Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking Exam Practice Test | Exam Sage
What is this Exam?
The Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking Exam is a comprehensive certification test designed to validate your knowledge and skills in Cisco’s Data Center Networking technologies, including Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI), VXLAN overlays, fabric architecture, and integration with virtualization platforms. This exam is essential for networking professionals aiming to master Cisco’s data center solutions, understand advanced network policies, and effectively manage modern data center infrastructures.
What Will You Learn?
By preparing for this exam, you will gain in-depth knowledge and practical understanding of:
Cisco ACI fabric components such as APIC controllers, leaf and spine switches
Endpoint Group (EPG) concepts and contract-based micro-segmentation
VXLAN encapsulation and its advantages over traditional VLANs
Integration of ACI with VMware vCenter through VMM domains
Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding within the fabric, including Bridge Domains and VRFs
Configuring L3Outs for external network connectivity
VLAN pools, interface policy groups, and attachable entity profiles for port and domain management
Understanding fabric control plane protocols like COOP
Role of contracts, filters, and scopes in traffic filtering and policy enforcement
High availability concepts for APIC controllers and VPC configurations
Topics Covered
This practice test thoroughly covers all critical topics for the Cisco Data Center Networking exam, including but not limited to:
Cisco ACI Architecture and Components
Fabric Forwarding and Endpoint Learning
Application Profiles and Endpoint Groups (EPGs)
VXLAN Technology and Fabric Scaling
Policy Enforcement via Contracts and Filters
Physical and Virtual Network Integration
External Network Connectivity via L3Outs
Interface and VLAN Pool Management
Fabric Control Plane Protocols and Operations
High Availability and Redundancy Mechanisms
Why Choose Exam Sage for This Exam?
At ExamSage.com, we provide expertly crafted, up-to-date practice tests that reflect the latest exam objectives and industry standards. Our questions are written by professionals with deep Cisco networking experience to ensure clarity, accuracy, and relevance.
Detailed Explanations: Each question includes a thorough explanation to help you understand the concept, not just memorize answers.
Real-World Scenarios: Our questions simulate practical scenarios you will face in real Cisco data center environments.
Updated Content: We continuously update our question bank to align with Cisco’s evolving technologies and exam changes.
SEO Optimized for Learners: Easily discoverable resources to guide your learning journey effectively.
Trusted Platform: Exam Sage is dedicated to helping professionals succeed with comprehensive resources and user-friendly experience.
Prepare confidently and enhance your Cisco Data Center Networking knowledge with Exam Sage’s robust practice test. Achieve your certification goals and take your career to the next level!
Sample Questions and Answers
1. What is the primary role of a Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch in a data center network?
A) WAN routing
B) Data center spine and leaf switching
C) Access layer for end devices
D) Firewall security appliance
Answer: B
Explanation: Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches are designed for high-performance data center environments, often deployed in spine-and-leaf architectures for scalable and low-latency switching. They provide both leaf and spine roles.
2. Which Cisco data center technology provides network virtualization by creating multiple logical networks on a single physical infrastructure?
A) MPLS
B) VXLAN
C) OSPF
D) BGP
Answer: B
Explanation: VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) encapsulates Layer 2 frames within Layer 3 packets, enabling the creation of virtual Layer 2 networks over an IP network, thus allowing network virtualization in data centers.
3. What is the primary function of the Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)?
A) Routing between data centers
B) Automating data center network policy and provisioning
C) Firewall protection
D) WAN acceleration
Answer: B
Explanation: Cisco ACI automates network provisioning and policy enforcement in the data center through centralized management and software-defined networking.
4. In a traditional data center network design, what are the three tiers?
A) Access, Distribution, Core
B) Core, Edge, WAN
C) Spine, Leaf, Core
D) Access, Aggregation, WAN
Answer: A
Explanation: The traditional data center network architecture follows a three-tier model consisting of Access (connects servers), Distribution (aggregation and policy enforcement), and Core (high-speed backbone).
