DCAT study plan

Define the purpose and major subsystems of a data center (power, cooling, compute, storage, network, physical security) and sketch how they interconnect

Distinguish rack, row, and room-level architecture and label where each subsystem lives

Compare raised-floor vs slab construction and identify which cabling and cooling strategies each enables

Explain redundancy topologies (N, N+1, 2N) and map each to a concrete failure scenario

Identify server form factors (1U, 2U, blade, rack) and state the tradeoffs in density, power, and expandability

Trace the boot path from power-on through POST, firmware, and OS handoff

Describe CPU, memory, and PCIe subsystem roles and how they constrain each other (channels, lanes, slots)

Explain out-of-band management (BMC/IPMI/Redfish) and list tasks it enables remotely

Differentiate HDD, SSD, and NVMe on latency, IOPS, endurance, and cost per TB

Compare RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 on fault tolerance, usable capacity, and rebuild risk

Distinguish DAS, SAN, and NAS and match each to a workload scenario

Explain tiering, caching, and thin provisioning as capacity-management strategies

Map the OSI layers to concrete data center devices and protocols at each layer

Compare top-of-rack, end-of-row, and spine-leaf topologies on latency, oversubscription, and scaling

Explain VLANs, trunking, and link aggregation as segmentation and resilience tools

Distinguish block, file, and object storage traffic patterns and their network requirements

Calculate power draw for a rack from component nameplate and typical figures, then convert to BTU/hr

Explain UPS types (online, line-interactive, standby) and when each is appropriate

Describe airflow management (hot/cold aisle, containment, blanking panels) and its effect on inlet temperature

Interpret PUE and state what a target value implies about overhead efficiency

Sequence a rack-and-stack installation from site survey through cable management and labeling

Select the correct cable category or fiber type for a given distance and bandwidth requirement

Perform a structured component swap procedure including ESD control, power isolation, and verification

Apply a labeling and documentation standard to a cabling run end to end

Interpret common health telemetry (temperature, fan speed, PSU status, SMART data, link errors) and flag anomalies

Build a symptom-to-cause decision tree for a server that will not power on

Distinguish environmental alarms from hardware faults and state the correct escalation for each

Practice a structured troubleshooting method: observe, isolate, hypothesize, test, verify

Apply electrical, ESD, lifting, and lockout/tagout safety practices to a described scenario

Explain physical and logical access controls and the principle of least privilege in a data center

Identify compliance obligations (change control, audit logging, data handling) relevant to hands-on work

Complete a timed full-length practice assessment and review every missed item by domain