DCNAUTO: Automating Cisco Data Center Networking Solutions (300-635)

About the DCNAUTO Exam

Automate the Cisco data center end to end — the fabric, the controller, and with AI

The 300-635 DCNAUTO (Automating Cisco Data Center Networking Solutions, exam topics v2.0) is a CCNP concentration exam — pair it with the DCCOR 350-601 core for CCNP Data Center, or with the AUTOCOR 350-901 core for CCNP Automation. Passing also earns the Cisco Certified Automation Specialist - Data Center Automation and Programmability credential. It validates your ability to automate Cisco data center networking: the YANG/NETCONF/gNMI/gRPC/gNOI foundation and the ACI network-centric object model (EPGs, bridge domains, contracts, VRFs); Infrastructure as Code with Jinja2, Ansible (the cisco.nxos, cisco.aci, cisco.dcnm, and cisco.mso collections) and Terraform (the CiscoDevNet aci, nxos, and ndfc providers) under GitOps; network element programmability with Python ncclient, Day-0 POAP, on-box NX-OS Bash/Python and the Guest Shell, Nexus Dashboard/NDFC templates, and NX-API; operations with Cisco Modeling Labs, pyATS, model-driven telemetry (gNMI/gRPC), a NetBox source of truth, and containerized packet-flow troubleshooting on Linux; and the new AI in Automation domain. Original practice questions. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sourced from Cisco Systems certification exams.

Who Should Take This Exam?

DCNAUTO is designed for data center network engineers, NetDevOps and automation engineers, and platform/SRE staff who automate Cisco data center fabrics — ACI and NX-OS/Nexus estates managed through controllers and code. It suits candidates pursuing CCNP Data Center or CCNP Automation. Cisco recommends 3-5 years of data center networking experience plus hands-on time with Python, Ansible, Terraform, Jinja2, and Cisco data center programmability (NETCONF/RESTCONF/YANG, ACI/APIC, NX-API, Nexus Dashboard/NDFC, model-driven telemetry, pyATS).

Typical study time: 8-12 weeks of focused study

Exam Quick Facts

Exam Domains & Weights

The DCNAUTO exam covers 5 domains. Focus your study time based on the weights below — higher-weighted domains have more exam questions.

💡 Study tip: The three 25% domains — Infrastructure as Code, Network Element Programmability, and Operations — together make up 75% of the exam, so spend most of your time there. Be fluent in an Ansible playbook with a controller collection (cisco.aci, cisco.dcnm) and a device collection (cisco.nxos), a Terraform plan with the CiscoDevNet aci/nxos/ndfc providers, a Python ncclient NETCONF session against NX-OS, Day-0 POAP, on-box Guest Shell/Python, an NDFC template, and a gNMI/gRPC model-driven-telemetry subscription. The new AI in Automation domain (10%) is fresh in v2.0 — know the security implications of AI in automation, how agentic AI (and MCP) connects to platforms and controllers, and how generative AI accelerates prototyping.

Practice Exam — 250 Questions

Prepare for the DCNAUTO with our 250-question practice exam covering all 5 exam domains. Every question is an original real-world data-center-automation scenario with detailed explanations and maps to the official exam topics (v2.0, current Cisco terminology — ACI/APIC, NX-OS/Nexus, Nexus Dashboard/NDFC, NX-API, pyATS, model-driven telemetry).

What you get:

• ✅ Exam simulation mode with timer
• ✅ Spaced repetition for weak areas
• ✅ Detailed explanations for every question
• ✅ Progress tracking across domains
• ✅ 20 free questions — no account needed

Cisco Certification Path

DCNAUTO is a concentration exam. For CCNP Data Center, pass the DCCOR 350-601 core plus one concentration (DCNAUTO is the automation/programmability choice). For CCNP Automation, pass the AUTOCOR 350-901 core plus one concentration — 300-635 DCNAUTO (Data Center) or 300-435 ENAUTO (Enterprise). Cisco’s track runs: Associate → Professional (CCNP) → Expert (CCIE).

Related Cisco Certifications

If you’re studying for the DCNAUTO, you might also be interested in these Cisco certifications:

• AUTOCOR: Cisco Certified Automation Core (350-901) — the CCNP Automation core that DCNAUTO pairs with — 250 practice questions
• ENAUTO: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Automation Solutions (300-435) — the Enterprise automation concentration — 250 practice questions
• DCCOR: Implementing Cisco Data Center Core (350-601) — the CCNP Data Center core that DCNAUTO pairs with — 250 practice questions
• DEVASC: Cisco DevNet Associate (200-901) — the automation-fundamentals associate exam — 250 practice questions
• CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate (200-301) — 250 practice questions

Study Tips

1. Start with the three 25% domains — Infrastructure as Code, Network Element Programmability, and Operations are three-quarters of the exam
2. Know each tool by hand — a cisco.nxos/cisco.aci/cisco.dcnm Ansible playbook, a CiscoDevNet Terraform plan, a Python ncclient NETCONF session, an NX-API call, a POAP flow, and an NDFC template are tested as applied skills, not trivia
3. Use our practice exam — try the 20 free questions first to gauge your readiness
4. Review explanations — don’t just check if you got it right; read why each answer is correct
5. Configure telemetry cold — feature telemetry, sensor-group, destination-group, subscription, and the gNMI dial-in vs gRPC dial-out distinction come up in Operations
6. Use current names — Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller / NDFC (not DCNM), Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator / NDO (not MSO), Cisco Modeling Labs / CML (not VIRL)
7. Simulate exam conditions — use the timed exam mode to practice under pressure