About Education

The “Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU)” v1.0 course helps prepare you for entry-level data center roles. In this course, you will gain the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to configure Cisco® data center technologies (networking, virtualization, storage area network, and converged computing). You will be introduced to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI), automation, and cloud computing. You will gain hands-on experience configuring features on Cisco Nexus Operating System (Cisco NX-OS) and Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS).

Prerequisites

To take full advantage of this course you should have the following knowledge and skills:

• Good knowledge of network protocols
• Good knowledge of VMware environment
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems

Recommended Cisco courses that can help you meet these prerequisites:

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

Duration of Training

• Training with an instructor: 5 days, with practical laboratory work
• Virtual instructor-led training: 5 days, with web-based lessons and hands-on lab work

Who Should Participate?

• Data center managers
• Data Center Engineers
• System engineers
• Server Administrators
• Network administrators
• Cisco integrators and partners

Educational Content

• Explaining Data Center Network Architectures
  • Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
  • Three-Layer Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
  • Spine-Leaf Network
  • Two-Tier Storage Network
• Explaining 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
• Explaining Layer 3 First Hop Redundancy
  • Default Gateway Redundancy
  • Hot Standby Router Protocol
  • Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol
  • Gateway Load Balancing Protocol
• Explaining Cisco FEX
  • Server Deployment Models
  • Cisco FEX Technology
  • Cisco FEX Traffic Forwarding
  • Cisco Adapter FEX
• Port Channels and vPCs Explained
  • Ethernet Port Channels
  • Virtual Port Channels
  • Supported vPC Topologies
• Explaining Switch Virtualization
  • Cisco Nexus Switch Core Components
  • Virtual Routing and Forwarding
  • Cisco Nexus 7000 VDCs
  • Types of VDCs
  • VDC Source Allocation
  • VDC Management
• Explaining Machine Virtualization
  • Virtual Machines
  • Hypervisor
  • VM Manager
• Explaining Network Virtualization
  • Upper Layer Network Protocols
  • VXLAN Overlay
  • VXLAN BGP EVPN Control Plane
  • VXLAN Data Plane
  • Cisco Nexus 1000VE Series Virtual Switch
  • VMware vSphere Virtual Switches
• Introduction to Basic Data Center Storage Concepts
  • Storage Connection Options in the Data Center
  • Fibre Channel Storage Network
  • VSAN Configuration and Verification
• Explaining Fibre Channel Communication Between Initiator Server and Target Storage
  • Fiber Channel Layered Model
  • FLOGI Process
  • Fibre Channel Flow Control
• Explaining Fibre Channel Region Types and Their Uses
  • Fibre Channel Zoning
  • Zoning Configuration
  • Zoning Management
• Explaining Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV
  • Cisco NPV Mode
  • NPIV Mode
• Explaining Data Center Ethernet Enhancements
  • IEEE Data Center Bridge
  • Priority Flow Control
  • Improved Transmission Selection
  • DCBX Protocol
  • Blockage Notification
• Explaining FCoE
  • Cisco Unified Structure
  • FCoE Architecture
  • FCoE Initialization Protocol
  • FCoE Adapters
• Explaining Cisco UCS Components
  • Physical Cisco UCS Components
  • Cisco Fabric Interconnect Product Overview
  • Cisco IOM Product Overview
  • Cisco UCS Mini
  • Cisco IMC Controller
  • Cisco Intersight
• Explaining 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
• Explaining Cisco ACI
  • Cisco ACI Overview
  • Multi-Tier Applications in Cisco ACI
  • Cisco ACI Features
  • VXLAN in Cisco ACI
  • One-Way Traffic in Cisco ACI
  • Multicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
  • Cisco ACI Programmability
  • Common Programming Tools and Orchestra