The Arista Data Center Operations exam evaluates your ability to use CloudVision and EOS streaming telemetry to identify and remediate fabric-level issues. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a "workflow-fast" approach—interpreting real-time state streaming, event correlation, and historical metrics to isolate root causes in complex L3LS environments. Beyond basic monitoring, the exam assesses the execution of safe operational workflows, including staged EOS upgrades, maintenance window management, and the use of automated snapshots for pre/post operation validation. Candidate success is measured by their ability to apply a systematic, repeatable diagnostic methodology to verify underlay reachability, EVPN overlay health, and multi-switch configuration compliance.
Arista Academy Certification Exams focus on testing knowledge & skills rather than basic information retention, emphasizing the importance of understanding and applying concepts in practical, hands-on situations, preparing candidates for the real-world challenges they will face in their careers.
Open Book
Arista Academy Certification exams are open-book, reflecting real-world troubleshooting scenarios where engineers utilize various resources. This approach encourages the use of available documentation and tools, with the sole exception of other people. While open-book, the exams are not easy; familiarity with the material, particularly the labs for your chosen track, is essential to successfully complete the evaluation within the allotted time.
Prerequisites
The Arista Academy Certification exams are open to anyone seeking to validate their networking and technology skills, regardless of prior Arista training. No official Arista training or previous certifications are required to take a standard exam. This accessibility welcomes a diverse range of individuals, especially those with significant networking expertise and practical experience.
While there are no mandatory prerequisites for taking an exam, active participation in relevant Arista Academy Learning Tracks, with a particular emphasis on completing hands-on labs, is crucial for success. Data shows a direct link between increased lab time and higher pass rates (25% for minimal lab time versus 65% for extensive lab time), indicating that skipping labs significantly raises the risk of failure. Failing an exam results in a mandatory 14-day waiting period and additional fees for retakes, representing a considerable investment of time and resources.
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL / PREPARATION TIPS
- Be “workflow fast” and not just “command-fast”. Efficiency in CloudVision is as critical as CLI speed
- Be proficient with verification commands
- Know where to find key data in CloudVision
- Bookmark the Arista EOS configuration guide
- Practice the course labs
- Although this is an open-book exam, you will not have time to research fundamental concepts
Exams and recommended training
Arista Academy Certification exams assess specific skills directly aligned with the content of our Learning Track program syllabus. These practical exams feature tasks derived from the syllabus, requiring hands-on application in a virtual lab environment to configure devices and software to achieve desired outcomes.
Academy Certification exams are aligned with the Learning Track content.
It is important to note that exam tasks are exclusively derived from the individual sub-tracks and do not include the Supplemental Content. While the Supplemental Content offers additional assistive material, it is not tested.
Exam content
- Duration : 2 hours
- Topics covered :
- EOS Management
- CloudVision Operations
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Required exam |
Recommended training |
AN-DC-OP01 |