Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) Practice Exam
Are you preparing for the Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) exam and looking for a reliable way to test your knowledge before exam day? Our expertly crafted DCID Practice Exam is designed to help data center professionals like you gain confidence, identify knowledge gaps, and master Cisco’s complex data center infrastructure concepts.
What Is the DCID Exam?
The Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID 300-610) exam is a core requirement for the Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center (CCNP Data Center) certification. This exam validates your ability to design scalable, reliable, secure, and resilient Cisco data center solutions using cutting-edge technologies such as ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure), network virtualization, storage networking, and data center interconnect.
Passing the DCID exam proves that you have a deep understanding of Cisco’s design principles and can architect modern enterprise-grade data center infrastructures.
What You Will Learn
Our practice exam goes beyond just rote memorization. With this exam prep, you’ll:
Understand real-world use cases for Cisco ACI and VXLAN technologies
Design robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 topologies for complex data center environments
Gain clarity on storage networking protocols like Fibre Channel and FCoE
Master application network profiles, EPGs, and contracts in Cisco ACI
Learn intersite connectivity strategies including DCI (Data Center Interconnect) solutions
Familiarize yourself with infrastructure security, automation, and telemetry
Tackle multi-fabric designs and hybrid cloud integration challenges
Each question in this practice test includes detailed explanations so you fully understand the “why” behind the correct answer, making it an essential resource for DCID success.
Topics Covered
This practice exam covers all critical topics and blueprint areas of the DCID 300-610 exam, including:
Cisco ACI Fabric Infrastructure Design
Layer 2 and Layer 3 Data Center Network Design
Data Center Interconnect (DCI) Design and Strategy
Storage Network Design (FCoE, Fibre Channel)
Network Virtualization and Overlay Technologies (VXLAN)
Application Connectivity and Policy-Based Design
Cisco ACI Multi-Site and Multi-Pod Architecture
Integration with Hypervisors and VMM Domains
High Availability and Redundancy in the Data Center
Security, QoS, and Telemetry in Modern DC Design
Whether you are just beginning your exam preparation or reviewing in the final week, this comprehensive DCID practice test provides a realistic simulation of the actual exam environment.
Why Choose Exam Sage for DCID Exam Preparation?
At Exam Sage, we specialize in helping professionals succeed through high-quality, up-to-date, and exam-relevant practice exams. Our DCID practice test is created by experts with hands-on Cisco data center experience and teaching backgrounds. Unlike generic test dumps, our content is written to help you learn—not just memorize.
Here’s why thousands of learners trust Exam Sage:
✅ Realistic MCQs with clear, detailed explanations
✅ Covers the full Cisco exam blueprint
✅ Non-repetitive and logically structured questions
✅ Ideal for self-paced learning and gap analysis
✅ Instant digital access and downloadable format
Who Should Use This Practice Exam?
This DCID practice test is ideal for:
Cisco Certified Network Associates (CCNAs) advancing to CCNP
Data Center Engineers and Architects
Network Consultants and System Designers
IT Professionals preparing for the Cisco DCID 300-610 exam
Anyone seeking to validate their Cisco data center design skills
Get Started with Confidence
The Cisco DCID exam can be complex, but with the right preparation, you can walk in with confidence. Our expertly developed practice exam ensures you’re not just ready to pass, but ready to excel.
Start your DCID exam prep with Exam Sage today and take the next step toward becoming a Cisco-certified data center design expert.
Sample Questions and Answers
✅ 1. What is the purpose of a leaf switch in a Cisco ACI fabric?
A. Provides spine connectivity to external routers
B. Facilitates east-west traffic among endpoints
C. Controls endpoint learning across the fabric
D. Stores policies for APIC
Answer: B
Explanation: Leaf switches in ACI act as the ingress/egress points for endpoints. They handle east-west traffic, connecting directly to endpoints and spines.
✅ 2. Which protocol does Cisco ACI use for endpoint learning and topology information exchange?
