Implementing and Configuring the Cisco Nexus 7000

Course description
In this 3-day course, you will learn how to implement an enterprise Data Center routing and switching infrastructure with the next-generation Cisco Nexus 7000 platform. This course provides a technical overview of the Nexus platform architecture, deployment, and operations, including Virtual Device Contexts, Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, QoS, and security.

You will explore the features of NX-OS and the Nexus platform by performing hands-on labs using an NX-OS simulator.


Learning objectives
After you complete this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the features of the Nexus 7010 chassis, Supervisor Engine, and line cards
• Describe the architecture of NX-OS
• Describe the Connectivity Management Processor
• Configure switch management features like Call Home, logging, AAA, and RBAC
• Use configuration checkpoints and rollbacks
• Configure Virtual Device Contexts
• Configure Layer 2 and Layer 3 services
• Configure NX-OS Process Recovery
• Configure NX-OS Supervisor Redundancy
• Configure Quality of Service
• Configure traffic integrity features and Control Plane Protection
• Configure access and admission control
• Configure LinkSec encryption
• Use SPAN and Ethanalyzer to monitor traffic

Who should attend
This course is designed for experienced Network Field Engineers who are already capable of implementing Layer 2 and Layer 3 services using Cisco IOS and the Cisco Catalyst switching platform.


Recommended prerequisites

• Familiarity with TCP/IP protocol suite
• Knowledge of Layer 2 switching
• Knowledge of Layer 3 routing protocols
• Understanding of Cisco data center architecture

Course outline
Lesson 1: Overview of the Nexus 7000

• Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Chassis Overview
• Introducing Supervisor Engine and Line Cards
• Introducing Power Supplies and Cooling
• Connectivity Management Processor
• Introducing NX-OS
• Introducing NX-OS Supervisor Redundancy

Lesson 2: Introduction to Virtual Device Contexts

• Introducing Virtualization
• VDC Configuration
• High Availability

Lesson 3: Managing the Nexus 7000

• SNMP and XML
• Generic OnLine Diagnosis
• Embedded Event Manager
• SMART Call Home
• Data Center Network Manager
• System Message Logging
• AAA
• Role-Based Access Control
• Configuration Rollback

Lesson 4: Layer 2 Protocols and Features

• Nexus 7000/NX-OS Layer 2 Overview
• VLANs and PVLANs
• Spanning-Tree Protocols
• EtherChannels
• IGMP Snooping
• Uni-Directional Link Detection

Lesson 5: Layer 3 Protocols and Features

• Layer 3 Unicast Routing Overview
• Virtualizing Routing
• First-Hop Routing Protocols
• Routing Protocols
• Policy Routing
• Equal Cost Multipathing
• Tunnels
• Layer 3 Multicast

Lesson 6: Nexus 7000 Fabric Switching

• Introduction to the Nexus 7000 Fabric Modules
• Virtual Output Queuing Overview
• VOQ Operation

Lesson 7: Quality of Service

• Nexus 7000 Series QoS Overview
• Port QoS
• Forwarding Engine QoS
• Modular QoS CLI Overview
• Class Map
• Policy Map
• Service Policy

Lesson 8: Security

• Introduction to Nexus/NX-OS Security
• Traffic Integrity
• Control Plane Protection
• Access Control
• Admission Control
• Data Confidentiality

Lesson 9: Troubleshooting

• Ethanalyzer (WireShark in NX-OS)
• SPAN and RSPAN

Course labs
Lab 1: Using the Cisco Power Calculator
Lab 2: Managing System Configuration
Lab 3: Layer 2 Switching
Lab 4: First Hop Redundancy Protocols
Lab 5: Configuring Routing Protocols