The Designing the FlexPod Solution or just Cisco 500-173 FPDESIGN exam confirms a candidate’s awareness of standards and tools for estimating the performance of features and needs for computing solutions. Furthermore, it validates a deep comprehension of hardware elements related to FlexPod Solution, as well as practical skills in choosing the correct hardware for a defined set of necessities. And receiving the required passing mark leads to earning the Cisco and NetApp FlexPod Design Specialist certificate.

Details of this Accreditation Exam

If you decide to take the 500-173 test, you should know that this 1.5-hours exam is priced at $300 and is administered in English. The payment and the entire registration process are done through the Pearson VUE platform, where you can choose a time and place that is convenient for you. Remember, the final exam can be taken either online or at any nearby authorized testing center. Both scenarios imply control over the processes of test writing as the vendor is very strict on exam malpractices.

A nice bonus is that there are no preliminary and subsequent conditions for taking on the certificate associated with exam 500-173.

Review of Topics and Domains

Preparation is the key to success in any business, so before taking the 500-173 test, candidates are required to have a good awareness of the subject that it will encompass. If you review the outline of this exam in detail, you will discover that the questions cover several areas of study. Therefore, below is a guideline on what participants should study and comprehend:

• FlexPod design (25%)

  You can start your careful preparation from the description of FlexPod components according to the capacity of a customer. This topic includes the details such as s scale, best practices, rules, continuity of business, and connectivity needs. Also, the test focuses on your knowledge for describing the means of classifying a solution according to the demands of a customer while considering the best practices for FlexPod. Nor should you write off the need to understand support choices for FlexPod such as cooperative support, partner support, along with solution support.

• Compute (20%)

  In order not to make an unfortunate slip you also have to concentrate on the deep knowledge of Cisco UCS in FlexPod designs. This topic involves B-series, fabric interconnects, and VICs. The others are C-series as well as IOMs. You should also pay attention to the study of configuring the logical elements that are used in a UCS server. In addition, consider the likelihood of encountering questions on the exam regarding VSANS, templates, HyperVisor, profiles, as well as databases.

• Storage (18%)

  It is worth remembering that the duties of a knowledgeable FlexPod design specialist are guaranteed to include working with storage elements of NetApp that are used in FlexPod designs. The components are FAS, AFF, clustering, together with E-series. The final test also looks at a candidate’s knowledge to elaborate on deliberations for storage protocol within FlexPod designs. This means that, during preparation, you have to consider in detail SAN as well as NAS protocols, FC hardware, and VSANS. Moreover, through this evaluation, you must demonstrate your understanding of the requirements for backing up and protecting data in FlexPod designs. This involves restoration, data protection, data backup, and data security.

• Networking (18%)

  Don't forget to prepare yourself for questions about elements of Cisco networking for FlexPod designs, such as ACI, Nexus, and MDS. In addition, this section also includes the knowledge in networking configurations for FlexPod designs, both VLANs and VPCs.

• Security (9%)

  One way or another, but the question of safety cannot be avoided, so the knowledge of methods for controlling access for FlexPod designs is necessary for everyone. Therefore, LDAP, RADIUS, and AD are the methodologies that may be questioned in 500-173. Moreover, you should validate your knowledge of considerations necessary for constructing a secure multitenancy design. It involves aspects like IP spaces, VLANs, VSANs, and SVMs.

• Tools (10%)

  You, as a concerned candidate, must have to exhibit the capacity to describe the maintenance process of the IX5000 endpoint. What’s more, your solid comprehension of basic tasks for maintaining the infrastructure needed for IX5000 support will also be necessary to get a passing grade. Describing considerations for the upgrade of the IX5000 Series may be another skill that will be required of you on the final test.

Career Prospects

It's not news that certificates from Cisco are designed to impart knowledge that will still be relevant in the future. It means that IT specialists who get certified comprehend current technologies and will be able to work with other innovations that may come up in later years.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned accreditation is suitable for system engineers, channel partners focusing on FlexPod designs, field engineers, network engineers, in addition to professional service consultancy. Positions such as these are in demand currently because of companies’ desire to find reliable, efficient, and secure IT data center solutions.

But if you look at the numbers, then PayScale.com projects that system engineers have the potential to earn $76,443 on average yearly, while field engineers get a mean salary of $64,618 annually. Moreover, network engineers also are capable of being paid $75,168 per year. And this is not the limit of your financial possibilities.

Career Path to Take after this Certification

According to Cisco, every professional accreditation exam passed will be awarded a specialist certificate. Therefore, as already noted, candidates who pass this test is guaranteed to receive the Cisco and NetApp FlexPod Implementation and Administration Specialist qualification.

But your journey to Cisco accreditation does not end there, as you can strive for the CCNA or any of the CCNP or CCIE designations provided you will attain the experience being asked for the certification track they’ll choose. Moreover, it is important to remember that Cisco as a certification vendor specializes in different technical areas such as security, service provider, DevNet, CyberOps, Collaboration, Enterprise, and Data Center. For the most part, each accreditation path consists of several levels, from beginner to advanced. So all you need to do is decide on the area you are interested in and start your career path with Cisco.