Cisco Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID) v7.0

• Data center engineers
• Network designers
• Network administrators
• Network engineers
• Systems engineers
• Consulting systems engineers
• Technical solutions architects
• Server administrators
• Network managers
• Cisco integrators or partners

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the Layer 2 forwarding options and protocols used in a data center
• Describe the Layer 3 forwarding options and protocols used in a data center
• Describe the rack design options, traffic patterns, and data center switching layer access, aggregation, and core
• Describe the Cisco OTV technology that is used to interconnect data centers
• Design a solution that uses LISP for traffic forwarding
• Describe the hardware redundancy options and virtualize the network, compute, and storage
• Discuss virtual networking in the data center
• Describe solutions using fabric extenders and compare Adapter FEX with VM-FEX
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 1000V solution to extend the hypervisor functionality
• Describe security threats and solutions in the data center
• Describe advanced data center security technologies and best practices
• Describe virtual appliances that are deployed in a data center network
• Describe device management and orchestration in the data center
• Design a data center storage network
• Describe the storage options for the compute and the different RAID levels from a HA and performance perspective
• Describe Fibre Channel concepts and architecture
• Describe Fibre Channel topologies and industry terms
• Describe how Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks converge
• Describe security options in the storage network
• Describe management and automation options for the storage networking infrastructure
• Describe Cisco UCS servers and use cases for various Cisco UCS platforms (B-Series and C-Series)
• Explain the connectivity options in the Fabric Interconnects for southbound and northbound connections
• Describe port personalities and over-subscription models
• Distinguish between the EHV and switching mode, and between the NPV and Fibre Channel switching mode
• Describe split brain and partition in time issue with the Fabric Interconnects for HA.
• Describe the hyper convergence solution and how it integrates systems based on different storage vendors
• Compare storage vendors and evaluate the advantages for each stacked solution
• Describe the different management options for Cisco UCS
• Design the management solution in HA mode and describe integration with the Cisco UCS domain
• Describe a Cisco UCS design using different applications and scenarios
• Describe the system-wide parameters to setup a Cisco UCS domain including monitoring, QoS, and organizations to build up a management hierarchy in the Cisco UCS domain
• Describe RBAC and integration with directory servers to control access rights on Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe the pools that may be used in service profiles or service profile templates on Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe the design and best practices for naming conventions
• Describe the different policies you may set in the service profile to achieve and fulfill customer or application requirements
• Describe the Ethernet and Fibre Channel interface policies and additional network technologies
• Describe how to use templates to work more efficiently in Cisco UCS Manager

It is recommended, but not required, to have the following skills and knowledge before attending this course:

• Data center networking concepts
• Data center storage concepts
• Data center virtualization
• Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS)
• Data center automation and orchestration including Cisco ACI and Cisco UCS Director
• Cisco Data Center Nexus and Cisco MDS product families
• Network fundamentals and building simple LANs including switching and routing

It is recommended that a student should have attended the following classes or obtained an equivalent level of knowledge before attending this course:

• Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCI)
• Implementing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCII)
• Implementing Cisco Data Center Virtualization and Automation (DCVAI)

The DCID – Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure v6.2 course focuses on data center infrastructure design based on Cisco solutions and technologies. The course includes theoretical content as well as design-oriented case studies in the form of activities. The course is designed to help students prepare for the Cisco CCNP Data Center certification and for professional-level data center roles.

The course includes information on designing data centers with Cisco components and technologies. It covers network designs with virtualization, Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies and routing protocols, and data center interconnect design options. Also covered are device virtualization technologies such as virtual data centers and network function virtualization with virtual appliances, including virtual switches, virtual routers, and virtual firewalls. Storage and SAN design is also covered with explanations of Fibre Channel networks and Cisco Unified Fabric. Design practices for the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) solution based on Cisco UCS B-Series and C-Series servers, Cisco UCS Manager, and Cisco Unified Fabric are covered as well. You will review Network management technologies including UCS Manager, Cisco Prime Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), and UCS Director.

You'll master the professional-level skills and technologies needed to design data center infrastructure based on Cisco and other industry pervasive technologies.

Describing High Availability on Layer 2

• Designing Layer 3 Connectivity
• Designing Data Center Topologies
• Describing VXLAN Overlay Networks
• Describing Hardware and Device Virtualization
• Describing Cisco FEX Options
• Describing Basic Data Center Security
• Describing Advanced Data Center Security
• Describing Management and Orchestration
• Overview of Layer 2 High-Availability Mechanisms
• Virtual Port Channels
• Cisco Fabric Path
• Virtual Port Channel+
• First Hop Redundancy Protocols
• Improve Routing Protocol Performance and Security
• Enhance Layer 3 Scalability and Robustness
• Data Center Traffic Flows
• Cabling Challenges
• Access Layer
• Aggregation Layer
• Core Layer
• Spine-and-Leaf Topology
• Redundancy Options

