NVIDIA AI Infrastructure (NCP-AII) Preparation Details
NVIDIA AI Infrastructure (NCP-AII) preparation validates your ability to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot NVIDIA DGX and HGX AI clusters in production data centers.
This guide maps every NCP-AII blueprint topic, from server bring-up to cluster testing and optimization, to official NVIDIA documentation.
You can also explore more NVIDIA certification study guides on the NVIDIA category to keep building your skills.
NVIDIA AI Infrastructure (NCP-AII) Materials
| Coursera | AI Infrastructure and Operations Fundamentals |
| Udemy | Master NVIDIA AI Infrastructure for Certification |
| Whizlabs | NVIDIA Certified Associate AI Infrastructure |
System and Server Bring-up (31% of Exam)
Topics Covered
Describe sequence of events for deployment and validation.
NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD and BasePOD with DGX B200 Systems Deployment Guide
Describe network topologies for AI factories.
Networking Logical Architecture
Networking Physical Topologies
Network Logical Architecture – NVIDIA NVL72 AI Factory
Perform initial configuration of BMC, OOB, and TPM.
BCM Headnodes Pre-install Preparation
Perform firmware upgrades (including on HGX™) and fault detection.
NVIDIA DGX GB200/GB300 Firmware Update Guide
Validate power and cooling parameters.
Cooling and Airflow Optimization
Data Center Best Practices with DGX B200
NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD Data Center Design Reference Guide
Install GPU-based servers (SMI).
Introduction to NVIDIA DGX H100/H200 Systems
Validate installed hardware.
NVIDIA Validation Suite User Guide
Describe and validate cable types and transceivers.
NVIDIA LinkX Cables and Transceivers Guide to Key Technologies
InfiniBand Cables Primer Overview
Install physical GPUs.
NVIDIA DGX H100/H200 Service Manual
Introduction to NVIDIA DGX H100/H200 Systems
Validate hardware operation for workloads.
NVIDIA Validation Suite User Guide
System Health Checks and Debugging
Configure initial parameters for third-party storage.
Key Components of the DGX SuperPOD
Physical Layer Management (5% of Exam)
Topics Covered
Configure and manage a BlueField® network platform.
BlueField DPUs / SuperNICs & DOCA
DOCA Installation Guide for Linux
DOCA Developer Quick Start Guide
Configure MIG (AI and HPC).
Control Plane Installation and Configuration (19% of Exam)
Topics Covered
Install Base Command™ Manager (BCM), configure and verify HA.
BCM Headnodes Pre-install Preparation
Install OS.
Install Cluster (configure category, configure interfaces, install Slurm/Enroot/Pyxis).
Install/update/remove NVIDIA GPU and DOCA™ drivers.
DOCA Installation Guide for Linux
Installing BlueField-3 NIC Firmware
Install the NVIDIA container toolkit.
Installing the NVIDIA Container Toolkit
Demonstrate how to use NVIDIA GPUs with Docker.
NVIDIA Container Toolkit User Guide
Install NGC™ CLI on hosts.
Cluster Test and Verification (33% of Exam)
Topics Covered
Perform a single-node stress test.
NVIDIA Validation Suite User Guide
Execute HPL (High-Performance Linpack).
Perform single-node NCCL (including verifying NVLink™ Switch).
Validate the system topology/NVlink
Validate cables by verifying signal quality.
InfiniBand Cables Primer Overview
Confirm cabling is correct.
InfiniBand Cables Primer Overview
Confirm FW/SW on switches.
Confirm FW/SW on BlueField-3.
Installing BlueField-3 NIC Firmware
Updating ConnectX-8 and BlueField-3 Firmware
Confirm FW on transceivers.
NVIDIA LinkX Cables and Transceivers Guide to Key Technologies
Run ClusterKit to perform a multifaceted node assessment.
Run NCCL to verify E/W fabric bandwidth.
Perform NCCL burn-in.
System Health Checks and Debugging
Perform HPL burn-in.
System Health Checks and Debugging
Perform NeMo™ burn-in.
System Health Checks and Debugging
Test storage.
Troubleshoot and Optimize (12% of Exam)
Topics Covered
Identify and troubleshoot hardware faults (e.g., GPU, fan, network card).
Identify faulty cards, GPUs, and power supplies.
Replace faulty cards, GPUs, and power supplies.
NVIDIA DGX H100/H200 Service Manual
NVIDIA DGX GB200 Service Manual
Execute performance optimization for AMD and Intel servers.
NVIDIA-Certified Systems Configuration Guide
Optimize storage.
Wrapping Up NVIDIA AI Infrastructure (NCP-AII)
This guide covered all five domains of the NCP-AII exam blueprint, from system and server bring-up through cluster testing and troubleshooting, with official NVIDIA documentation for every topic.
Studying each domain in proportion to its exam weight, especially cluster test and verification and system bring-up, will help you build real hands-on confidence before exam day.
You can also explore more NVIDIA certification study guides on the NVIDIA category to keep building your skills. Have a question or tip? Leave a comment below.
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