t realize this was an option until just now.

Thanks for commenting!

Andrew

Mike 1.27.11 / 9pm

Hi
I have passed both 982 and 983.
Also I don’t think you have to take the week long vsphere course…just pass the test. At least when I analyze the requirements at the pyramid it seems to say that. It just says somthing like “pass the 3.0 or 4.0 exam”… I know for vspere certification it mandates taking the course. But as far as this goes it does not seem to say you need the week long course for cisco only tat you take the vcp exam. I hope I am correct in this…..Cisco and vshere

supergoop 1.28.11 / 6am

Mike, congratulations on passing the exams! VMware requires you take the week-long vSphere class to be a VCP. You can take the VCP exam and pass it, but you won’t be a VCP in VMware’s eyes unless you’ve taken the course too. I’m not sure if Cisco requires you be a VCP or just take the VCP exam to be a UCS Specialist. Please let me know if you find out. Thanks.

Andrew

Ade 1.28.11 / 7am

Hi Mike,

Congrats on passing those 2 exams. As Andrew stated, VMWare requires that you take the class in addition to passing the VCP. I also believe this will be part of the requirement for the UCS certification because both Cisco and VMWare are sharing information with one another regarding these requirements.

I’m curious as to why you took the 982 and the 983? Those are separate certification paths, 982 is the UCS Design cert and the 983 is for the specialist. If the simple answer is that you plan to get certified in both areas, outstanding!

Mike 1.28.11 / 11am

All I want is UCS certification. Not VCP. And from what the ciso site seems to say just pass the vcp exam. You always have to read these rules carefully.

I do the tracks in a different order is because I do ALL the cisco certs. I have 45 and 23 are active including 5 ccie level.

So my approach is usually different. I don’t want to take a week long course if I don’t have to…that actually adds a very difficult thing to the certification that I won’t do.
I would invest that money into something else that will have a better return on investment. Anyway since I do all the tracks I have a comment that this whole UCS cert is quite difficult comapred to others….You need a bunch of things here…..in combination with the VCP…..its not for everybody.
If I had no cisco certs I at all and only planned to do one or two I would go for CCVP because it has the best return on dollars. Just fyi…..

Kevin 3.5.11 / 11pm

Hi Andrew,

I took training for the 642-983 DCUCI exam last week and decided to take the exam and passed it yesterday with a 874.

Now I’ve learned from your blog that I have a long way to go to make any use of it as this is my first cisco exam. I’m fine with the VCP and the storage certs, but the networking one looks like it’s going to take a bunch of exams to complete. Wow is all I can say.

If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears. Otherwise, I’m going to need to pound the pavement to get my Data Center UCS certification. But In know there’s no shortcuts to success.

Thanks,

Kevin

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Cisco Data Center UCS Specialist Certification

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