A. LLDP
B. VXLAN
C. COOP
D. ISIS
Answer: C
Explanation: COOP (Council of Oracle Protocol) is used in ACI to facilitate endpoint location and topology distribution between spines and the fabric.
✅ 3. What is the main advantage of using vPC+ in Cisco Nexus platforms?
A. Supports loop prevention via STP
B. Provides support for multicast in the control plane
C. Enables multi-chassis LAG with fabric path
D. Offers spine-to-spine connectivity
Answer: C
Explanation: vPC+ allows multi-chassis link aggregation and is typically used in FabricPath networks for enhanced redundancy and bandwidth.
✅ 4. In a traditional 3-tier data center architecture, what is the role of the distribution layer?
A. Endpoint connectivity
B. Policy enforcement
C. Aggregation and routing
D. WAN access
Answer: C
Explanation: The distribution layer aggregates traffic from access switches and provides routing to the core layer.
✅ 5. Which Cisco Nexus model is typically used for spine switches in ACI fabric?
A. Nexus 9000 in NX-OS mode
B. Nexus 9300-FX series
C. Nexus 9500 modular switches
D. Nexus 7700 series
Answer: C
Explanation: The Nexus 9500 modular switches are commonly deployed as spines in ACI environments due to their high throughput and scalability.
✅ 6. What is the primary function of the Cisco APIC?
A. Traffic encryption
B. Packet forwarding
C. Policy management and fabric control
D. Firewall provisioning
Answer: C
Explanation: The APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller) is the central management component in ACI that defines and deploys policies.
✅ 7. Which storage protocol is best suited for low-latency and high-performance SAN environments?
A. NFS
B. SMB
C. FCoE
D. iSCSI
Answer: C
Explanation: FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) combines Ethernet with Fibre Channel to deliver low latency and high throughput ideal for SANs.
✅ 8. What is the benefit of using OTV in data center interconnects?
A. Simplified spanning tree configuration
B. Native L3 segmentation
C. MAC address scalability over Layer 3
D. Direct L2 transport over MPLS
Answer: C
Explanation: OTV (Overlay Transport Virtualization) enables Layer 2 connectivity between data centers across a Layer 3 infrastructure by extending MAC reachability.
✅ 9. Which feature ensures loop prevention in Cisco FabricPath?
A. MSTP
B. Reverse Path Forwarding
C. Time-to-live (TTL)
D. IS-IS control plane
Answer: D
Explanation: Cisco FabricPath uses the IS-IS protocol for its control plane, which ensures loop-free Layer 2 networks without STP.
✅ 10. What is the maximum number of leaf switches that can be supported in a single ACI fabric?
A. 400
B. 1000
C. 200
D. 100
Answer: A
Explanation: Cisco ACI supports up to 400 leaf switches in a single fabric, depending on hardware and software limitations.
✅ 11. Which Cisco feature allows grouping of endpoints that share the same policy requirements in ACI?
A. VRF
B. L3Out
C. EPG
D. Bridge Domain
Answer: C
Explanation: EPG (Endpoint Group) is used to group endpoints based on common policy requirements such as contracts, QoS, etc.
✅ 12. What is the purpose of a Bridge Domain in Cisco ACI?
A. Defines tenant boundary
B. Implements firewall rules
C. Provides Layer 2 forwarding domain
D. Enables multicast routing
Answer: C
Explanation: A Bridge Domain (BD) in ACI is a Layer 2 forwarding construct that contains subnet definitions and handles local switching.
✅ 13. In ACI, which object represents Layer 3 segmentation?
A. Application Profile
B. Contract
C. VRF
D. EPG
Answer: C
Explanation: A VRF (Virtual Routing and Forwarding instance) provides Layer 3 separation and enables multi-tenant architectures in ACI.
✅ 14. Which protocol is used by APIC to communicate with Nexus switches?
