Arista Certified Engineer — Level 7 Expert

Exam Facts

About

The ACE:L7 (Arista Certified Engineer — Level 7) is the expert-level certification in the Arista Academy track. It sits at the pinnacle of Arista's certification hierarchy and is designed for senior network engineers and architects who can deliver advanced design and architecture solutions across multiple network domains and use cases.

ACE:L7 validates expertise in:

• Modern networking design, architecture, and implementation
• Advanced Arista EOS (Extensible Operating System) configuration and automation
• Data center leaf-spine fabric design and deployment
• External connectivity and campus networking
• Network automation and DevOps practices
• CloudVision platform management and analytics

Unlike lower levels that require prerequisite courses, ACE:L7 has no mandatory course requirement but does require current or past ACE:L6 certification (or equivalent advanced experience) as a prerequisite. This certification is performance-based and evaluates real-world problem-solving capabilities in a lab environment rather than multiple-choice questions.

Domain Context

The ACE:L7 sits within Arista Networks' certification ecosystem, which emphasizes practical, hands-on expertise in modern cloud and data center networking. Arista focuses heavily on:

• Data Center Networking: Leaf-spine topologies, EVPN (Ethernet VPN), and VXLAN overlay networks
• Cloud and Virtualization: Integration with public cloud providers and multi-cloud architectures
• Automation & Programmability: EOS CLI, Python scripting, and CloudVision automation
• Network Operations: CloudVision Provisioning and Telemetry
• Security & Compliance: Network segmentation, firewalls, and DDoS mitigation

The ACE:L7 is targeted at architects and senior engineers who design enterprise-scale networks, manage carrier-grade deployments, and lead network transformation initiatives.

Topics Covered

Core Areas

1. Advanced EOS Configuration

   • Complex routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS)
   • EVPN and VXLAN design and troubleshooting
   • Service routing and traffic engineering
   • QoS and traffic classification

2. Data Center Fabric Design

   • Multi-tier and leaf-spine architectures
   • Scale-out network design
   • Redundancy and high availability
   • Load balancing and convergence optimization

3. External Connectivity

   • WAN edge design and integration
   • Multi-provider and hybrid cloud connectivity
   • BGP policy and route optimization
   • DCI (Data Center Interconnect) design

4. Campus Networking

   • Campus LAN design and deployment
   • User access and mobile client management
   • Wired and wireless integration
   • Campus security policies

5. CloudVision Platform

   • CloudVision Provisioning workflows
   • Network analytics and telemetry
   • Intent-based networking
   • End-to-end network visibility

6. Automation & Programmability

   • EOS API and eAPI usage
   • Python automation scripts
   • Ansible and infrastructure-as-code patterns
   • Network as a service (NaaS) concepts

7. L4–L7 Services

   • Application-aware networking
   • DPI (Deep Packet Inspection)
   • Application firewalling
   • Advanced threat prevention

8. Security & Compliance

   • Network segmentation strategies
   • Encryption and data protection
   • Compliance and audit logging
   • Zero-trust network design

Common Job-Ready Skills

• Network Architecture & Design: Design enterprise-scale, multi-tier data center and WAN networks
• Troubleshooting & Optimization: Diagnose and resolve complex network performance issues
• Automation & Scripting: Automate network provisioning and management using Python and EOS APIs
• Cloud Integration: Design hybrid and multi-cloud network architectures
• Security Design: Implement segmentation, encryption, and threat mitigation strategies
• Leadership & Planning: Mentor junior engineers, plan network migrations, and lead transformation projects
• CloudVision Operations: Manage and optimize network operations using CloudVision analytics
• Standards & Best Practices: Apply IETF standards (EVPN, VXLAN) and industry best practices

Recommended Courses

• Arista Academy ACE:L6 (or equivalent): Prerequisite or foundational knowledge
• Arista Advanced EOS Configuration: Deep dive into advanced protocol configuration
• Data Center Networking Design: Hands-on labs on leaf-spine and EVPN architectures
• CloudVision Provisioning & Analytics: Practical training on CloudVision platform
• Network Automation with Python & EOS API: Scripting and API-driven network management
• Advanced Routing & BGP Design: Multi-vendor and complex routing scenarios
• Arista Bootcamps & Lab Workshops: Intensive hands-on preparation (various third-party providers)

Note: Arista does not mandate a specific course for ACE:L7, but candidates are expected to have deep hands-on experience with Arista networks in production environments.

Practice Exams

• Arista Academy Practice Labs: Simulation labs available through the Arista Training portal
• Third-Party Lab Simulators: Vendors like Fast Lane, Sunset Learning, and others offer ACE:L7 practice labs
• Real Equipment Lab Access: Access to actual Arista hardware or vLabs for hands-on practice
• Online Study Communities: Arista certification forums and Slack/Discord communities with practitioner advice

Books

• Arista EOS Fundamentals (Arista official documentation)
• EVPN & VXLAN Scalable Network Fabrics — Industry standard references
• BGP Design and Implementation — Recommended for advanced routing topics
• Cloud Architecture Design Patterns — Relevant for cloud-integrated network design
• Arista CloudVision User Guides — Official platform documentation

Note: Dedicated ACE:L7 exam guides are limited; most study material comes from official Arista documentation and lab exercises.

Job Titles

• Senior Network Architect
• Principal Network Engineer
• Data Center Architect
• Cloud Network Engineer (Arista-focused)
• Network Automation Architect
• Solutions Architect (Networking)
• Staff Engineer (Network Infrastructure)
• Network Design Manager
• Enterprise Architect (Network)
• Arista Solutions Engineer (Advanced)

Salary (USD / ZAR × 18 / GBP / EUR / AUD)

Based on Arista-specific expertise and senior-level positions:

Ranges vary by region, company size, years of experience, and sector (tech, finance, telecommunications).

Skills Validated

✓ Advanced network architecture and design ✓ EVPN and VXLAN protocol expertise ✓ Data center fabric design at scale ✓ CloudVision platform proficiency ✓ EOS CLI mastery and troubleshooting ✓ Network automation and DevOps practices ✓ Python scripting for network management ✓ Cloud integration and hybrid architectures ✓ L4–L7 service deployment ✓ Network security architecture ✓ High-availability and disaster recovery design ✓ Multi-vendor interoperability (BGP, OSPF)

Related Certs

Within Arista Ecosystem:

• ACE:L4 (Arista Certified Engineer — Level 4) — Associate level
• ACE:L5 (Arista Certified Engineer — Level 5) — Professional level
• ACE:L6 (Arista Certified Engineer — Level 6) — Advanced level (now retired; L7 is the current expert level)

Complementary Industry Certs:

• CCIE Routing & Switching (Cisco) — Enterprise network architecture
• Certified Data Center Professional (CDP) — Data center design
• JNCIE-DC (Juniper) — Multi-vendor data center comparison
• Certified Network Architect (CNA) — Vendor-neutral architecture

Sources

• Arista Academy - Become an Arista Certified Engineer
• ACE:L7 Arista Cloud Engineer Level 7 - Credly Badge
• Arista Configuration Essentials Training (ACE) Brochure
• Fast Lane - Arista ACE Level Training
• Ultimate Guide to Arista Academy Certifications - FlashGenius
• Sunset Learning - Arista Certifications