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Exam Information
Official specifications published by SolarWinds
Exam Format
90 min
75-85
70%
Professional
Registration
$200 USD
PSI Online Proctoring, Pearson VUE, or online proctoring
One free retake included with exam fee
Validity
3 years
Pass the current version of the exam; Complete continuing education requirements; Pass a higher-level SolarWinds certification
NPM Exam Topics and Domains
NPM is organized into 6 weighted domains. Expect to work with MIB Browser, Account Manager, Advanced Alert Manager, Alert Actions, and more.
1
Network Management Fundamentals
15%
Network Protocols and Standards
SNMP Configuration and ManagementMIBs and OIDs
- Understand SNMP protocol fundamentals and versions
- Configure and manage MIBs and OIDs
- Implement SNMP security best practices
Network Flow Technologies
NetFlow Configuration
- Configure NetFlow on network devices
- Analyze flow data for bandwidth utilization
- Troubleshoot flow collection issues
2
NPM Core Features and Administration
25%
Node Management and Discovery
Network DiscoveryNode Management
- Configure and run network discovery
- Manage discovered nodes and resources
- Set up node dependencies and groups
User Interface and Management
Orion Web ConsoleUser Management
- Navigate and customize the Orion Web Console
- Create and manage user accounts
- Configure account limitations and restrictions
3
Monitoring and Alerting
20%
Alert Configuration
Alert Creation and ManagementAlert Actions
- Create complex alert conditions
- Configure appropriate alert actions
- Implement alert suppression and dependencies
Custom Polling
Universal Device Poller
- Create custom pollers for unsupported metrics
- Transform and display custom statistics
- Troubleshoot custom polling issues
4
Advanced NPM Features
20%
NetPath and Network Analysis
NetPath Configuration
- Configure NetPath services
- Analyze network paths
- Identify performance bottlenecks
PerfStack Cross-Stack Analysis
Performance Analysis
- Use PerfStack for troubleshooting
- Correlate multiple metrics
- Identify performance trends
Network Mapping
Network Atlas Maps
- Create custom network maps
- Configure automatic topology discovery
- Design wireless heat maps
5
Capacity Planning and Reporting
10%
Capacity Planning
Capacity Forecasting
- Configure capacity planning metrics
- Create baselines for normal behavior
- Predict future capacity needs
Reports
Report Creation and Management
- Create custom reports
- Schedule and distribute reports
- Use SQL for advanced reporting
6
Integration and Scalability
10%
Module Integration
Orion Platform Integration
- Understand module integration architecture
- Configure module interactions
- Troubleshoot integration issues
High Availability and Scalability
Deployment Architecture
- Design scalable NPM deployments
- Configure high availability
- Optimize polling engine distribution
How do I earn this certification?
Passing NPM earns the SolarWinds Certified Professional (NPM) certification. It sits in the Network Management track.
Current Level Exams
- SCP-NCM - Network Configuration Manager
- SCP-NTA - NetFlow Traffic Analyzer
Next Level Options
- SCP-500 - SolarWinds Certified Professional
- SCP-HCO - Hybrid Cloud Observability
Alternative Paths
- SCP-SAM - Server & Application Monitor Complementary application monitoring skills
- SCP-IPAM - IP Address Manager IP address management expertise
- SCP-SCM - Security Configuration Manager Security and compliance focus
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for NPM is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2024-01-01
Updates
- PerfStack 2024.2 Enhanced correlation features likely in next exam update • Release date: 2024-06-01
- NetPath 2024.3 Cloud path monitoring now exam-relevant • Release date: 2024-09-01
- Orion Platform 2025.2 Platform changes affect all NPM deployments • Release date: 2024-12-01
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Network Administrators and Network Engineers.
- 6 months hands-on experience with SolarWinds NPM
- 1 year experience in network management or engineering
- Familiarity with SNMP, NetFlow, and network protocols
- Experience with Orion Platform features