A. SSH
B. NetFlow
C. OpFlex
D. SNMP
Answer: C
Explanation: OpFlex is the southbound protocol used by APIC to communicate policy instructions to ACI switches.
✅ 15. What is a key benefit of using Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects in a data center?
A. Enables NVMe over TCP
B. Centralizes management of compute nodes
C. Provides NAT services
D. Manages core-to-distribution routing
Answer: B
Explanation: Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects manage UCS servers and provide network and storage connectivity in a unified manner.
✅ 16. What is a main advantage of Cisco Nexus 9000 switches in ACI mode?
A. STP-based traffic control
B. Hardware-based policy enforcement
C. Software overlay tunneling only
D. Dependency on VRRP
Answer: B
Explanation: Nexus 9000 switches in ACI mode offer hardware-level policy enforcement, improving performance and scalability.
✅ 17. What component enables Layer 4-7 service insertion in ACI?
A. VRF
B. L3Out
C. Device Package
D. APIC Cluster
Answer: C
Explanation: Device Packages allow APIC to manage and insert services like firewalls and load balancers in the ACI fabric.
✅ 18. Which cloud technology is integrated natively with Cisco ACI Multi-Site Orchestrator?
A. Google Cloud Interconnect
B. Azure ExpressRoute
C. AWS Transit Gateway
D. VMware NSX-T
Answer: C
Explanation: Cisco ACI Multi-Site Orchestrator integrates with AWS Transit Gateway to extend policy-based networking across hybrid environments.
✅ 19. What is the recommended method for securing fabric switch communication in ACI?
A. SSHv1
B. RADIUS
C. Out-of-band VLAN
D. In-band management with TLS
Answer: D
Explanation: ACI recommends using in-band management encrypted with TLS for secure fabric communication and policy enforcement.
✅ 20. Which Cisco tool provides visualized topology and fault correlation in ACI fabrics?
A. Prime Infrastructure
B. Intersight
C. NDFC
D. Nexus Dashboard
Answer: D
Explanation: Nexus Dashboard offers advanced telemetry, visualization, and fault correlation features for Cisco ACI and data center fabrics.
✅ 21. What is the role of Contracts in ACI?
A. Assign bridge domains to tenants
B. Define L4-L7 services
C. Enforce policies between EPGs
D. Provide VLAN encapsulation
Answer: C
Explanation: Contracts specify the rules and policies (filters) for communication between Endpoint Groups (EPGs).
✅ 22. Which option describes a tenant in Cisco ACI?
A. Network automation engine
B. Policy abstraction for multitenancy
C. Data path for traffic
D. Ingress routing zone
Answer: B
Explanation: A tenant is a logical container in ACI used to provide policy, security, and routing segmentation for multiple organizations.
✅ 23. What technology is used to encapsulate ACI fabric traffic?
A. GRE
B. MPLS
C. VXLAN
D. VPLS
Answer: C
Explanation: Cisco ACI uses VXLAN to encapsulate data traffic within the fabric, enabling scalable overlay networks.
✅ 24. Which Nexus model supports ACI Remote Leaf?
A. Nexus 6001
B. Nexus 93180YC-FX
C. Nexus 3548
D. Nexus 7004
Answer: B
Explanation: The Nexus 93180YC-FX and similar models support remote leaf functionality, extending ACI fabric to remote sites.
✅ 25. What feature in UCS allows the abstraction of hardware identity?
A. Service Profile
B. Hypervisor Profile
C. VRF
D. Overlay Profile
Answer: A
Explanation: UCS Service Profiles allow logical abstraction of server identity including MAC addresses, UUIDs, and firmware policies.
✅ 26. Which protocol enables external Layer 3 connectivity in ACI?
A. STP
B. LACP
C. BGP
D. VTP
Answer: C
Explanation: BGP is commonly used for external routing (L3Out) in ACI to connect with external networks or data centers.
✅ 27. What is the default forwarding policy in an ACI EPG-to-EPG communication without contracts?
