Course Overview

The Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) v7.0 course helps you master design and deployment options focused on Cisco® data center solutions and technologies across network, compute, virtualization, storage area networks, automation, and security. You will learn design practices for the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) solution based on Cisco UCS B-Series and C-Series servers, Cisco UCS Manager, and Cisco Unified Fabric. You will also gain design experience with network management technologies including Cisco UCS Manager, Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), and Cisco UCS Director. You can expect theoretical content as well as design-oriented case studies in the form of activities.

Course Objective

After completing this course you should be able to:

  • Describe the Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding options and protocols used in a data center
  • Describe the rack design options, traffic patterns, and data center switching layer access, aggregation, and core
  • Describe the Cisco Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV) technology that is used to interconnect data centers
  • Describe Locator/ID separation protocol
  • Design a solution that uses Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) for traffic forwarding
  • Describe hardware redundancy options; how to virtualize the network, compute, and storage functions; and virtual networking in the data center
  • Describe solutions that use fabric extenders and compare Cisco Adapter Fabric Extender (FEX) with single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV)
  • Describe security threats and solutions in the data center
  • Describe advanced data center security technologies and best practices
  • Describe device management and orchestration in the data center
  • Describe the storage options for compute function and different Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) levels from a high-availability and performance perspective
  • Describe Fibre Channel concepts, topologies, architecture, and industry terms
  • Describe Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
  • Describe security options in the storage network
  • Describe management and automation options for storage networking infrastructure
  • Describe Cisco UCS servers and use cases for various Cisco UCS platforms
  • Explain the connectivity options for fabric interconnects for southbound and northbound connections
  • Describe the hyperconverged solution and integrated systems
  • Describe the systemwide parameters for setting up a Cisco UCS domain
  • Describe role-based access control (RBAC) and integration with directory servers to control access rights on Cisco UCS Manager
  • Describe the pools that may be used in service profiles or service profile templates on Cisco UCS Manager
  • Describe the different policies in the service profile
  • Describe the Ethernet and Fibre Channel interface policies and additional network technologies
  • Describe the advantages of templates and the difference between initial and updated templates
  • Describe data center automation tools

 

Course Content

Describing High Availability on Layer 2

  • Overview of Layer 2 High-Availability Mechanisms
  • Virtual Port Channels
  • Cisco FabricPath
  • Virtual Port Channel+

 

Designing Layer 3 Connectivity

  • First Hop Redundancy Protocols
  • Improve Routing Protocol Performance and Security
  • Enhance Layer 3 Scalability and Robustness

 

Designing Data Center Topologies

  • Data Center Traffic Flows
  • Cabling Challenges
  • Access Layer
  • Aggregation Layer
  • Core Layer
  • Spine-and-Leaf Topology
  • Redundancy Options

 

Designing Data Center Interconnects with Cisco OTV

  • Cisco OTV Overview
  • Cisco OTV Control and Data Planes
  • Failure Isolation
  • Cisco OTV Features
  • Optimize Cisco OTV
  • Evaluate Cisco OTV

 

Describing Locator/ID Separation Protocol

  • Locator/ID Separation Protocol
  • Location Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP) Virtual Machine (VM) Mobility
  • LISP Extended Subnet Mode (ESM) Multihop Mobility
  • LISP VPN Virtualization

 

Describing VXLAN Overlay Networks

  • Describe VXLAN Benefits over VLAN
  • Layer 2 and Layer 3 VXLAN Overlay
  • Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP) Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Control Plane Overview
  • VXLAN Data Plane

 

Describing Hardware and Device Virtualization

  • Hardware-Based High Availability
  • Device Virtualization
  • Cisco UCS Hardware Virtualization
  • Server Virtualization
  • SAN Virtualization
  • N-Port ID Virtualization

 

Describing Cisco FEX Options

  • Cisco Adapter FEX
  • Access Layer with Cisco FEX
  • Cisco FEX Topologies
  • Virtualization-Aware Networking
  • Single Root I/O Virtualization
  • Cisco FEX Evaluation

 

Describing Basic Data Center Security

  • Threat Mitigation
  • Attack and Countermeasure Examples
  • Secure the Management Plane
  • Protect the Control Plane
  • RBAC and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)

 

Describing Advanced Data Center Security

  • Cisco TrustSec in Cisco Secure Enclaves Architecture
  • Cisco TrustSec Operation
  • Firewalling
  • Positioning the Firewall Within Data Center Networks
  • Cisco Firepower® Portfolio
  • Firewall Virtualization
  • Design for Threat Mitigation

 

Describing Management and Orchestration

  • Network and License Management
  • Cisco UCS Manager
  • Cisco UCS Director
  • Cisco Intersight
  • Cisco DCNM Overview

 

Describing Storage and RAID Options

  • Position DAS in Storage Technologies
  • Network-Attached Storage
  • Fibre Channel, FCoE, and Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)
  • Evaluate Storage Technologies

 

Describing Fibre Channel Concepts

  • Fibre Channel Connections, Layers, and Addresses
  • Fibre Channel Communication
  • Virtualization in Fibre Channel SAN

 

Describing Fibre Channel Topologies

  • SAN Parameterization
  • SAN Design Options
  • Choosing a Fibre Channel Design Solution

 

Describing FCoE

  • FCoE Protocol Characteristics
  • FCoE Communication
  • Data Center Bridging
  • FCoE Initialization Protocol
  • FCoE Design Options

 

Describing Storage Security

  • Common SAN Security Features
  • Zones
  • SAN Security Enhancements
  • Cryptography in SAN

 

Describing SAN Management and Orchestration

  • Cisco DCNM for SAN
  • Cisco DCNM Analytics and Streaming Telemetry
  • Cisco UCS Director in the SAN
  • Cisco UCS Director Workflows

 

Describing Cisco UCS Servers and Use Cases

  • Cisco UCS C-Series Servers
  • Fabric Interconnects and Blade Chassis
  • Cisco UCS B-Series Server Adapter Cards
  • Stateless Computing
  • Cisco UCS Mini

 

Describing Fabric Interconnect Connectivity

  • Use of Fabric Interconnect Interfaces
  • VLANs and VSANs in a Cisco UCS Domain
  • Southbound Connections
  • Northbound Connections
  • Disjoint Layer 2 Networks
  • Fabric Interconnect High Availability and Redundancy

 

Describing Hyperconverged and Integrated Systems

  • Hyperconverged and Integrated Systems Overview
  • Cisco HyperFlex™ Solution
  • Cisco HyperFlex Scalability and Robustness
  • Cisco HyperFlex Clusters
  • Cluster Capacity and Multiple Clusters on One Cisco UCS Domain
  • External Storage and Graphical Processing Units on Cisco HyperFlex
  • Cisco HyperFlex Positioning

 

Describing Cisco UCS Manager Systemwide Parameters

  • Cisco UCS Setup and Management
  • Cisco UCS Traffic Management

 

Describing Cisco UCS RBAC

  • Roles and Privileges
  • Organizations in Cisco UCS Manager
  • Locales and Effective Rights
  • Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
  • Two-Factor Authentication

 

Describing Pools for Service Profiles

  • Global and Local Pools
  • Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) Suffix and Media Access Control (MAC) Address Pools
  • World Wide Name (WWN) Pools
  • Server and iSCSI Initiator IP Pools

 

Describing Policies for Service Profiles

  • Global vs. Local Policies
  • Storage and Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Policies
  • Boot and Scrub Policies
  • Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) and Maintenance Policies

 

Describing Network-Specific Adapters and Policies

  • LAN Connectivity Controls
  • SAN Connectivity Controls
  • Virtual Access Layer
  • Connectivity Enhancements

 

Describing Templates in Cisco UCS Manager

  • Cisco UCS Templates
  • Service Profile Templates
  • Network Templates
  • Designing Data Center Automation

 

Model-Driven Programmability

  • Cisco NX-API Overview
  • Programmability Using Python
  • Cisco Ansible Module
  • Use the Puppet Agent

 

Labs

  • Perform Initial MDS Configuration
  • Setup Cisco DCNM
  • Explore DCNM-SAN Client and DCNM Cisco Device Manager
  • Configure and Use RBAC
  • Configure and Use RBAC with DCNM-SAN Client and Device Manager
  • Manage VSANs and Fibre Channel Domain
  • Configure Interfaces
  • Configure Device Aliases and Zoning
  • Configure FCIP Tunnels and FCIP High Availability
  • Configure IVR for SAN Extension
  • Configure NPV and NPIV
  • Explore and Automate with NX-API
  • Monitor SAN with Cisco DCNM
  • Configure SAN Analytics and SAN Telemetry Streaming
  • Troubleshoot Fibre Channel Domains, Zoning, and Zone Merges
  • Perform Slow-Drain Analysis with Cisco DCNM

 

Test certification

Recommended as preparation for the following exams:

300-625 – DCSAN – Implementing Cisco Storage Area Networking

NOTE

This exam is one of the concentrations for the new Cisco CCNP Data Center Certification, passing the exam will also provide the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center  SAN Implementation certification.

Target Audience

Engineers and Architects involved in the design of a Cisco Data Center or Cisco Data Center Solution.

Prerequisites

Attendees should meet the following prerequisites:

Have attended or have knowledge equivalent to:

  • CCNA Routing and Switching or the new CCNA
  • CCNA Data Center  or DCFNDU – Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations
  • DCCOR – Implementing Cisco Data Center Core Technologies

 

Recommended prerequisites:

  • DCFNDU – Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations
  • DCCOR – Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies
DatesDurationLocation
3 - 7 April 20235 DaysPublic classroom (Dubai-Knowledge Village) or virtual trainings
3 - 7 July 20235 DaysDubai-Knowledge Village
30 Oct - 3 Nov 20235 DaysDubai-Knowledge Village
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