CCNA Data Center: Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies Study Guide

Todd Lammle, CCSI, CCNA, CCNP, is the authority on Cisco networking. President of GlobalNet Training, Inc., a networking integration and training firm, he is also the bestselling author of numerous Cisco books including the popular CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, with over 250,000 copies in print. Todd Montgomery, CCNA Data Center, CCNA Security, CCNP Routing and Switching, is a senior datacenter networking engineer for a large company. He works with emerging data center technologies, SDN/software, cloud implementation, and defined networking design plans.

Introduction xix Assessment Test xxviii Chapter 1 Data Center Networking Principles 1 Data Center Networking Principles 2 The Data Center LAN 2 The Data Center SAN 4 Network Design Using a Modular Approach 4 The Data Center Core Layer 5 The Data Center Aggregation Layer 5 The Data Center Access Layer 6 The Collapsed Core Model 7 FabricPath 8 How Do We Interconnect Data Centers? 11 Virtual Port Channels 12 Understanding Port Channels 17 Going Virtual with Virtual Device Contexts 26 Storage Networking with Nexus 28 Configuring and Verifying Network Connectivity 29 Identifying Control and Data Plane Traffic 29 Data Plane 29 Control Plane 30 Performing the Initial Setup 31 Summary 34 Exam Essentials 34 Written Lab 1 36 Review Questions 37 Chapter 2 Networking Products 41 The Nexus Product Family 43 Nexus Product Family Overview 44 Nexus 7000 Product Family 48 Nexus 5000 Product Family 53 Nexus 2000 Product Family 55 Reviewing the Cisco MDS Product Family 58 MDS 9500 59 MDS 9100/9200 60 Cisco Application Control Engine 60 Summary 60 Exam Essentials 61 Written Lab 2 61 Review Questions 63 Chapter 3 Storage Networking Principles 67 Storage Area Networking 68 Storage Categories 69 Block-Based Storage 70 File-Based Storage 70 Block and File Storage 71 Fibre Channel Networks 72 Describe the SAN Initiator and Target 73 Verify SAN Switch Operations 74 Describe Basic SAN Connectivity 75 Describe Storage Array Connectivity 76 Describe Storage Protection 77 Describe Storage Topologies 78 Point-to-Point 78 Arbitrated Loop 78 Fabric 79 Port Types 80 Storage Systems 81 World Wide Names 82 SAN Boot 83 Verify Name Server Login 84 Describe, Configure, and Verify Zoning 85 Perform Initial MDS Setup 87 Describe, Configure, and Verify VSAN 91 Summary 93 Exam Essentials 93 Written Lab 3 94 Review Questions 96 Chapter 4 Data Center Network Services 101 Data Center Network Services 102 Standard ACE Features for Load Balancing 102 Server Load Balancing Virtual Context and HA 106 Server Load Balancing Management Options 107 Benefits of the Cisco Global Load-Balancing Solution 108 Cisco WAAS Needs and Advantages in the Data Center 109 Summary 109 Exam Essentials 110 Written Lab 4 110 Review Questions 111 Chapter 5 Nexus 1000V 115 Virtual Switches 116 Server Virtualization 117 Network Connectivity 118 Standard Virtual Switch 120 VMware Distributed Virtual Switch 122 Nexus 1000V Switch 124 Nexus 1000V Components 125 Virtual Supervisor Module 125 Virtual Ethernet Module 127 Communication between the VEM and VSM 127 Communication between the VSM and vCenter 128 Port Profiles 129 Installing Nexus 1000V 129 Installation Preparation 130 Nexus 1000V Software 130 Deploying the OVF Template 130 Initial Configuration 133 Verify Installation 134 Summary 138 Exam Essentials 138 Written Lab 5 139 Review Questions 140 Chapter 6 Unified Fabric 145 Unified Fabric 147 FCoE 148 Connectivity Hardware 154 Connecting the Virtual Interface Card to Nexus 5500UP 155 VN-Tag 155 FEX Configuration 156 Summary 164 Exam Essentials 164 Written Lab 6 166 Review Questions 167 Chapter 7 Cisco UCS Principles 171 Data Center Computing Evolution 174 Network-Centric Computing 175 Fabric Interconnects 177 Server Chassis 180 I/O Modules 181 UCS Servers 181 Extended Memory 181 B-Series Blade Server Models 182 C-Series Rack Servers 182 Interface Cards 183 UCS Connectivity 184 Fabric Interconnect Connectivity 185 Cisco Integrated Management Controller 186 Ethernet Interface Port Personality 187 UCS Discovery Process 187 Summary 188 Exam Essentials 189 Written Lab 7 189 Review Questions 191 Chapter 8 Cisco UCS Configuration 195 UCS Cluster Setup 197 Cabling the Fabric Interconnects 197 Setup Dialog for the Fabric Interconnects 198 Cluster Verification 201 UCS Manager 203 Welcome to the GUI 204 UCS GUI Navigation 205 Finite State Machine 206 Service Profiles 207 Traditional Computing 208 Upgrading or Replacing a Server 208 Stateless Computing 209 Service Profiles 209 Summary 218 Exam Essentials 218 Written Lab 8 219 Chapter 8: Hands-On Labs 219 Review Questions 222 Appendix A Answers to Written Labs 227 Chapter 1: Data Center Networking Principles 228 Chapter 2: Networking Products 228 Chapter 3: Storage Networking Principles 228 Chapter 4: Data Center Network Services 230 Chapter 5: Nexus 1000V 231 Chapter 6: Unified Fabric 231 Chapter 7: Cisco USC Principles 232 Chapter 8: Cisco UCS Configuration 233 Appendix B Answers to Review Questions 235 Chapter 1: Data Center Networking Principles 236 Chapter 2: Networking Products 237 Chapter 3: Storage Networking Principles 238 Chapter 4: Data Center Network Services 239 Chapter 5: Nexus 1000V 240 Chapter 6: Unified Fabric 241 Chapter 7: Cisco USC Principles 242 Chapter 8: Cisco UCS Configuration 243 Index 245