Data Center Application Services Design (642-972)
Exam Description - The DCASD Cisco Data Center Application Services Design exam (642-972) is a 75minute exam with 45–55 questions. The exam tests a candidate's knowledge of the skills needed by a
sales engineer to design and articulate a Cisco Data Center Application Services platform.
The following topics are general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However,
other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. In order to better reflect the
contents of the exam and for clarity purposes, the guidelines below may change at any time without
notice.
2%
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
Describe Foundational Technologies and Protocols Used with DCAS
Describe HTTP
Describe SSL
Describe WCCP
Describe the fundamentals of web technologies
Describe the fundamentals of the N-tier architecture
Describe the TCP connection process
Describe UDP
Describe the active vs. passive FTP
Describe streaming media
Describe file systems/protocols/applications
10%
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
Perform a Network and Systems Analysis
Identify the customer's current and future server farm requirements
Identify the customer's current and future N-Tier application architecture requirements
Identify current and future inter-site application communication
Identify the customer's current and future application performance requirements
Identify the customer's current network configuration and its ability to support DCAS
Identify the components of a DCAS site survey
Identify the customer application requirements that would benefit from a DCAS solution
19%
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
Present the DCAS Product Set in a Customer Sales Environment
Describe the features of the DCAS product family
Describe the components of a DCAS solution
Describe the ACE appliance product set
Describe the ACE service module
Describe the ACE GSS
Describe the CSS
Describe the CSM
Describe the ACE XML Gateway
Describe the ANM
Describe the WAAS product family
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16%
3.11
3.12
3.13
Describe the ACE licensing models
Position Cisco Load Balancing solutions in the data center networking environment
Describe the firewall load balancing solutions supported in a Cisco Load Balancing
environment
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
Describe the Features of the Cisco Load Balancing Solutions
Troubleshoot CIMC GUI and CLI remote access methods
Using CLI/GUI Troubleshoot packet flow from server to the fabric
Identify the steps that need to be perform on a rack standalone prior to integration into
the UCSM
Describe the various methods to update the server BIOS/CIMC/adapters/array
controllers
Troubleshoot OS driver issues
Troubleshoot memory issues
Troubleshoot boot issues
Troubleshoot redundant paths
Troubleshoot different adapters
Describe the process for password recovery
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
16%
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
Describe ACE Management and Monitoring Capabilities
Identify the applications used to manage the ACE module
Describe the process of managing the virtual contexts
Describe the capabilities and limitations of ACE management
Describe provisioning of virtualization on ACE
Describe provisioning of services on ACE
Describe delegated operations of virtual and real servers on ACE
Describe the monitoring of ACE
Describe the similarities and differences between ANM and the ACE Appliance Device
Manager
16%
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
Describe the Features of the Cisco Global Load Balancing Solution
Identify appropriate Cisco GLB solutions
Describe the Cisco GLB DNS process
Describe the GSS deployment models
Describe the CNR option for GSS
Describe the protocols used by the GSS
Describe management and monitoring of the GSS solution
Identify the best GLB method to use in a particular environment
6%
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
Describe the WAAS Solution
Describe the roles for WAEs
Describe WAAS interception methodologies
Describe WAAS acceleration methodologies
Describe the high level capabilities of Cisco WAAS management and reporting
Describe IOS features that provide prioritization and control in a Cisco WAAS network
Describe WAAS fan-out
Describe wide area bandwidth allocation/provisioning from core to edge
2013 Cisco Systems, Inc. This document is Cisco Public.
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5%
8.0
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
Design a Solution to Meet Customer Requirements
Size a DCAS solution to meet a particular set of customer requirements
Design an ACE solution to meet customer requirements
Design a WAAS solution to meet customer requirements
Design an integrated ACE and WAAS solution to meet customer requirements
Design a firewall load balancing solution
Plan the use of digital certificates
Design a highly available overall data center network solution based on Cisco Data
Center 3.0
Design a global load balancing solution to meet customer requirements
2013 Cisco Systems, Inc. This document is Cisco Public.
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