Cisco Data Center - Data Center Design

The Knowledge Academy Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric 5 day course covers the following topics:

Introduction

This course covers the Cisco high-end switching portfolio, architectural components of Cisco Nexus and Cisco Catalyst switching lines, Cisco IOS and NX-OS software architecture, as well as management from the network design perspective.

The course describes how to design a data center network architecture using the above equipment either as an Ethernet-only data center, or as a data center using unified fabric. Also described are the features of these data center class platforms ranging from continuous operation, resiliency and virtualization to power efficiency and management.

Included in this course is various service modules and line cards for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and Cisco ASA 5500 Adaptive Security Appliances. Additionally, this course introduces the Cisco Application Networking Services (ANS) portfolio, including ACE module and ACE appliance.

Pre-Requisites

Recommended knowledge and skills needed before attending this course is:

• Cisco CCDA Certification

Who should attend?

Primary audience:

• Network designers and architects, data center network administrators, and system engineers

Secondary audience:

• Data center network managers and network engineers

Tertiary audience:

• Program and project managers

Course Objectives

Delegates will be able to meet these overall objectives on completion of this course:

• Describe the data center network architecture design basics, challenges, and environmental requirements
• Describe the Cisco data center network equipment
• Explain virtualization principles that are used in data center networks
• Explain server virtualization concepts
• Design data center services and security
• List data center standards, trends, and sizing guidelines

Course Outline

Data Center Design Fundamentals

Describe the data center network architecture design basics, challenges, and environmental requirements.

1: Introducing the Data Center

• Define a data center, as well as the goals and solutions that are provided by data centers
• Discuss the primary drivers and objectives that influence the data center design
• List the data center high-availability metrics, discuss the types and scopes of outages in data center networks, as well as discuss recovery mechanisms
• Relate environmental characteristics to scaling a data center
• Describe the drivers for virtualization, consolidation, service integration, and automation that are applied to the data center components
• Discuss the business objectives for the data center architecture

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center Business Objectives
• Data Center Drivers
• Data Center High Availability
• Data Center Environmental Characteristics
• Data Center Evolution Drivers
• Data Center Architecture Business Objectives

2: Identifying the Cisco Data Center Business Advantage

• Discuss environmental aspects when designing data center networks
• Describe the data center thermal control model
• Describe the physical positioning of devices within the data center premises
• Describe the challenges and benefits of condensed computing
• Describe the characteristics of green data centers
• Describe efficient resource utilization in data centers
• List the main network design models that are used in the industry
• Outline the relation between the data center and campus network, and refresh the knowledge of designing campus networks

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center Environmental Objectives
• Data Center Thermal Control Model
• Physical Device Positioning Within the Data Center
• Benefits of Condensed Computing Environments
• Green Data Center Characteristics
• Green Data Center Efficient Resource Utilization
• Network Design Models Overview
• Data Center and Campus Networks

3: Designing Data Center Solutions

• Describe the Cisco data center solution design process
• Identify Cisco data center solution deliverables
• List common data center challenges

The lesson includes these topics:

• High-Level Design Steps
• Design Process Deliverables
• Data Center Design and Operational Challenges

Data Center Network Infrastructure

Describe the Cisco data center network equipment.

1: Introducing Cisco Catalyst Series Switches

• Describe the Cisco Catalyst Series Switches and some of the Cisco Catalyst 6500 services modules, as well as the basic characteristics of the various models that are available and their recommended placement within the data center
• Describe the basic characteristics of Cisco Catalyst 6500 Switch VSS
• Describe the Cisco Catalyst 4948 Series Switches, as well as the Cisco Catalyst 4900M Series Switches and half-cards
• Describe the Catalyst 4500 Series Switches and the possibility of using them in data center environments
• Describe the basic characteristics of Cisco Catalyst Blade switches
• List the most frequent cabling technologies that are used in data centers with Cisco Catalyst switches
• Describe the Cisco DWDM equipment
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco Catalyst equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches
• Cisco Catalyst 6500 Virtual Switching System
• Cisco Catalyst 4948, 4948E, and 4900M Switches
• Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switches for Data Center
• Cisco Catalyst Blade Switches
• Data Center Cabling Technologies
• Cisco Optical Equipment
• Data Center Design Challenges

