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Cisco · Data Center & Virtualization · Professional

Cisco DCID: Designing Data Center Infrastructure for Traditional and AI Workloads exam guide

Exam 300-610 DCID

DCID (300-610) validates designing data center infrastructure across network, compute, storage networking and automation, with current training covering both traditional and AI workloads. With DCCOR it earns CCNP Data Center.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit90 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$300 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryProctored at a test center or online, scheduled through Cisco's certification portal

Format: Multiple choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and simulation/testlet-style items; pass/fail. Fee note: Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Data center architects and senior engineers who design fabrics and compute platforms.

What the exam covers

Network Design—
Compute Design—
Storage Network Design—
Automation Design—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None.

Recommended: Three to five years of data center design or implementation experience.

Keeping it active

Passing earns a Cisco Certified Specialist credential valid 3 years (renew with 40 CE credits or by passing a qualifying exam). The exam itself also counts toward recertifying CCNP/CCIE.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Designing spine-leaf and VXLAN EVPN fabrics
  • High availability and multi-site design
  • UCS and compute platform design
  • SAN design and storage connectivity
  • Designing lossless Ethernet for AI/ML clusters
  • Automation and orchestration design

Job roles

Data Center ArchitectNetwork ArchitectSolutions ArchitectPre-Sales EngineerAI Infrastructure Architect

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Fabric design: spine-leaf, VXLAN EVPN, multi-site.
  2. Week 2: Compute and storage network design.
  3. Week 3: AI workload network design concepts (lossless Ethernet, congestion control) and automation design.
  4. Week 4: Scenario practice and review of Cisco Validated Designs.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Read requirements carefully; design questions hinge on scale, latency and resiliency targets.
  • Know design trade-offs between ACI and NX-OS standalone fabrics.
  • Review Cisco Validated Designs for data center and AI networking.
  • Expect few CLI questions.

Key terms for this exam

All 11 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does the DCID exam cost?

US$300 per attempt, or Cisco Learning Credits.

Does DCID alone give me CCNP Data Center?

No. CCNP Data Center requires the core exam plus one concentration exam. Passing DCID by itself earns a Cisco Certified Specialist credential.

What is the passing score?

Cisco does not publish passing scores or question counts; the score needed varies by exam form and is reported as pass/fail with a section breakdown.

How hard is DCID?

It is a 90-minute professional-level exam that assumes CCNA-level knowledge plus hands-on experience with data center design. Candidates without real lab time usually struggle.

DCID or another concentration?

Choose DCID for design and architecture roles; DCACI or DCIT for hands-on implementation and operations.

Official page: www.cisco.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.