Huawei offers a comprehensive certification path for storage professionals, ranging from foundational knowledge to expert-level expertise. These certifications cater to different roles and expertise levels, helping candidates progress through the certification journey. In this article, we'll explore the different levels of Huawei storage certifications, their relationships, and the best preparation strategies for each.

The HCIA-Storage certification is the entry-level certification for those looking to build a career in the storage field. It covers the fundamentals of storage technology and basic operations, including concepts related to SAN, NAS, and cloud storage.

Entry-level IT professionals

Students or candidates new to storage technologies

Basic storage technologies (SAN, NAS, cloud storage)

Huawei OceanStor storage products

Storage networking and protocols

Storage architecture design fundamentals

Understand core storage concepts (RAID, LUN, etc.)

Study Huawei’s official materials, especially their online courses and guides

Use practice exams to get familiar with the question format

Hands-on experience with Huawei OceanStor products is highly recommended

The HCIP-Storage certification is a step up from HCIA, designed for professionals who want to deepen their knowledge and skills in storage technologies. This certification delves into more advanced topics like storage virtualization, advanced data management, and network storage solutions.

IT professionals with some experience in storage

System engineers, solution architects, and storage administrators

Advanced storage virtualization techniques

Data replication and disaster recovery solutions

Huawei OceanStor V3 series products

Storage management and monitoring

Focus on more advanced storage configurations and features

Build hands-on labs for troubleshooting and configuration tasks

Review case studies and solution designs for deeper understanding

Take advantage of Huawei's official HCIP-Storage training resources

The HCIE-Storage certification is the highest level in the Huawei storage certification path and is intended for experienced professionals who aim to become storage experts. This certification focuses on complex storage solutions, troubleshooting, and system integration, with an emphasis on Huawei's enterprise storage systems.

Senior IT professionals

Storage architects and engineers with several years of experience

Those responsible for large-scale, mission-critical storage systems

Advanced storage architecture design and deployment

Complex troubleshooting and performance tuning

Data center storage network design and integration

Best practices for large-scale Huawei storage solutions

Focus on real-world scenarios and troubleshooting techniques

Take the HCIE-Storage lab exam preparation seriously (hands-on practice is critical)

Study and understand Huawei’s enterprise storage products (OceanStor 9000, V5)

Join Huawei’s training and support communities for peer insights

The HCSA-Presales-Storage certification is targeted at professionals who work in presales roles, providing them with the knowledge needed to design and recommend Huawei storage solutions effectively.

Presales engineers

Solution architects working with Huawei storage solutions

IT professionals aiming to assist with solution sales and customer engagement

Huawei storage solution sales strategies

Storage technology assessment and selection for customers

Product positioning and proposal preparation

Presales support for Huawei storage solutions

Familiarize yourself with Huawei’s entire storage product portfolio

Understand customer needs and how Huawei’s storage solutions can meet them

Study Huawei’s presales best practices, including proposal writing and solution design

Attend presales workshops and training offered by Huawei

The HCSP-Presales-Storage certification is for those who wish to become experts in presales storage solutions, with a focus on advanced presales strategies and architecture design for large-scale customers.

Senior presales engineers

Senior solution architects in large enterprises

IT professionals who design storage solutions for major clients

Advanced storage architecture design for enterprise-level solutions

Integration and optimization of Huawei storage products in complex environments

Customer-specific storage needs analysis and solution customization

Strategic planning for storage deployment

Focus on enterprise-level storage solutions and large-scale system integration

Understand how to design and tailor solutions for specific customer requirements

Leverage case studies and real-world implementation examples

Participate in advanced presales workshops and training programs

The Huawei Storage certifications are designed to build upon each other, guiding professionals from the basic understanding of storage technology to expert-level knowledge and skills. Here’s a quick overview of how they relate:

HCIA-Storage is the entry-level certification, laying the groundwork for further learning.

HCIP-Storage builds on the HCIA, covering more complex technologies and applications.

HCIE-Storage is the expert-level certification, designed for those who wish to gain mastery in the field.

HCSA-Presales-Storage and HCSP-Presales-Storage are focused on presales roles, with HCSA being entry-level and HCSP for more experienced presales professionals.

Candidates must first pass the HCIA-Storage before progressing to HCIP-Storage.

To earn the HCIE-Storage, candidates must complete the HCIP-Storage first.

HCSA and HCSP-Presales-Storage are independent of the technical certifications and focus on presales expertise.

Understand Core Concepts: Before jumping into the specific certification exams, ensure you have a solid understanding of basic storage concepts (e.g., RAID, SAN, NAS).

Hands-On Practice: For HCIP and HCIE certifications, hands-on labs are crucial. Set up test environments to practice configuration and troubleshooting.

Official Training: Utilize Huawei’s official study materials and training resources. These materials are tailored to the exams and often include labs and practice questions.

Join Study Groups: Join forums or online communities where other candidates share resources, insights, and tips. This can provide valuable perspectives and study techniques.

Practice Exams: Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the exam format and to identify areas where you need further study.

The Huawei Storage Certification Path offers a structured and progressive approach to mastering storage technologies. Whether you are just starting out with HCIA-Storage or aiming for expert-level HCIE-Storage, Huawei provides the necessary resources and support to help you succeed. By following a logical progression and preparing through hands-on labs, official training, and practice exams, you can effectively build your expertise in Huawei storage technologies and advance your career in the storage domain.