Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) v1.1

5 Days

30 CPD hours

Data center administrators
Data center engineers
Systems engineers
Server administrators
Network managers
Cisco integrators and partners
Data center designers
Technical solutions architects
Network architects

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

The Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) v1.1 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.

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

Lab outline

• Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
• Explore Topology Discovery
• Configure HSRP
• Configure vPCs
• Configure VRF
• Explore the VDC Elements
• Install 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 Service Profile
• Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
• Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree
• Explore Cisco ACI