Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations v2.0

The Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations 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 professional-level data center courses and exams.

This course will help you:

• 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
• Earn 25 CE credits toward recertification

Attendees should meet the following prerequisites:

• Good foundation of networking protocols 
• Basic knowledge of computer virtualization 
• Basic computer literacy 
• Basic knowledge of computer operating systems 
• Basic internet usage skills 

Recommended prerequisites:

• CCNA - Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions

After completing 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 Ethernet port channels and vPCs 
• Introduce switch virtualization 
• Introduce machine virtualization 
• 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 Nexus Dashboard 
• Describe the basic concepts of cloud computing

Individuals looking to gain the knowledge and skills required for an entry level role in a Cisco Data Center environment.

Describing the Data Center Network Architectures

• Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
• Three-Tier Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
• Spine-and-Leaf Network
• Storage Area Networks
• Hypoconverged Storage Systems

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 Port Channels and vPCs

• Ethernet Port Channels
• Virtual Port Channels

Describing Switch Virtualization

• Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
• Virtual Routing and Forwarding

Describing Machine Virtualization

• Virtual Machines
• Hypervisor
• Virtual Machine Manager

Describing Network Virtualization

• Overlay Network Protocols
• VXLAN Overlay
• VXLAN BGP EVPN Control Plane
• VXLAN Data Plane
• 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 the Cisco MDS Family

• Cisco MDS Overview

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 Switch Mode
• NPIV Mode

Describing FCoE

• FCoE Architecture

Describing Cisco UCS and UCS-X Components 

• Cisco UCS Server Hardware
• Cisco Intersight
• Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix

Describing Cisco UCS Manager and Cisco Intersight

• Cisco UCS Manager Overview
• Identity and Resource Pools for Hardware Abstraction
• Service Profiles and Service Profile Templates
• Cisco Intersight Overview

Automating the Data Center

• Cisco NX-OS Programmability
• Cisco NX-OS Model-Driven Programmability
• Cisco Nexus API
• Python
• Ansible
• HashiCorp Terraform

Describing Cisco Nexus Dashboard

• Cisco Nexus Dashboard Overview
• Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Overview

Describing Cisco ACI

• Cisco ACI Overview
• Cisco ACI Topology and Hardware
• Cisco ACI Policy Model
• Cisco ACI External Connectivity Options
• Cisco ACI and VMM Integration
• Cisco ACI and Layer4-Layer 7 Integration
• Cisco ACI Management and Automation
• Cisco ACI Anywhere

Describing Cloud Computing

• Cloud Computing Overview
• Cloud Deployment Models
• Cloud Computing Services 

Labs

• Discovery Lab 1: Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI 
• Discovery Lab 2: Explore Topology Discovery 
• Discovery Lab 3: Configure HSRP 
• Discovery Lab 4: Configure vPCs 
• Discovery Lab 5: Configure VRF 
• Discovery Lab 6: Explore CoPP and Spanning Tree on Cisco Nexus Switches 
• Discovery Lab 7: Install VMware ESXi and vCenter 
• Discovery Lab 8: Configure VSANs 
• Discovery Lab 9: Validate FLOGI and FCNS 
• Discovery Lab 10: Configure Zoning 
• Discovery Lab 11: Review Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE 
• Discovery Lab 12: Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment 
• Discovery Lab 13: Configure a Cisco UCS Service Profile 
• Discovery Lab 14: Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs 
• Discovery Lab 15: Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree 
• Discovery Lab 16: Explore Cisco ACI