Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations Course

Course Code: DCFNDU

Duration: 5 days

Version: 2.0

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Course Overview

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

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Target Audience

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

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Course Objectives

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

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Course Content

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

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Course Prerequisites

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

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Test Certification

Recommended as preparation for the following exams:

• There are no exams currently aligned to this course

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Follow On Courses

The following are recommended for further study:

• DCACI - Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure
• DCCOR - Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies
• DCID - Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure
• DCIT - Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure

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