DCFNDU V1.0

Course Description

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).

This course does not lead directly to a certification exam, but it does cover foundational knowledge that can help you prepare for several CCNP and other professional-level data center courses and exams:

Courses	Exams
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)	350-601 Implementing Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)
Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID)	350-610 Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID)
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT)	350-615 Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT)
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI)	350-620 Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI)
Introducing Cisco NX-OS Switches and Fabrics in the Data Center (DCINX)	n/a
Configuring Cisco Nexus Switches (DCCNX)	n/a

Course 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:

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)
• Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking (DCICN)
• Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies (DCICT)

Course Objectives

After taking 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 Cisco FEX connectivity
• Describe Ethernet port channels and vPCs
• Introduce switch virtualization, machine virtualization, and 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 the basic concepts of cloud computing

Course Benefits

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

Job Roles

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

Course 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 VDCs
  • VDC Types
  • VDC Resource Allocation
  • VDC Management
• Describing Machine Virtualization
  • Virtual Machines
  • Hypervisor
  • VM Manager
• Describing Network Virtualization
  • Overlay Network Protocols
  • VXLAN Overlay
  • VXLAN BGP 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
  • VSAN Configuration and Verification
• 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 NPV Mode
  • NPIV Mode
• Describing Data Center Ethernet Enhancements
  • IEEE Data Center Bridging
  • Priority Flow Control
  • Enhanced Transmission Selection
  • 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 IOM Product Overview
  • Cisco UCS Mini
  • Cisco 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

Lab Outline

• Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
• Explore Topology Discovery
• Configure HSRP
• Configure the Cisco Nexus 2000 FEX
• Configure vPCs
• Configure vPCs with Cisco FEX
• Configure VRF
• Explore the VDC Elements
• Install VMware ESXi and vCenter
• Configure VSANs
• Validate FLOGI and FCNS
• Configure Zoning
• Configure Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE
• Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment
• Configure a Cisco UCS Server Profile
• Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
• Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree