NVIDIA · NCP-AIN
NVIDIA-Certified Professional AI Networking (NCP-AIN) Practice Tests
Validates deployment, configuration, automation, monitoring, and troubleshooting of NVIDIA Spectrum-X and InfiniBand networking for AI data centers.
Exam Details
Practice Questions
950
≈ 14 practice exams
Duration
120 minutes
Passing Score
Not publicly disclosed
Difficulty
ProfessionalLast Updated
Oct 2026
Topics Covered
AI Data Center Design and OptimizationNVIDIA Spectrum NetworkingNVIDIA InfiniBand NetworkingKubernetes IntegrationTroubleshooting ToolsAutomation and Configuration
NVIDIA NCP-AIN AI Networking Professional Practice Exam
NCP-AIN validates deployment and operation of networking for accelerated AI workloads. The active English exam is remotely proctored through Certiverse, costs $400, contains 70-75 questions, and allows 120 minutes. NVIDIA recommends two to three years of data-center operations experience with NVIDIA hardware, and does not publish a passing score.
Spectrum Networking and InfiniBand Networking are the two dominant domains at 30% each. Troubleshooting Tools is 20%, Automation and Configuration 10%, and AI Data Center Design and Optimization and Kubernetes Integration 5% each. The blueprint specifically names RoCE, QoS, ECN, PFC, BGP-EVPN, UFM, PKeys, Network Operator, NVUE, Ansible, and fabric diagnostic tools.
Use this 950-question NCP-AIN bank to practise the design and troubleshooting choices behind the commands. Begin with 30 free questions, then reproduce the published tasks in a lab or simulator: validate lossless Ethernet, inspect InfiniBand health, verify Kubernetes RDMA integration, and automate a repeatable network configuration.
Exam Domain Breakdown
AI Data Center Design and Optimization5%
NVIDIA Spectrum Networking30%
NVIDIA InfiniBand Networking30%
Kubernetes Integration5%
Troubleshooting Tools20%
Exam Overview
NCP-AIN is NVIDIA's professional certification for deploying and configuring advanced networking environments that support AI workloads. It covers AI-factory topology, Spectrum-X Ethernet, InfiniBand, Kubernetes networking, troubleshooting, and automation.
The exam emphasizes operational decisions: lossless Ethernet and RoCE, fabric configuration and health, tenant isolation, telemetry, RDMA integration, and repeatable configuration.
Who Should Take This Exam
NVIDIA lists data-center, infrastructure, network, storage, and system administrators; network engineers; and solutions architects. It recommends two to three years of operational data-center experience with NVIDIA hardware and the ability to deploy and manage AI networking infrastructure.
Prerequisites
NVIDIA publishes recommended experience, not a prerequisite certification. Candidates should be comfortable with Ethernet and InfiniBand fabrics, NVIDIA networking hardware and software, Linux and Kubernetes networking, troubleshooting tools, and automation.
Exam Format
The active English exam is remotely proctored through Certiverse, contains 70-75 questions, allows 120 minutes, and costs $400. NVIDIA does not publish a passing score. The credential is valid for two years.
Skills Measured
- 1.AI Data Center Design and Optimization (5%): AI-factory components, rail-optimized topology, and GPU communication.
- 2.NVIDIA Spectrum Networking (30%): RoCE, QoS, ECN, PFC, routing, BGP-EVPN, telemetry, DOCA, and SuperNIC functions.
- 3.NVIDIA InfiniBand Networking (30%): provisioning, high availability, PKeys, QoS, adaptive routing, and UFM.
- 4.Kubernetes Integration (5%): deploy and verify NVIDIA Network Operator for RDMA and InfiniBand.
- 5.Troubleshooting Tools (20%) and Automation and Configuration (10%): diagnose fabrics and automate with NVUE and Ansible.
Study Tips
- Allocate most study time to Spectrum, InfiniBand, and troubleshooting because they total 80% of the blueprint.
- Build or simulate both RoCE Ethernet and InfiniBand paths and explain when each control is used.
- Practise the named diagnostic tools and interpret output rather than memorizing command names.
- Deploy and verify NVIDIA Network Operator in Kubernetes.
- Automate a repeatable VLAN, RoCE, or fabric configuration with NVUE templates or Ansible.
Career Benefits
NCP-AIN provides vendor validation for practitioners responsible for networking in GPU and AI infrastructure. NVIDIA issues a digital badge and optional certificate; the credential is valid for two years and can be renewed by retaking the exam.
Sample Questions
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 950 questions, enough for 14 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. What is the default maximum number of QP0 MADs on wire that ibdiagnet uses?
A4
B16
C8
D32
Explanation
ibdiagnet uses a default of 8 for the maximum number of QP0 MADs (Management Datagrams) on wire. This parameter can be adjusted to control how aggressively ibdiagnet probes the fabric. Higher values can speed up discovery but may stress the management plane.
2. What SL (Service Level) is used by default for QP1 MADs in ibdiagnet?
ASL 1
BSL 15
CSL 7
DSL 0
Explanation
ibdiagnet uses SL 0 (Service Level 0) by default for QP1 MADs. This can be changed using specific command-line options when different SL values are required for the management traffic. SL 0 is typically mapped to VL 0 and is standard for management operations.
3. What is the maximum power consumption of the BlueField-3 DPU Controller?
A100W
B150W
C75W
D200W
Explanation
The BlueField-3 DPU Controller maximum power consumption does not exceed 150W. This power is provided through the ATX 8-pin connector and the PCIe x16 golden fingers. This power envelope allows for deployment in standard server chassis while providing significant processing capabilities.
4. BlueField-3 provides how many times more compute power compared to BlueField-2?
A4X
B8X
C3X
D2X
Explanation
Compared to BlueField-2, BlueField-3 provides 4X more compute power. Additionally, it offers up to 4X faster crypto acceleration, 2X faster storage processing, and 4X more memory bandwidth. These improvements enable more sophisticated offloading and acceleration capabilities.
5. What is the maximum number of HCA (Host Channel Adapter) devices supported by NCCL?
A16
B32
C8
D64
Explanation
NCCL has a fixed upper limit of 32 Host Channel Adapter (HCA) devices supported. This limit applies when configuring the NCCL_IB_HCA environment variable to specify which RDMA interfaces to use for communication. Administrators should consider this limit when designing high-density GPU cluster configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCP-AIN exam format?
NVIDIA lists 70-75 questions, 120 minutes, English delivery, and remote online proctoring through Certiverse.
How much does NCP-AIN cost?
NVIDIA currently lists the exam at $400. Pricing can change, so verify it on the registration page before booking.
What experience is recommended for NCP-AIN?
NVIDIA recommends two to three years of operational data-center experience with NVIDIA hardware and the ability to deploy and manage AI networking infrastructure.
Which NCP-AIN domains are largest?
NVIDIA Spectrum Networking and NVIDIA InfiniBand Networking are each 30%. Troubleshooting Tools is 20%, making those three areas 80% of the blueprint.
What score is required to pass NCP-AIN?
NVIDIA does not publish the passing score on its certification page.
How long is NCP-AIN valid?
The credential is valid for two years from issue. NVIDIA says candidates can recertify by retaking the exam.
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