Overview

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®).

Who should attend

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

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Delegates will learn how 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 Fabric Extender (FEX) connectivity
  • Describe Ethernet port channels and virtual port channel (VPCs)
  • Introduce switch virtualization, machine virtualization, and 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 N-Port Virtualization (NPV) and N-Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV)
  • Describe data center Ethernet enhancements that provide a lossless fabric
  • Describe Fibre Channel over Ethernet 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
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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 Virtual Device Contexts (VDCs)
  • VDC Types
  • VDC Resource Allocation
  • VDC Management

Describing Machine Virtualization

  • Virtual Machines
  • Hypervisor
  • VM Manager

Describing Network Virtualization

  • Overlay Network Protocols
  • Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) Overlay
  • VXLAN Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Ethernet VPN (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
  • Virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) Configuration and Verification

Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and the Target Storage

  • Fibre Channel Layered Model
  • Fabric Login (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

  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Data Center Bridging
  • Priority Flow Control
  • Enhanced Transmission Selection
  • Data Center Bridging Exchange (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 I/O Module (IOM) Product Overview
  • Cisco UCS Mini
  • Cisco Integrated Management Controller (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
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Why choose QA

Dates & Locations

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Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.

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QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.

All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

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When will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

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