DMCP study plan
DMCP · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Storage and Data Protection
Map the DMCP storage domain blueprint and list every storage and data-protection objective with its likely weight
Explain RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 in terms of fault tolerance, usable capacity, and rebuild behavior
Compare SAN, NAS, DAS, and object storage on access method, typical workload, and failure modes
Configure a small lab array (physical or virtual) with a volume, a hot spare, and a documented rebuild test
Your checkpoint
A one-page storage comparison matrix covering RAID levels, storage types, and the lab rebuild test result with measured rebuild time
Storage and Data Protection
Differentiate RPO and RTO and calculate both for three sample business scenarios
Sequence the steps of a backup job from snapshot creation through verification and retention expiry
Compare full, incremental, and differential backup chains by restore time and storage cost
Design a 3-2-1 backup scheme for a 10 TB dataset and justify each copy location
Your checkpoint
A written backup design for the 10 TB dataset with RPO/RTO targets, retention schedule, and restore runbook
Storage and Data Protection & Servers and Compute Infrastructure
Explain replication topologies (synchronous, asynchronous, active-active) and when each is appropriate
Identify the server components that affect data-protection design: HBAs, RAID controllers, NIC teaming, and power redundancy
Size compute and storage for a two-node failover cluster given a stated workload
Perform a restore from a snapshot and from a backup file in the lab and time both
Your checkpoint
A restore test report comparing snapshot restore time versus backup restore time against the stated RTO
Servers and Compute Infrastructure
Describe server architecture layers: CPU, memory, bus, firmware, and OS, and how each constrains workload density
Compare tower, rack, and blade form factors on power, cooling, and expansion
Explain out-of-band management (IPMI, BMC, iDRAC, iLO) and configure one in the lab
Diagnose three injected server faults (failed disk, degraded memory, fan failure) using logs and indicators
Your checkpoint
A fault-diagnosis log for three injected server faults with the evidence used and the corrective action for each
Networking and Connectivity
Explain the OSI and TCP/IP models and map common protocols (iSCSI, NFS, SMB, FC) to their layers
Compare Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and FCoE on transport, latency, and cabling
Configure VLANs and a LACP bond in the lab and verify throughput and failover
Troubleshoot a simulated connectivity failure using ping, traceroute, and switch counters
Your checkpoint
A network lab write-up with VLAN and LACP configuration, failover test results, and the troubleshooting trail for one simulated outage
Cloud and Virtualization & Systems Management and Automation
Compare Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors and contrast VMs with containers on isolation and density
Explain live migration, snapshots, and clones and their storage and network dependencies
Describe hybrid cloud connectivity options and the data-gravity tradeoffs of each
Automate a repetitive task (VM deployment or backup scheduling) with a script and document the runbook
Your checkpoint
A working automation script plus a runbook that deploys or backs up a VM end to end, with output logs
Systems Management and Automation & Security and Compliance
Explain monitoring and alerting design: metrics, thresholds, and escalation paths
Describe patch and configuration management workflows and their rollback plans
Map common security controls (encryption at rest and in transit, RBAC, MFA, audit logging) to storage and compute layers
Identify the compliance obligations that drive data retention and audit-trail requirements
Your checkpoint
A control-mapping table linking at least eight security and compliance controls to specific storage, compute, and management features
Solution Design and Support
Assemble a solution design for a stated customer scenario using a requirements-to-components traceability matrix
Produce a support escalation tree with severity levels, response targets, and evidence-collection steps
Complete two timed practice sets weighted by domain percentage and review every missed item
Write a one-page exam-day strategy covering time allocation and question triage
Your checkpoint
A complete solution-design package (requirements matrix, architecture diagram description, support escalation tree) plus a scored practice-set review log
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on a 25-question self-made quiz covering RAID, storage types, and backup chains, and produce a correct RPO/RTO calculation for all three scenarios
Week 4: Restore the 10 TB design dataset from backup within the stated RTO and document the measured restore time and any gaps
Week 6: Demonstrate a working VLAN, LACP failover, and automated VM deployment in the lab, with logs showing each succeeded
Week 8: Score at least 80% on two full-length timed practice sets and complete the solution-design package with every requirement traced to a component