5. Which protocol is commonly used for data center switch management and secure remote access?
A) Telnet
B) FTP
C) SSH
D) HTTP
Answer: C
Explanation: SSH (Secure Shell) is the preferred protocol for secure management access to network devices, including data center switches.
6. Which Cisco technology enables the extension of Layer 2 segments over Layer 3 networks in data centers?
A) MPLS
B) VRF
C) VXLAN
D) HSRP
Answer: C
Explanation: VXLAN allows Layer 2 networks to be extended across Layer 3 infrastructure by encapsulating Ethernet frames inside UDP packets.
7. What is the main advantage of a spine-and-leaf architecture compared to the traditional three-tier design?
A) Increased latency
B) Scalability and predictable low latency
C) Reduced redundancy
D) Complex troubleshooting
Answer: B
Explanation: Spine-and-leaf architecture offers improved scalability and consistent low latency by ensuring any leaf switch is only one hop from any other leaf via the spine layer.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of a Leaf switch in the spine-and-leaf architecture?
A) Connects directly to servers and endpoints
B) Connects only to other leaf switches
C) Acts as the core router
D) Aggregates WAN links
Answer: A
Explanation: Leaf switches connect to endpoints such as servers and also connect upstream to spine switches but do not connect directly to other leaf switches.
9. What type of Ethernet frame encapsulation does VXLAN use?
A) GRE
B) UDP
C) TCP
D) IPsec
Answer: B
Explanation: VXLAN encapsulates Ethernet frames inside UDP packets, allowing them to be transmitted over IP networks.
10. Which protocol helps in load balancing traffic across multiple uplinks in a Cisco data center switch?
A) STP
B) LACP
C) BGP
D) OSPF
Answer: B
Explanation: LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) bundles multiple physical links into a single logical link to provide redundancy and load balancing.
11. What is the Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) used for?
A) CLI configuration only
B) Centralized management and automation of Cisco data center fabrics
C) Firewall configuration
D) WAN routing
Answer: B
Explanation: DCNM provides a centralized platform for managing, automating, and monitoring Cisco Nexus and MDS switches in data centers.
12. Which Cisco switch is specifically designed for storage networking in data centers?
A) Nexus 9000
B) Catalyst 9300
C) MDS 9000
D) ISR 4000
Answer: C
Explanation: The Cisco MDS 9000 Series switches are purpose-built for Fibre Channel storage area networks (SANs).
13. What feature allows for multiple tenant separation on a single Cisco ACI fabric?
A) VLAN
B) VRF
C) Bridge Domain
D) Tenant
Answer: D
Explanation: In Cisco ACI, a Tenant represents an isolated virtual container for policies and network segmentation to separate multiple users or applications.
14. Which protocol is used for rapid network convergence and to prevent loops in Cisco data center switches?
A) RIP
B) OSPF
C) RSTP
D) BGP
Answer: C
Explanation: Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) improves upon STP by providing faster convergence and loop prevention in Ethernet networks.
15. What is the purpose of Overlay and Underlay in Cisco Data Center networking?
A) Overlay carries physical traffic, Underlay is virtual
B) Overlay provides virtual network abstraction, Underlay provides physical IP connectivity
C) Overlay is routing protocol, Underlay is switching protocol
D) Both terms mean the same
Answer: B
Explanation: The Underlay is the physical IP network providing transport, while the Overlay is a virtual network running on top of it, enabling segmentation and virtualization.
16. What is VXLAN Network Identifier (VNI) used for?
A) Identifying physical switches
B) Identifying a unique VXLAN segment (virtual Layer 2 network)
C) IP addressing
D) Routing
Answer: B
Explanation: VNI is a 24-bit field in the VXLAN header that identifies each VXLAN segment or virtual network.
17. What type of switch port mode is typically used to connect a server to a Cisco Nexus switch in a data center?
A) Trunk mode
B) Access mode
C) Dynamic desirable
D) Routed port
Answer: B
Explanation: Access mode ports carry traffic for a single VLAN, suitable for connecting servers.