A. Deny
B. Allow
C. Redirect
D. Encrypted
Answer: A
Explanation: By default, ACI uses a white-list model; EPGs cannot communicate unless explicitly allowed by a contract.
✅ 28. What component of UCS manages firmware updates and policies?
A. Cisco DNA Center
B. UCS Manager
C. APIC
D. Fabric Extender
Answer: B
Explanation: UCS Manager is responsible for managing UCS infrastructure, including firmware policies and hardware configurations.
✅ 29. Which ACI component helps orchestrate multi-site deployments?
A. Cisco Secure Firewall
B. ACI L3Out
C. Multi-Site Orchestrator
D. UCS Director
Answer: C
Explanation: Multi-Site Orchestrator (MSO) extends policy-based management across multiple ACI sites.
✅ 30. What technology provides microsegmentation in ACI?
A. LACP
B. Contracts
C. VLANs
D. Identity Firewall
Answer: B
Explanation: Contracts in ACI define granular policies that allow for microsegmentation between workloads, even within the same EPG.
31. Which two routing protocols are commonly used for Layer 3 fabric overlays in Cisco ACI? (Choose two)
A. EIGRP
B. OSPF
C. BGP
D. RIP
E. IS-IS
Answer: B. OSPF, C. BGP
Explanation: Cisco ACI uses OSPF and BGP to establish Layer 3 fabric overlays, providing dynamic routing and interconnectivity between fabric nodes and external networks.
32. What is a benefit of deploying Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches in ACI mode?
A. They support only Layer 2 switching
B. They require manual configuration of all endpoints
C. They enable policy-based automation using APIC
D. They are limited to static routing
Answer: C. They enable policy-based automation using APIC
Explanation: In ACI mode, Nexus 9000 switches are controlled by the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), enabling automation, scalability, and policy-based networking.
33. What does a “Tenant” in Cisco ACI represent?
A. A physical server in the data center
B. A Layer 2 VLAN
C. A logical container for policies and network objects
D. A device group on the same subnet
Answer: C. A logical container for policies and network objects
Explanation: Tenants logically separate application policies and network configurations within Cisco ACI, allowing multi-tenancy in shared environments.
34. What is the function of VXLAN in Cisco ACI?
A. Provides secure VPN tunnels
B. Extends Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 infrastructure
C. Replaces BGP for routing
D. Supports encryption for application traffic
Answer: B. Extends Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 infrastructure
Explanation: VXLAN allows ACI to encapsulate Layer 2 traffic in Layer 3 headers, enabling scalability and flexibility across large data centers.
35. What Cisco ACI object defines how traffic is forwarded between EPGs?
A. Application Profile
B. Bridge Domain
C. Contract
D. VRF
Answer: C. Contract
Explanation: Contracts define the communication rules between Endpoint Groups (EPGs), controlling traffic with filters and actions.
36. What is the primary purpose of a Bridge Domain in ACI?
A. To assign IP addresses to endpoints
B. To define Layer 2 forwarding behavior
C. To enforce QoS policies
D. To set routing protocols
Answer: B. To define Layer 2 forwarding behavior
Explanation: A Bridge Domain (BD) defines Layer 2 boundaries and is associated with a subnet. It controls how frames are forwarded at Layer 2.
37. Which two components are required to configure VMM integration with VMware in ACI? (Choose two)
A. DVS (Distributed Virtual Switch)
B. APIC controller
C. Fabric Interconnects
D. UCS Manager
E. vCenter Server
Answer: A. DVS, E. vCenter Server
Explanation: ACI integrates with VMware by connecting to vCenter and managing the Distributed Virtual Switch (DVS) to apply policies dynamically.
38. In ACI, what allows for microsegmentation within the same EPG?
A. Contracts
B. VLANs
C. Bridge Domains
D. Policy-Based Redirects
Answer: D. Policy-Based Redirects
Explanation: Policy-Based Redirects (PBRs) can be used for traffic redirection and enable microsegmentation even within the same EPG based on traffic attributes.
39. What Cisco Nexus feature allows for path optimization and loop prevention in FabricPath networks?
A. STP
B. ECMP
C. IS-IS
D. FTag
Answer: D. FTag
Explanation: FTag (FabricPath tag) is used in Cisco FabricPath to identify flows, prevent loops, and optimize path forwarding.
40. What is the purpose of a VRF in a Cisco ACI tenant configuration?
A. Define IP address pools
B. Provide Layer 3 segmentation
C. Bridge Layer 2 domains
D. Manage physical device interfaces
Answer: B. Provide Layer 3 segmentation
Explanation: A Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instance isolates IP routing tables, allowing multiple tenants to use overlapping IP addresses securely.
41. Which feature in Cisco ACI allows external network integration?
A. EPG Extension
B. L3Out
C. L2Proxy
D. OTV
Answer: B. L3Out
Explanation: L3Out enables the ACI fabric to connect with external Layer 3 networks using BGP or OSPF.
42. What technology allows VDC (Virtual Device Context) separation in Nexus switches?
A. VRF
B. VSS
C. VDC
D. VXLAN
Answer: C. VDC
Explanation: Virtual Device Context (VDC) allows a single Nexus switch to act as multiple logical devices with separate control and data planes.
43. Which of the following is a Layer 2 multipathing technology supported by Nexus switches?
A. STP
B. FabricPath
C. HSRP
D. BGP
Answer: B. FabricPath
Explanation: FabricPath is a Cisco-proprietary Layer 2 multipath technology that improves performance and scalability over traditional STP.
44. Which role is responsible for monitoring and managing the Cisco ACI fabric?
A. Leaf switch
B. Spine switch
C. APIC
D. Controller node
Answer: C. APIC
Explanation: The APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller) manages policies, fabric operation, and the control plane in Cisco ACI.
45. What is an Access Policy in Cisco ACI?
A. Policy that defines EPG communication
B. Policy applied at the fabric level
C. Policy used to define interface-level configuration like speed, CDP
D. Policy used for firewalling external connections
Answer: C. Policy used to define interface-level configuration like speed, CDP
Explanation: Access Policies are created to configure physical interfaces (port speed, CDP, etc.) and are abstracted from EPG policies.
46. In a Leaf-Spine topology, which of the following statements is true?
A. Spine switches connect directly to endpoints
B. Leaf switches interconnect with other leaves
C. Spine switches provide east-west traffic forwarding
D. Spine switches interconnect all leaf switches
Answer: D. Spine switches interconnect all leaf switches
Explanation: In Leaf-Spine topology, every leaf is connected to every spine, ensuring optimal path selection and low-latency communication.
47. What protocol does Cisco ACI use for endpoint discovery?
A. LLDP
B. ARP
C. COOP
D. DHCP
Answer: C. COOP
Explanation: The Council of Oracle Protocol (COOP) is used by Cisco ACI to distribute endpoint location information across the fabric.
48. What is the main benefit of using Enhanced vPC (EvPC)?
A. Prevents STP loop detection
B. Increases multicast traffic
C. Provides link aggregation across two Nexus switches
D. Enforces traffic policing
Answer: C. Provides link aggregation across two Nexus switches
Explanation: EvPC allows devices to form a port channel that spans across two Nexus switches, increasing redundancy and load balancing.
49. Which feature in Cisco ACI allows integration with L4–L7 service appliances like firewalls?
A. Bridge Domain
B. Contract
C. Service Graph
D. VRF
Answer: C. Service Graph
Explanation: Service Graphs define the path and policy for traffic that must pass through service appliances (e.g., firewalls, load balancers).
50. What component is essential for redundancy in APIC deployment?
A. Spanning Tree
B. Multiple APIC nodes
C. VLAN pooling
D. Distributed VRF
Answer: B. Multiple APIC nodes
Explanation: APIC redundancy requires a cluster of at least 3 controllers to maintain high availability and resilience.
