Cisco
300-635 DCAUTO
90 Minutes
76
Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions
Last updated on: Jun 6, 2026
Author: Shawnee Kesten (Cisco DevNet Curriculum Specialist)
The Cisco 300-635 DCNAUTO exam validates your ability to automate, orchestrate, and program Cisco data center networking environments using modern automation technologies and infrastructure-as-code practices. This certification exam is designed for professionals pursuing the Cisco Certified DevNet Professional, Cisco Certified Automation Specialist – Data Center Automation and Programmability, and Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center certifications. Candidates preparing for this exam are expected to understand network programmability, infrastructure automation, orchestration workflows, and AI-driven operations across Cisco data center platforms.
Unlike traditional networking exams that focus mainly on manual configuration tasks, the 300-635 exam emphasizes automation, programmability, controller-based networking, and scalable operational workflows. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work with APIs, YANG models, GitOps workflows, automation frameworks, and Cisco technologies such as Cisco ACI, Cisco Nexus Dashboard, Cisco NX-OS, and Cisco Nexus Hyperfabric. The exam measures both theoretical understanding and practical implementation skills that align with real-world enterprise automation environments.
The following domains are based on the official Cisco exam blueprint for Automating Cisco Data Center Networking Solutions (300-635 DCNAUTO).
This section focuses on the foundational concepts required for automating Cisco data center environments. Candidates must understand OpenConfig, IETF, and native YANG models along with modern network programmability protocols such as NETCONF, gNMI, gRPC, and gNOI. The exam also tests your ability to work with Cisco ACI network-centric mode concepts including bridge domains, EPGs, contracts, and VRFs.
You are expected to understand the role of DPUs in data center switching environments and know how to construct gRPC payloads from YANG modules using tools such as YANG Suite and pyang. Cisco places strong emphasis on understanding how modern programmable interfaces interact with automation workflows in enterprise-scale data centers.
Infrastructure as Code represents one of the most important areas of the updated DCNAUTO exam. Candidates must understand GitOps methodologies, infrastructure automation principles, and modern configuration management workflows. The exam validates your ability to build reusable and scalable network automation templates using Jinja2 features such as loops, filters, conditionals, and output modifiers.
This domain also covers automation using Python, Ansible, Terraform, and CI/CD methodologies within data center environments. You must understand how infrastructure provisioning, validation, and deployment pipelines are integrated into automated operational models. Cisco increasingly focuses on repeatable and version-controlled automation practices that reduce operational risk in enterprise infrastructures.
This domain evaluates your ability to automate and manage Cisco data center platforms using APIs and programmable interfaces. Candidates are expected to interact with Cisco NX-OS, Cisco ACI, and Nexus Dashboard APIs while understanding authentication methods, API response handling, and operational automation workflows.
You should know how to retrieve operational data, automate device configurations, and validate infrastructure states programmatically. Cisco also tests your understanding of structured data formats such as JSON and XML and their role in automation systems. This section heavily focuses on real-world automation use cases rather than simple theoretical memorization.
The Operations and AI section reflects Cisco’s growing emphasis on intelligent automation and AI-assisted infrastructure operations. Candidates must understand automation-driven operational workflows, monitoring systems, event-driven automation, and AI-powered operational visibility.
This domain covers telemetry collection, operational analytics, infrastructure validation, and the use of intelligent automation systems to improve efficiency and reliability within modern data center environments. Cisco expects professionals to understand how AI and automation technologies integrate into modern enterprise networking operations to support predictive analysis and self-healing infrastructure models.
The Cisco 300-635 exam includes a combination of theoretical and scenario-driven questions designed to evaluate practical implementation knowledge. Most questions focus on real operational environments where candidates must determine the best automation approach based on technical requirements and infrastructure constraints.
These questions evaluate your understanding of APIs, programmability protocols, automation frameworks, infrastructure-as-code concepts, and Cisco automation technologies. Candidates must understand terminology, operational behavior, and workflow integration rather than relying on memorization alone.
Scenario-based items present realistic enterprise data center situations involving automation challenges, controller-based architectures, or operational troubleshooting tasks. These questions test analytical thinking and your ability to apply automation concepts to production environments.
These questions measure your ability to associate technologies with their operational functions. You may be required to match YANG models with protocols, APIs with automation tasks, or automation tools with deployment workflows.
Preparing for the 300-635 exam requires both conceptual understanding and practical automation experience. Candidates who combine theory study with hands-on practice generally perform significantly better on scenario-driven questions.
Start by building a strong understanding of automation foundations including REST APIs, JSON, YANG models, Git workflows, and programmable networking protocols. Once you are comfortable with these fundamentals, move toward Cisco-specific technologies such as Cisco ACI, Cisco NX-OS automation, and Nexus Dashboard integrations.
Hands-on practice is extremely important for this certification. Working with Python scripts, API calls, automation templates, and orchestration tools helps reinforce concepts that frequently appear in practical exam scenarios. Candidates should also practice interpreting API responses and troubleshooting automation workflows within simulated environments.
A structured weekly study plan helps ensure balanced preparation across all official domains. Spend additional time on Infrastructure as Code and Network Automation Foundation topics because these areas contain substantial conceptual depth and operational relevance.
The demand for automation-focused networking professionals continues to increase as enterprises modernize their data center operations. Organizations are rapidly transitioning from manual infrastructure management toward software-defined and programmable environments that require advanced automation expertise.
Professionals holding Cisco DevNet Professional and CCNP Data Center certifications are highly valued in industries including cloud computing, enterprise networking, financial services, telecommunications, and managed infrastructure services. Employers increasingly prioritize candidates who understand infrastructure automation, orchestration frameworks, and intelligent operations.
Certified professionals often qualify for roles such as:
The long-term career outlook for automation specialists remains exceptionally strong as AI-driven networking, hybrid cloud deployments, and intelligent infrastructure operations continue expanding across enterprise environments.
Preparing with updated practice questions and realistic exam simulations can significantly improve your confidence and readiness for the Cisco 300-635 certification exam. High-quality preparation resources help candidates identify weak areas, improve time management, and understand the reasoning behind correct answers.
Expert Dumps provides updated Cisco 300-635 exam preparation materials designed to align with the latest official Cisco exam objectives. These resources include realistic practice questions, detailed explanations, and scenario-based exercises covering all major exam domains.
The 300-635 exam can be challenging for candidates without prior automation or programmability experience. Beginners should first build foundational knowledge in APIs, Python, automation tools, and Cisco networking concepts before attempting advanced automation topics.
Infrastructure as Code, network programmability, Cisco ACI automation, APIs, YANG models, and automation workflows are among the most important areas. Cisco heavily emphasizes practical automation knowledge and real-world implementation scenarios.
Basic programming knowledge is highly beneficial. Candidates should be comfortable reading Python scripts, understanding API calls, interpreting JSON data, and working with automation templates such as Jinja2.
Hands-on experience is extremely valuable for this certification. Practicing REST APIs, Git workflows, automation scripting, and Cisco automation platforms significantly improves your ability to handle scenario-based exam questions.
Passing the exam can help qualify professionals for automation-focused networking and infrastructure roles including Network Automation Engineer, DevNet Engineer, Infrastructure Automation Specialist, and Data Center Automation Architect positions.
Select an option, then click Show Answer.
Which two components are attributes of an ACI MIT managed object? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer: B, D
What is a characteristic of synchronous and asynchronous API calls?
Correct Answer: D
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