Designing Data Center Interconnects with Cisco OTV

• Cisco OTV Overview
• Cisco OTV Control and Data Planes
• Failure Isolation
• Cisco OTV Features
• Optimize Cisco OTV
• Evaluate Cisco OTV
• LISP Extended Subnet Mode (ESM) Multihop Mobility
• LISP VPN Virtualization
• Describe VXLAN Benefits over VLAN
• Layer 2 and Layer 3 VXLAN Overlay
• Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP) Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Control Plane Overview
• VXLAN Data Plane
• Hardware-Based High Availability
• Device Virtualization
• Cisco UCS Hardware Virtualization
• Server Virtualization
• SAN Virtualization
• N-Port ID Virtualization
• Cisco Adapter FEX
• Access Layer with Cisco FEX
• Cisco FEX Topologies
• Virtualization-Aware Networking
• Single Root I/O Virtualization
• Cisco FEX Evaluation
• Threat Mitigation
• Attack and Countermeasure Examples
• Secure the Management Plane
• Protect the Control Plane
• RBAC and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
• Cisco TrustSec in Cisco Secure Enclaves Architecture
• Cisco TrustSec Operation
• Firewalling
• Positioning the Firewall Within Data Center Networks
• Cisco Firepower Portfolio
• Firewall Virtualization
• Design for Threat Mitigation
• Network and License Management
• Cisco UCS Manager
• Cisco UCS Director
• Cisco Intersight
• Cisco DCNM Overview

Describing Storage and RAID Options

• Position DAS in Storage Technologies
• Network-Attached Storage
• Fibre Channel, FCoE, and Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)
• Evaluate Storage Technologies

Describing Fibre Channel Concepts

• Fibre Channel Connections, Layers, and Addresses
• Fibre Channel Communication
• Virtualization in Fibre Channel SAN

Describing Fibre Channel Topologies

• SAN Parameterization
• SAN Design Options
• Choosing a Fibre Channel Design Solution

Describing FCoE

• FCoE Protocol Characteristics
• FCoE Communication
• Data Center Bridging
• FCoE Initialization Protocol
• FCoE Design Options

Describing Storage Security

• Common SAN Security Features
• Zones
• SAN Security Enhancements
• Cryptography in SAN

Describing SAN Management and Orchestration

• Cisco DCNM for SAN
• Cisco DCNM Analytics and Streaming Telemetry
• Cisco UCS Director in the SAN
• Cisco UCS Director Workflows

Describing Cisco UCS Servers and Use Cases

• Cisco UCS C-Series Servers
• Fabric Interconnects and Blade Chassis
• Cisco UCS B-Series Server Adapter Cards
• Stateless Computing
• Cisco UCS Mini

Describing Fabric Interconnect Connectivity

• Use of Fabric Interconnect Interfaces
• VLANs and VSANs in a Cisco UCS Domain
• Southbound Connections
• Northbound Connections
• Disjoint Layer 2 Networks
• Fabric Interconnect High Availability and Redundancy

Describing Hyperconverged and Integrated Systems

• Hyperconverged and Integrated Systems Overview
• Cisco HyperFlex Solution
• Cisco HyperFlex Scalability and Robustness
• Cisco HyperFlex Clusters
• Cluster Capacity and Multiple Clusters on One Cisco UCS Domain
• External Storage and Graphical Processing Units on Cisco HyperFlex
• Cisco HyperFlex Positioning

Describing Cisco UCS Manager Systemwide Parameters

• Cisco UCS Setup and Management
• Cisco UCS Traffic Management

Describing Cisco UCS RBAC

• Roles and Privileges
• Organizations in Cisco UCS Manager
• Locales and Effective Rights
• Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
• Two-Factor Authentication

Describing Pools for Service Profiles

• Global and Local Pools
• Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) Suffix and Media Access Control (MAC) Address Pools
• World Wide Name (WWN) Pools
• Server and iSCSI Initiator IP Pools

Describing Policies for Service Profiles

• Global vs. Local Policies
• Storage and Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Policies
• Boot and Scrub Policies
• Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) and Maintenance Policies

Describing Network-Specific Adapters and Policies

• LAN Connectivity Controls
• SAN Connectivity Controls
• Virtual Access Layer
• Connectivity Enhancements

Describing Templates in Cisco UCS Manager

• Cisco UCS Templates
• Service Profile Templates
• Network Templates

Designing Data Center Automation

• Model-Driven Programmability
• Cisco NX-API Overview
• Programmability Using Python
• Cisco Ansible Module
• Use the Puppet Agent

Practice activity outline

• Design Virtual Port Channels
• Design First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP)
• Design Routing Protocols
• Design Data Center Topology for a Customer
• Design Data Center Interconnect Using Cisco OTV
• Design Your VXLAN Network
• Create a Cisco FEX Design
• Design Management and Orchestration in a Cisco UCS Solution
• Design a Fibre Channel Network
• Design and Integrate an FCoE Solution
• Design a Secure SAN
• Design Cisco UCS Director for Storage Networking
• Design a Cisco UCS Domain and Fabric Interconnect Cabling
• Design a Cisco UCS C-Series Server Implementation
• Design Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect Network and Storage Connectivity
• Design Systemwide Parameters in a Cisco UCS Solution
• Design an LDAP Integration with a Cisco UCS Domain
• Design Pools for Service Profiles in a Cisco UCS Solution
• Design Network-Specific Adapters and Policies in a Cisco UCS Solution