The 642-961 exam is the official Cisco exam behind Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Solutions design — passing it earns you the CCNP Data Center, Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Design certification, a credential positioned at the Professional / Specialist level. It is built for candidates who want to validate the skills measured by Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Solutions design. Depending on your track, the exam is also linked to the CCDP, CCNP Data Center and Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Design certifications, so one pass can move you toward more than one Cisco credential.

The 642-961 exam presents 65-75 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. That pace leaves little room for second-guessing: read each question carefully on the first pass, flag the ones you want to revisit, and keep moving instead of stalling on a single item. Before exam day, run at least one full timed session in the TestSimulate desktop or online test engine with a comparable question load — a steady rhythm under the clock is a trainable skill, and it is often what separates a pass from a near miss.

To pass the 642-961 exam you need Not publicly disclosed (variable, approx. 800-850 / 1000 scale), and the official registration fee is USD 300. Keep in mind that a failed attempt means paying that fee again in full — retakes are not discounted. Given the cost, self-test before you book: if you can score comfortably above the passing mark on two or three consecutive timed TestSimulate practice tests, your budget is far better spent on the exam itself than on a retake.

Recommended: CCNA Data Center or equivalent knowledge, 1-3 years of data center networking experience Because Cisco revises its certification programs from time to time, treat this as a starting point rather than the final word. Confirm the current eligibility requirements on the official Cisco exam page before you register.

Registration for the 642-961 exam is handled through the official channels below:

• Pearson VUE

Delivery method: Proctored at Pearson VUE authorized test centers; retired exam no longer available for registration — pick the option that suits you best when booking your slot.

Cisco points Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Solutions design candidates toward the following official courses:

• Cisco Data Center Network Infrastructure Design

Official courses build the foundation; pairing them with the 120 642-961 practice questions from TestSimulate turns that knowledge into exam-day readiness.

Yes. A free PDF demo of the 642-961 practice questions is available, so you can check the question style and answer quality before spending anything. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates — whenever Cisco adjusts the Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Solutions design blueprint, your material is refreshed at no cost during that period. After the first year, you can extend the update service at a 50% discount from your member zone.

TestSimulate backs your purchase with a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If you take the corresponding exam within 60 days of purchase and do not pass, you can claim a full refund by submitting a scanned copy of your exam enrollment slip together with the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of your exam date; approved claims are processed within 7 days. The guarantee applies only to the exam matching your purchase, the candidate name must match the payer name, and it does not cover attempts taken within 3 days of purchase, candidates who downloaded the material but never sat the exam, expired orders, or free materials. If you would rather keep preparing, you can exchange the product for two free exam preparation packages of equal value and keep the update service on your original purchase.

Delivery is instant: your download is available right after payment, and a copy is emailed to you within one minute. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, check your spam folder and contact our support team. There is no limit on the number of computers you can install the software on.

The Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Solutions design syllabus is organized into 5 domains. Among the headline areas are Data Center Infrastructure Design Principles (20%), Management and Orchestration (15%), Compute and Storage Networking Design (20%). Rather than copying every subtopic here, we keep the complete, current outline in the Exam Topics section above — work through it domain by domain with the TestSimulate 642-961 practice questions so nothing on the blueprint catches you off guard.