About This Domain
Domain 1 — Architecture — accounts for 15% of the ENCOR certification exam. This domain evaluates your understanding of hierarchical network design (core, distribution, access), sd-wan and sd-access architectures, cisco dna center and fabric concepts, and related concepts. Enterprise architecture design including hierarchical models, SD-WAN, SD-Access, and wireless architectures. To pass this section you need practical knowledge of how these services and patterns work together in real-world architectures.
What You'll Be Tested On
- Hierarchical network design (core, distribution, access)
- SD-WAN and SD-Access architectures
- Cisco DNA Center and fabric concepts
- High availability: SSO, NSF, graceful restart, stacking
- QoS architecture: classification, marking, queuing, shaping
Key Cisco Technologies in This Domain
Study Strategy for Domain 1
While 15% might seem like a smaller portion of the exam, every point counts toward the passing score. Focus on understanding core concepts and common exam scenarios for this domain.
Exam Tips for Domain 1
Know the differences between on-box vs controller-based wireless architectures.
Understand the SD-WAN control plane (OMP) and data plane (IPsec).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions on the ENCOR exam come from Domain 1?
Domain 1 (Architecture) makes up 15% of the ENCOR exam. The exam has 65 scored questions, so approximately 10 questions will come from this domain.
What services should I focus on for Domain 1?
The key services for this domain include Architecture, SD-WAN, Wireless. Make sure you understand how each service works, its use cases, and how they integrate with one another.
How should I prepare for Architecture questions?
Start by reviewing the key topics listed above, then practice with domain-specific questions. Focus on understanding real-world scenarios rather than memorizing facts.
What's the best order to study the ENCOR domains?
Many candidates start with the highest-weighted domains first. For the ENCOR exam, the domains in order of weight are: Architecture (15%), Virtualization (10%), Infrastructure (30%), Network Assurance (10%), Security (20%), Automation (15%).
Practice Domain 1 Questions
Test your knowledge of Architecture with practice questions from our ENCOR question bank.
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