18. Which Cisco technology allows the creation of multiple logical routers on a single physical router?
A) VRF
B) VLAN
C) STP
D) LACP
Answer: A
Explanation: Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) enables multiple routing instances on the same device, isolating traffic.
19. Which Cisco Nexus switch series supports both NX-OS and ACI modes?
A) Nexus 3000
B) Nexus 7000
C) Nexus 9000
D) Catalyst 9300
Answer: C
Explanation: Nexus 9000 Series switches can operate in standalone NX-OS mode or in ACI mode as part of the Cisco ACI fabric.
20. What is the default VLAN on Cisco Nexus switches?
A) VLAN 1
B) VLAN 100
C) VLAN 10
D) VLAN 4094
Answer: A
Explanation: VLAN 1 is the default VLAN on Cisco switches unless reconfigured.
21. What is the role of Border Leaf switches in Cisco ACI?
A) Connect endpoints
B) Connect ACI fabric to external networks
C) Connect spine switches
D) Aggregate uplinks
Answer: B
Explanation: Border Leaf switches provide connectivity between the ACI fabric and external Layer 3 networks.
22. Which Layer of the OSI model do Cisco Nexus switches primarily operate at?
A) Layer 1
B) Layer 2 and Layer 3
C) Layer 4
D) Layer 7
Answer: B
Explanation: Cisco Nexus switches operate at Layer 2 (switching) and Layer 3 (routing).
23. What is the primary purpose of FabricPath in Cisco data center networking?
A) Enable Layer 3 routing only
B) Provide Layer 2 multipath Ethernet with loop prevention
C) Encrypt traffic
D) Firewall functionality
Answer: B
Explanation: FabricPath is a Cisco proprietary protocol that provides scalable Layer 2 multipath forwarding with loop prevention.
24. Which management protocol is used by Cisco Data Center switches for monitoring?
A) SNMP
B) SMTP
C) FTP
D) DHCP
Answer: A
Explanation: Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used for device monitoring and management.
25. What is the main difference between a Routed Port and a Switched Port on a Cisco Nexus switch?
A) Routed ports are Layer 2, Switched ports are Layer 3
B) Routed ports operate at Layer 3, Switched ports at Layer 2
C) Routed ports use VLANs, Switched ports do not
D) No difference
Answer: B
Explanation: Routed ports are configured for Layer 3 routing without VLANs, whereas switched ports operate at Layer 2 and belong to VLANs.
26. Which Cisco technology allows Layer 2 adjacency between virtual machines on different hosts?
A) OTV
B) MPLS
C) BGP
D) HSRP
Answer: A
Explanation: Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV) allows extension of Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 infrastructure between data centers or hosts.
27. What is a major benefit of automation in Cisco Data Center networking?
A) Increased manual configuration
B) Faster provisioning and reduced human error
C) Increased network downtime
D) Decreased security
Answer: B
Explanation: Automation speeds up deployment and reduces errors by standardizing configurations.
28. In Cisco ACI, what is an Endpoint Group (EPG)?
A) A group of external routers
B) A logical grouping of endpoints with common policies
C) A VLAN identifier
D) A routing protocol
Answer: B
Explanation: An Endpoint Group defines a collection of endpoints that share the same networking and security policies.
29. Which of these is a key benefit of Cisco Nexus 9000 switches operating in ACI mode?
A) CLI-only configuration
B) Policy-driven automation and network virtualization
C) No support for VXLAN
D) Limited scalability
Answer: B
Explanation: ACI mode supports automated, policy-driven network configuration, including VXLAN overlays and micro-segmentation.
30. Which protocol is typically used by Cisco Nexus switches to exchange routing information in a data center?
A) EIGRP
B) OSPF or BGP
C) RIP
D) STP
Answer: B
Explanation: OSPF and BGP are commonly used dynamic routing protocols in Cisco data centers, with BGP often used in leaf-spine fabrics for scalable routing.
