Cisco's core data center exam across the stack
Cisco's data center core exam is the usual starting point for engineers weighing Cisco against Juniper for data center networking, with a wider view of compute, storage, and automation.
Who it suits
Engineers choosing a vendor ecosystem for data center work who already have some networking experience and are comfortable with a heavier exam. It also suits people whose roles touch compute and storage as well as the network.
Key differences
- It spans compute, storage networking, and automation alongside switching, while the Juniper associate stays on data center architectures, Layer 2 switching, and routing protocols.
- The scope is that of a professional-level core exam, so it presumes more background than an associate-level introduction does.
- Learning is tied to Cisco's data center portfolio rather than Junos, which matters if your employer standardizes on one vendor.
- Level
- Specialty
- Assessment
- Written
- Study time
- 100-220h
- Listed from
- $400