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Official specifications published by Dell
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D-PE-FN-01 Exam Topics and Domains
D-PE-FN-01 is organized into 6 weighted domains. Expect to work with iDRAC, OpenManage Enterprise, OpenManage System Administrator (OMSA), PowerEdge servers, and more.
Introduction to Servers
Server Characteristics and Definitions
Define the characteristics of a server
Storage Components in Dell PowerEdge Servers
- Explain the function of various storage components commonly found in Dell PowerEdge servers, such as Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid State Drives (SSDs), RAID controllers, BOSS and M.2, and storage enclosures
- Define the key storage components found in Dell PowerEdge servers, including Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid State Drives (SSDs), RAID controllers (PERC), and backplanes
PowerEdge Server Generations and Series
Describe the PowerEdge Server generations and series
PowerEdge Nomenclature and Components
- Identify a PowerEdge Server using its nomenclature
- Describe the components inside a PowerEdge Server
Server Architecture and Roles
PowerEdge Server Models and Form Factors
Explain how different PowerEdge server models (e.g., rack servers, tower servers, blade servers) are better suited for specific roles
Data Flow and Server Architecture
Interpret data flow through a server
Storage Topologies
Compare and contrast different storage topologies relevant to Dell PowerEdge servers: Direct Attached Storage (DAS), Network Attached Storage (NAS), and Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Virtualization and Server Workloads
- Explain Hypervisors and virtual machines
- Describe and position PowerEdge server solutions for File Sharing, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Generative AI workloads
Server Management
Management Concepts and Methods
Explain the concepts of in-band and out-of-band management in the context of PowerEdge servers
PowerEdge Management Tools
Compare the PowerEdge Servers management applications, utilities, and licensing
Boot Processes and Firmware
Differentiate between the traditional BIOS and the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot processes on Dell PowerEdge servers
iDRAC and At-the-Box Management
- Explain the concept of at-the-box management for Dell PowerEdge servers
- Discuss iDRAC, its features, and different versions (Basic, Express, Enterprise, and Data Center)
OpenManage System Administrator Suite
Describe Dell OpenManage System Administrator Suite (OMSA)
Server Networking and Connectivity
Network Services and Infrastructure
Define the types of network services
Network Cables and Connections
Describe the cables and connections
PowerEdge On-Board Networking
Compare the on-board network on a PowerEdge Server
Maintenance
Memory and Expansion
Describe the Memory and Expansion cards
Power Distribution
Explain the power distribution considerations
Fault Indicators and Diagnostics
Explain the hardware fault indicators in PowerEdge Servers
Firmware and Driver Updates
Describe different methods of updating firmware and drivers in PowerEdge Servers
Cooling and Thermal Management
Explain the cooling and thermal considerations in PowerEdge Servers (Direct Liquid Cooling, Immersion Cooling, Air Cooling)
Server Maintenance Functions
Describe maintenance functions, shutdowns, reboots of a PowerEdge Server
Security
PowerEdge Security Features
Explain the security features of PowerEdge Servers
Hardware-Enforced Security
Explain Hardware-enforced Security in PowerEdge Servers (Silicon Root of Trust (RoT), Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, System Lockdown Mode, Hardware Intrusion Detection, Automated BIOS and OS Recovery)
iDRAC Security Management
Describe the role of iDRAC in automated security management in a PowerEdge Server
Data Protection
Discuss data protection in PowerEdge Servers (SEDs)
Access Control
Discuss features like Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) restrict access to server management tools
How do I earn this certification?
Passing D-PE-FN-01 earns the Dell Technologies Certified PowerEdge Foundations v2 certification. It sits in the Infrastructure - PowerEdge Servers track.
- D-PE-OE-23 - Dell PowerEdge Operate 2023Advance to operational-level PowerEdge certification
- D-PEMX-DY-23 - Dell PowerEdge MX Modular Deploy 2023 Specialize in modular PowerEdge infrastructure
- D-VXR-DS-00 - Dell VxRail Design Expand into hyper-converged infrastructure with VxRail
- D-VCFVXR-A-01 - Dell VCF on VxRail AchievementCombine server knowledge with VMware Cloud Foundation
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
Use the official PlanetCert Practice Test alongside the study plan below to prepare efficiently for D-PE-FN-01.
What's changed on this exam?
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-03-28
- Announcement date: 2025-03-28
- Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) PowerCool eRDHx High relevance to Maintenance domain (18%) - cooling technologies explicitly mentioned in exam topics • Release date: 2025-05-19
- PowerEdge AI Servers XE8712, XE9712 with NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra Medium relevance - new AI workload positioning examples for Server Architecture domain (22%) • Release date: 2025-05-19
- iDRAC iDRAC9 with AI-enhanced features High relevance to Server Management domain (14%) - iDRAC features and versions are core exam topics • Release date: 2025
- Hardware-Enforced Security Silicon Root of Trust, TPM 2.0 High relevance to Security domain (12%) - explicitly mentioned in exam description • Release date: Current generation
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by IT professionals beginning their career in server technologies and System administrators wanting to validate PowerEdge knowledge.
- Hands-on experience with Dell PowerEdge servers
- Basic understanding of server hardware concepts
- Familiarity with data center environments