Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure

• 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

• Describe the Layer 2 and 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 Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV) technology that is used to interconnect data centers
• Describe Locator/ID separation protocol
• Design a solution that uses Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) for traffic forwarding
• Describe hardware redundancy options; how to virtualize the network, compute, and storage functions; and virtual networking in the data center
• Describe solutions that use fabric extenders and compare Cisco Adapter Fabric Extender (FEX) with single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV)
• Describe security threats and solutions in the data center
• Describe advanced data center security technologies and best practices
• Describe device management and orchestration in the data center
• Describe the storage options for compute function and different Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) levels from a high-availability and performance perspective
• Describe Fibre Channel concepts, topologies, architecture, and industry terms
• Describe Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
• Describe security options in the storage network
• Describe management and automation options for storage networking infrastructure
• Describe Cisco UCS servers and use cases for various Cisco UCS platforms
• Explain the connectivity options for fabric interconnects for southbound and northbound connections
• Describe the hyperconverged solution and integrated systems
• Describe the systemwide parameters for setting up a Cisco UCS domain
• Describe role-based access control (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 different policies in the service profile
• Describe the Ethernet and Fibre Channel interface policies and additional network technologies
• Describe the advantages of templates and the difference between initial and updated templates
• Describe data center automation tools

Before taking this course, you should understand the following:

• Implement data center networking [local area network (LAN) and storage area network (SAN)]
• Describe data center storage
• Implement data center virtualization
• Implement Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS)
• Implement data center automation and orchestration with the focus on Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) and Cisco UCS Director
• Describe products in the Cisco Data Center Nexus and Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) families

To fully benefit from this course, you should have completed the following courses or obtained the equivalent level of knowledge:

• Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU)
• Implementing and Administering Cisco Networking Technologies (CCNA)
• Implementing Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)

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

• Describe data center networking concepts
• Describe data center storage concepts
• Describe data center virtualization
• Describe Cisco UCS
• Describe data center automation and orchestration with a focus on Cisco ACI and Cisco UCS Director
• Identify products in the Cisco data center Nexus and Cisco MDS families
• Describe network fundamentals and build simple LANs, including switching and routing

Describing High Availability on Layer 2

• Overview of Layer 2 High-Availability Mechanisms
• Virtual Port Channels
• Cisco FabricPath
• Virtual Port Channel+

Designing Layer 3 Connectivity

• First Hop Redundancy Protocols
• Improve Routing Protocol Performance and Security
• Enhance Layer 3 Scalability and Robustness

Designing Data Center Topologies

• 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

Describing Locator/ID Separation Protocol

• Locator/ID Separation Protocol
• Location Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP) Virtual Machine (VM) Mobility
• LISP Extended Subnet Mode (ESM) Multihop Mobility
• LISP VPN Virtualization

Describing VXLAN Overlay Networks

• Describe VXLAN Benefits over VLAN
• Layer 2 and Layer 3 VXLAN Overlay
• VXLAN Data Plane

Describing Hardware and Device Virtualization

• Hardware-Based High Availability
• Device Virtualization
• Cisco UCS Hardware Virtualization
• Server Virtualization
• SAN Virtualization
• N-Port ID Virtualization

Describing Cisco FEX Options

• Cisco Adapter FEX
• Access Layer with Cisco FEX
• Cisco FEX Topologies
• Virtualization-Aware Networking
• Single Root I/O Virtualization
• Cisco FEX Evaluation

Describing Basic Data Center Security

• Threat Mitigation
• Attack and Countermeasure Examples
• Secure the Management Plane
• Protect the Control Plane
• RBAC and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)

Describing Advanced Data Center Security

• 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

Describing Management and Orchestration

• 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

Lab 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

This course is available now and is part of the Cisco Next Level Certification restructure. The exam for this course will be available from the 24th February 2020.