From a free demo to 365 days of updates and a clearly stated refund policy, ActualCollection covers every step of your Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) preparation in one place. Thousands of candidates in 2026 start their 642-355 journey right here.
Cisco 642-355 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Cisco |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | Designing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions |
| Exam Number: | 642-355 |
| Related Certifications: | CCDP CCIE Storage Networking CCNP Data Center |
| Exam Format: | Multiple Choice Multiple Answer, Scenario-Based, Multiple Choice Single Answer, Drag and Drop |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Certificate Validity Period: | 3 years |
| Exam Price: | USD 200-300 (historical, retired) |
| Real Exam Qty: | 55-60 |
| Exam Duration: | 90 minutes |
| Passing Score: | Not publicly disclosed |
| Recommended Training: | Designing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions (DCSNS) |
| Exam Registration: | Pearson VUE Cisco Portal |
| Sample Questions: |  |
| Exam Way: | Onsite at Pearson VUE test centers (retired) |
| Pre Condition: | Valid CCDA certification recommended; CCNP or equivalent experience |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/exams/retired.html |
Cisco 642-355 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Networking Fundamentals | 20% | - Fibre Channel protocol and SAN topologies - DAS, NAS, SAN architectures and differences - iSCSI, FCoE, and FCIP technologies |
| Cisco MDS Architecture and Features | 25% | - Zoning, VSAN trunking, and inter-VSAN routing - VSAN technology and segmentation - MDS 9000 series hardware and software |
| Management and Monitoring | 10% | - Monitoring, logging, and troubleshooting design - Cisco DCNM management tools |
| SAN Design Principles | 25% | - Bandwidth planning and performance design - High availability, redundancy, and scalability - Core-edge, mesh, and cascaded topologies |
| Storage Integration and Advanced Services | 20% | - Disaster recovery and replication design - Multipathing and load balancing - SAN security and access control |
Common Questions About the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) Exam
The Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam is the official Cisco test registered under exam code 642-355. Passing it earns you the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) certification, a credential at the Specialist level. It is also linked to the related certifications: CCDP, CCNP Data Center, CCIE Storage Networking. Cisco exams are valued because they test job-ready skills, so a passing score here carries real weight on a resume.
The Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam includes 55-60 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. Do the pacing math before exam day: with that many items on the clock, you need a steady rhythm and the discipline to flag a hard question and move on instead of stalling. Two or three full timed sessions with the ActualCollection test engine will show you exactly what that pace feels like, so time pressure stops being a factor on the real day.
To pass the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam you need Not publicly disclosed, and the official registration fee is USD 200-300 (historical, retired). A retake is not discounted: a failed attempt means paying the full USD 200-300 (historical, retired) again, so treat your first sitting as the expensive one. A sensible rule is to book your seat only after you are scoring comfortably above the passing mark on the ActualCollection practice tests, not just squeaking past it once.
Valid CCDA certification recommended; CCNP or equivalent experience
Eligibility rules do change from time to time, so confirm the current requirements before you register on the official exam page.
Registration for the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam goes through the official channels below.
As for the delivery format, the exam is taken Onsite at Pearson VUE test centers (retired).
Cisco points candidates toward the following training options for Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS).
Course work builds the foundation; question practice makes it stick. The 60 practice questions in the ActualCollection 642-355 package let you rehearse each topic under exam-style pressure before the real thing.
Yes. ActualCollection offers a free PDF demo of the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) material so you can judge the question quality and format before spending anything. After purchase, your license includes 365 days of free updates, and if you want to keep receiving updates after that period, renewals are available at a 50% discount.
If you take the Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam within 60 days of your purchase and do not pass, ActualCollection backs you with a 100% money-back guarantee. The claim must match the exam your product covers: attempts taken within 3 days of purchase are not eligible (that is too little preparation time), and neither are downloaded-but-unused products, free materials, or expired orders. The candidate name must match the payer name, and you need to submit a scanned enrollment slip plus the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. Prefer not to refund? You can swap instead and receive two other exam products of equal value for free while keeping the update service on your original purchase.
Delivery itself is instant: your files are downloadable right away and emailed to you within one minute of payment. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you may install the software on.
The official Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) syllabus is organized into 5 domains. Key areas include Cisco MDS Architecture and Features (25%), SAN Design Principles (25%), and Management and Monitoring (10%). The complete, up-to-date topic list appears in the exam topics section above; work through it line by line and flag anything you cannot yet explain in your own words.
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