We had seen the official press release last week, but weren’t able to say anything until it became public today, and now the Learning@Cisco team has finally released the CCNA Data Center and CCNP Data Center certs for public consumption. A consolidated requirements page can be found here. One unique thing about these two is that they don’t require a standard CCNA (R&S) first as a pre-requisite. This makes sense, since this track has literally nothing to do with IOS. It also is largely because at the CCNA Data Center level, they are basically re-introducing you to every standard Ethernet and LAN switching concepts in the DCICN exam. Also, they seem to to be doubling down on the Cisco ACE, even though they are now partnering with, and recommending Citrix NetScaler to customers. Strange.
If I were a betting man, I’d wager that CCNA, CCNP and CCIE Video shouldn’t be too far around the corner as logical next steps for Cisco to release. Now, if you take a look at Cisco’s Career certs and learning paths, I wonder when they’ll finally fill in the CCNA and CCNP for Storage? My wager on that one would be … never. 
About Mark Snow, CCIE #14073:
Mark Snow has been actively working with data and traditional telephony as a Network Consulting Engineer since 1995, and has been working with Cisco Call Manager and voice-over technology since 1998. Mark has been actively teaching and developing content for the CCIE Voice track since 2005, and the Security track since 2007. Mark's story with both data and voice technology started out quite young, as he began learning around the age of five from his father who was a patented inventor and a research scientist at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Mark started out on Unix System V and basic analog telephony, and went on from there to large data networking projects with technologies such as Banyan Vines, IPX and of course IP, and large phone systems such as Nortel 61c, Tadiran Coral, Avaya Definity and of course Cisco Unified Communications Manager in both enterprise and 911 PSAP environments across the US and internationally. Mark is also an accomplished pilot and punched his ticket in 2001. When Mark isn't learning, labing, consulting or teaching, he can be found either piloting or possibly jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, hanging off a rock somewhere or else skiing out west. He also might just be enjoying a quiet day at the beach with his wife and two wonderful young kids, Ryleigh and Judah.
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21 Responses to “Cisco CCNA and CCNP Data Center Announced”
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I know that i am not the only one that will ask this…but when will ine have these classes scheduled ?? ::D
An exciting news… When INE will release videos for these. A very logical to enhance on going CCIE trainings…
Any idea when will the books be out for ccnadc/ccnpdc?
Hi Mark,
And no news about CCIE Voice V.4 ;-?
SB.
Cisco alluded to a change coming for CCIE Collaboration on a recent call, but was again extremely elusive as to any hard dates. Could be 6 months, could be another year.
A good move but so annoying that you can’t wave the CCNA:DC prerequest for CCNP:DC if you are a CCIE like you could on older exams.
Please are you going to make video training and workbook for both the CCNA Data Center & CCNP Data Center.
Working on it now!
Great!
mark,
thanks for sharing , will INE be putting together any courses specifically for these exams?.
Also, if i am reading it right if someone would want a CCNP Data center you need to….
A; pass 2 x CCNA DC exams ,
B; pass 4 of 6 CCNP Exams. implementation and with TS or design.
Whats your thoughts on this ?.
many thanks
You have it correct, and as far as INE’s training content on NA/NP DC – I’m working on it right now!
Any plan to release VoD for Cisco Unified Computing class?
This should be released this week.
Hi Mark,
Great! …When will INE launch the CCNA and CCNP Data Center courses?
Hi Mauricio,
These are just around the corner – working on them now.
NA/NP VOD will be accompanied with workbooks and racks?
Will the course satisfy the pre-req for the courses for both CCNA and CCNP? What about Rack Rental for Hand-on labs…
There is no pre-req for the exams. I can see from Cisco’s web site where it might appear that there are pre-reqs, but they are simply recommendations on courses to take. These will most certainly cover all of the information in those courses. We also will be releasing our hands-on labs and rack rentals very shortly for the Data Center track.
Hi Mark! Any news regarding the CCNA DC and CCNP DC courses?
Those are on their way! Watch this blog for official announcements.
Hello INE’s team, is the CCIE Data Center material prepared by INE enough to pass the CCNA and CCNP Data Center exams?
Thanks.