Overview
Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) is a five-day course that provides the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to configure Cisco data center technologies.
The course covers data center networking, virtualization, storage area networking and unified computing. Learners are also introduced to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI), automation and cloud computing.
Hands-on activities provide experience configuring features on Cisco Nexus Operating System (Cisco NX-OS) and Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS).
This course helps learners prepare for entry-level roles in data center environments and for advanced courses supporting the Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center certification exams.
The course earns 30 Cisco Continuing Education credits toward recertification.
What You Will Learn
- Describe the foundations of data center networking.
- Describe Cisco Nexus products and explain basic Cisco NX-OS functions and tools.
- Describe Layer 3 first-hop redundancy technologies.
- Describe Cisco Fabric Extender connectivity.
- Describe Ethernet port channels and virtual port channels.
- Explain switch, machine and network virtualization.
- Compare storage connectivity options in the data center.
- Describe Fibre Channel communication between initiator servers and target storage.
- Describe Fibre Channel zoning types and their uses.
- Describe N-Port Virtualization and N-Port Identifier Virtualization.
- Describe data center Ethernet enhancements that provide a lossless fabric.
- Describe Fibre Channel over Ethernet.
- Describe data center server connectivity.
- Describe Cisco UCS Manager and its core capabilities.
- Explain the purpose and advantages of application programming interfaces.
- Describe Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure.
- Describe the basic concepts of cloud computing.
Who Should Enrol
- Data center administrators.
- Data center engineers.
- Systems engineers.
- Server administrators.
- Network managers.
- Cisco integrators and partners.
Course Outline
View syllabus
Module 1: 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
Module 2: 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
Module 3: Describing Layer 3 First-Hop Redundancy
Default Gateway Redundancy
Hot Standby Router Protocol
Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol
Gateway Load Balancing Protocol
Module 4: Describing Cisco FEX
Server Deployment Models
Cisco FEX Technology
Cisco FEX Traffic Forwarding
Cisco Adapter FEX
Module 5: Describing Port Channels and VPCs
Ethernet Port Channels
Virtual Port Channels
Supported VPC Topologies
Module 6: Describing Switch Virtualization
Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
Virtual Routing and Forwarding
Cisco Nexus 7000 Virtual Device Contexts
VDC Types
VDC Resource Allocation
VDC Management
Module 7: Describing Machine Virtualization
Virtual Machines
Hypervisor
VM Manager
Module 8: Describing Network Virtualization
Overlay Network Protocols
Virtual Extensible LAN Overlay
VXLAN BGP Ethernet VPN Control Plane
VXLAN Data Plane
Cisco Nexus 1000VE Series Virtual Switch
VMware vSphere Virtual Switches
Module 9: Introducing Basic Data Center Storage Concepts
Storage Connectivity Options in the Data Center
Fibre Channel Storage Networking
Virtual Storage Area Network Configuration and Verification
Module 10: Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and Target Storage
Fibre Channel Layered Model
Fabric Login Process
Fibre Channel Flow Control
Module 11: Describing Fibre Channel Zone Types and Their Uses
Fibre Channel Zoning
Zoning Configuration
Zoning Management
Module 12: Describing Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV
Cisco NPV Mode
NPIV Mode
Module 13: Describing Data Center Ethernet Enhancements
IEEE Data Center Bridging
Priority Flow Control
Enhanced Transmission Selection
Data Center Bridging Exchange Protocol
Congestion Notification
Module 14: Describing FCoE
Cisco Unified Fabric
FCoE Architecture
FCoE Initialization Protocol
FCoE Adapters
Module 15: Describing Cisco UCS Components
Physical Cisco UCS Components
Cisco Fabric Interconnect Product Overview
Cisco I/O Module Product Overview
Cisco UCS Mini
Cisco Integrated Management Controller Supervisor
Cisco Intersight
Module 16: 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
Module 17: Using APIs
Common Programmability Protocols and Methods
How to Choose Models and Processes
Module 18: 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
Module 19: Describing Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing Overview
Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud Computing Services
How You Will Benefit
- Prepare for entry-level roles in high-demand data center environments.
- Build foundational knowledge for courses supporting Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center certification exams.
- Gain hands-on experience with enterprise-grade Cisco data center equipment and software.
- Configure features using Cisco NX-OS and Cisco UCS.
- Understand Cisco ACI, automation and cloud computing fundamentals.
- Earn 30 Cisco Continuing Education credits toward recertification.
Prerequisites
- Good understanding of networking protocols.
- Good understanding of the VMware environment.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Technology Areas
- Cisco Nexus and Cisco NX-OS.
- Cisco Unified Computing System and Cisco UCS Manager.
- Data center networking and virtualization.
- Fibre Channel, VSAN, FCoE, NPV and NPIV.
- VXLAN, BGP EVPN and Cisco ACI.
- APIs, automation and cloud computing.
Course Details
- Duration: 5 days.
- Level: Beginner and foundational.
- Continuing Education: 30 CE credits.
- Delivery includes lessons and hands-on practice.