DCFNDU – Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations v1.0

Description

Course Name: Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) v1.0

Duration: 5 Days

What you’ll learn in this course:

The Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) v1.0 course helps you prepare for entry-level data center roles. In this course, you will learn the foundational knowledge and skills you need to configure Cisco® data center technologies including: networking, virtualization, storage area networking, and unified computing. You will get an introduction to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI), automation and cloud computing. You will get hands-on experience with configuring features on Cisco Nexus Operating System (Cisco NX-OS) and Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS).

This course does not lead directly to a certification exam, but it does cover foundational knowledge that can help you prepare for several CCNP and other professional-level data center courses and exams

How you’ll benefit:

  • Prepare for entry-level job roles in the high-demand area of data center environments
  • Prepare for courses that support the Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center certification exams
  • Gain knowledge and hands-on skills through Cisco’s unique combination of lessons and hands-on practice using enterprise-grade Cisco learning technologies, data center equipment, and software

Who should enroll:

  • Data center administrators
  • Data center engineers
  • Systems engineers
  • Server administrators
  • Network managers
  • Cisco integrators and partners

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  • Describe the foundations of data center networking
  • Describe Cisco Nexus products and explain the basic Cisco NX-OS functionalities and tools
  • Describe Layer 3 first-hop redundancy
  • Describe Cisco FEX connectivity
  • Describe Ethernet port channels and vPCs
  • Introduce switch virtualization, machine virtualization, and describe network virtualization
  • Compare storage connectivity options in the data center
  • Describe Fibre Channel communication between the initiator server and the target storage
  • Describe Fibre Channel zone types and their uses
  • Describe NPV and NPIV
  • Describe data center Ethernet enhancements that provide a lossless fabric
  • Describe FCoE
  • Describe data center server connectivity
  • Describe Cisco UCS Manager
  • Describe the purpose and advantages of APIs
  • Describe Cisco ACI
  • Describe the basic concepts of cloud computing

Course Prerequisites:

To fully benefit from this course, you should have the following knowledge and skills:

  • Good understanding of networking protocols
  • Good understanding of the VMware environment
  • Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems

These are the recommended Cisco courses that may help you meet these prerequisites:

  • Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)
  • Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking (DCICN)
  • Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies (DCICT)

Course Outline:

  • Describing the Data Center Network Architectures
    • Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
    • Three-Tier Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
    • Spine-and-Leaf Network
    • Two-Tier Storage Network
  • Describing the Cisco Nexus Family and Cisco NX-OS Software
    • Cisco Nexus Data Center Product Overview
    • Cisco NX-OS Software Architecture
    • Cisco NX-OS Software CLI Tools
    • Cisco NX-OS Virtual Routing and Forwarding
  • Describing Layer 3 First-Hop Redundancy
    • Default Gateway Redundancy
    • Hot Standby Router Protocol
    • Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol
    • Gateway Load Balancing Protocol
  • Describing Cisco FEX
    • Server Deployment Models
    • Cisco FEX Technology
    • Cisco FEX Traffic Forwarding
    • Cisco Adapter FEX
  • Describing Port Channels and vPCs
    • Ethernet Port Channels
    • Virtual Port Channels
    • Supported vPC Topologies
  • Describing Switch Virtualization
    • Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
    • Virtual Routing and Forwarding
    • Cisco Nexus 7000 VDCs
    • VDC Types
    • VDC Resource Allocation
    • VDC Management
  • Describing Machine Virtualization
    • Virtual Machines
    • Hypervisor
    • VM Manager
  • Describing Network Virtualization
    • Overlay Network Protocols
    • VXLAN Overlay
    • VXLAN BGP EVPN Control Plane
    • VXLAN Data Plane
    • Cisco Nexus 1000VE Series Virtual Switch
    • VMware vSphere Virtual Switches
  • Introducing Basic Data Center Storage Concepts
    • Storage Connectivity Options in the Data Center
    • Fibre Channel Storage Networking
    • VSAN Configuration and Verification
  • Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and the Target Storage
    • Fibre Channel Layered Model
    • FLOGI Process
    • Fibre Channel Flow Control
  • Describing Fibre Channel Zone Types and Their Uses
    • Fibre Channel Zoning
    • Zoning Configuration
    • Zoning Management
  • Describing Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV
    • Cisco NPV Mode
    • NPIV Mode
  • Describing Data Center Ethernet Enhancements
    • IEEE Data Center Bridging
    • Priority Flow Control
    • Enhanced Transmission Selection
    • DCBX Protocol
    • Congestion Notification
  • Describing FCoE
    • Cisco Unified Fabric
    • FCoE Architecture
    • FCoE Initialization Protocol
    • FCoE Adapters
  • Describing Cisco UCS Components
    • Physical Cisco UCS Components
    • Cisco Fabric Interconnect Product Overview
    • Cisco IOM Product Overview
    • Cisco UCS Mini
    • Cisco IMC Supervisor
    • Cisco Intersight
  • Describing Cisco UCS Manager
    • Cisco UCS Manager Overview
    • Identity and Resource Pools for Hardware Abstraction
    • Service Profiles and Service Profile Templates
    • Cisco UCS Central Overview
    • Cisco HyperFlex Overview
  • Using APIs
    • Common Programmability Protocols and Methods
    • How to Choose Models and Processes
  • Describing Cisco ACI
    • Cisco ACI Overview
    • Multitier Applications in Cisco ACI
    • Cisco ACI Features
    • VXLAN in Cisco ACI
    • Unicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
    • Multicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
    • Cisco ACI Programmability
    • Common Programming Tools and Orchestration Options
  • Describing Cloud Computing
    • Cloud Computing Overview
    • Cloud Deployment Models
    • Cloud Computing Services

Labs Outline:

  • Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
  • Explore Topology Discovery
  • Configure HSRP
  • Configure the Cisco Nexus 2000 FEX
  • Configure vPCs
  • Configure vPCs with Cisco FEX
  • Configure VRF
  • Explore the VDC Elements
  • Install VMware ESXi and vCenter
  • Configure VSANs
  • Validate FLOGI and FCNS
  • Configure Zoning
  • Configure Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE
  • Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment
  • Configure a Cisco UCS Server Profile
  • Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
  • Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree