The specialist credential for engineers who design, deploy, and validate NetApp MetroCluster solutions — covering FC and IP MetroCluster architectures, Tiebreaker and Mediator configuration, ATTO Bridges, switch implementation, and complete upgrade, expansion, and FC-to-IP transition workflows for metro-distance business continuity.
The NS0-014 exam earns the NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer — MetroCluster Specialist (NCIE) credential. It validates that you can plan, implement, configure, validate, and transition NetApp MetroCluster solutions — the industry's leading platform for metro-distance synchronous storage replication and zero-RPO/near-zero-RTO business continuity for mission-critical applications.
NetApp MetroCluster is deployed by financial institutions, healthcare systems, telecommunications providers, and large enterprises that cannot tolerate data loss across site failures. Covering both FC MetroCluster (SAN fabric-based) and IP MetroCluster (layer-3 routed) architectures — plus Tiebreaker, Mediator, and ATTO Bridge configuration — this certification is essential for NetApp professional services engineers, advanced storage architects, and specialist implementation partners. Candidates must first hold the NCDA ONTAP credential (NS0-163).
Assess MetroCluster solution requirements — plan site topology, hardware selection, cabling, ISL bandwidth, inter-switch links, and configuration tool usage during pre-implementation planning
Understand MetroCluster architecture — Core MCC concepts, FC fabric-attached MCC, and IP-routed MCC — including synchronous mirroring, SyncMirror plexes, and switchover/switchback operations
Implement MetroCluster configurations — basic MCC installation, ATTO Bridge FC-to-SAS connectivity, FC switch zoning and ISL setup, and IP switch layer-3 MetroCluster routing configuration
Configure MetroCluster Tiebreaker and Mediator — deploy Tiebreaker (Linux host) or ONTAP Mediator for automatic unplanned switchover (AUSO) in two-node and four-node configurations
Perform MetroCluster upgrades and expansions — add nodes, upgrade hardware controllers and disk shelves, and expand from 2-node to 4-node MetroCluster configurations without data disruption
Validate, test, and troubleshoot MetroCluster — run configuration health checks, simulate switchover/switchback, validate MCC readiness, and troubleshoot common MetroCluster component failures
NetApp NCDA-certified engineers who deploy MetroCluster for professional services, NetApp partners, system integrators, or large enterprises with metro-distance BC requirements
Storage architects and senior infrastructure engineers at financial services, healthcare, and telecoms organisations running business-critical ONTAP workloads across two data centres
Engineers targeting the NCIE credential as a pathway to NetApp Expert-level certifications and advanced storage architecture roles in large enterprise or cloud service provider environments
NetApp support and field services engineers who perform MetroCluster installations, upgrades, switchover testing, and troubleshooting on customer sites
Zetlan Technologies covers all 5 exam domains — solution assessment, MCC concepts, FC/IP implementation and configuration, upgrades and transitions, and testing/troubleshooting — with expert instruction and real-world MetroCluster scenarios.
Click any domain to explore all topics covered in the NS0-014 MetroCluster Specialist exam.
From FC/IP architecture and ATTO Bridge configuration to Mediator, switchover testing, and FC-to-IP transitions — master MetroCluster with Zetlan Technologies.