2: Introducing Cisco Nexus Series Switches

• Describe the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches and their components
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 5000 and 5500 Series Switches
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 4000 Series Blade Switches
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switch
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 2000 Series FEXs
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch solution and the Cisco Nexus 1010 VSM VSA
• Describe the available cabling technologies
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco Nexus equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches
• Cisco Nexus 5000 and 5500 Series Switches
• Cisco Nexus 4000 Series Blade Switches
• Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switch
• Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders
• Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switch and Cisco Nexus 1010 VSM VSA
• Data Center Cabling Technologies
• Data Center Design Challenges

3: Introducing Cisco Data Center Security Products

Outline the solution using external firewall devices, such as Cisco ASA 5580 Adaptive Security Appliance and Cisco ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance.

• Describe the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series ASA-SM and the FWSM module
• Describe the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series IDSM for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and the standalone Cisco IPS appliance
• Present the virtual security devices that are used to enforce security policy in the virtual access layer
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco security equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances
• Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Security Service Modules
• Intrusion Detection Systems and Intrusion Prevention Systems
• Virtual Security Devices
• Data Center Design Challenges

4: Introducing Cisco Data Center Application Services Products

• Describe the Cisco ACE Module and Cisco ACE Appliance, as well as their features
• Describe the Cisco specialized application hardware
• Describe the Cisco WAAS solution
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco ACE equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco ACE
• Additional Cisco ACE Products
• Cisco WAAS
• Data Center Design Challenges

5: Introducing Cisco SAN Products

• Describe the Cisco MDS line of SAN switches
• Describe the Cisco MDS blade switches
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco storage networking equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco MDS Switches
• Cisco MDS Blade Switches
• Data Center Design Challenges

6: Introducing Cisco Computing, Desktop, and Solution Products

• Describe Cisco Unified Computing System B-Series overall architecture, server blades, and mezzanine options, as well as Cisco Unified Computing System C-Series rack server options as relevant to the data center network infrastructure
• Describe the Cisco VXI line of products for desktop virtualization as relevant to data center network infrastructure
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco Unified Computing System equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Cisco Unified Computing System B-Series Blade Servers and Cisco C-Series Servers
• Cisco VXI
• Data Center Design Challenges

7: Introducing Cisco Data Center Network Management

• List the most common Cisco management software solutions
• Describe the purpose of network monitoring in data center networks, and list the NAM products
• Describe the Cisco Nexus 1000V NAM VSB
• Describe NetFlow as an option for traffic monitoring, and list the key components of the solution
• List the data center design challenges that Cisco network management and monitoring equipment solves

The lesson includes these topics:

• Network Management Tools
• Cisco NAM
• Cisco Nexus 1010 NAM Virtual Service Blade
• NetFlow
• Data Center Design Challenges

Data Center Network Virtualization Principles

1: Introducing Device Virtualization

• Describe and compare one-to-many versus many-to-one virtualization principles, and discuss some examples of different virtualization mechanisms
• Explain Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switch virtualization technology
• Explain virtualization using VDCs on the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches
• Explain virtualization on Cisco ASA adaptive security appliances, Cisco FWSM, and the Cisco ACE Module, using contexts
• Explain MEC and vPC link bundling mechanisms and MEC and vPC advantages over classing designs using STP

The lesson includes these topics:

• Network Device Virtualization
• Virtualization using VSS
• Virtualization using VDCs
• Device Virtualization using Contexts
• Link Bundling and Virtualization Mechanisms

2: Introducing Network Virtualization

• Explain and compare EHV with regular switched networks using the STP
• Explain VN-Link and VN-Tag
• Recognize the use cases for link virtualization

The lesson includes these topics:

• Understanding EHV
• Understanding VN-Link and VN-Tag
• Use Case Examples for Link Virtualization

3: Introducing Fabric Virtualization

• Compare Fibre Channel and FCoE to iSCSI and NFS as storage access alternatives
• Outline the basics of Fibre Channel networks
• Describe the FCoE protocol
• Describe the FCoE initialization protocol, FIP snooping, and multihop FCoE
• List the current Cisco hardware that is capable of Fibre Channel, FCoE, and FIP
• Describe SAN virtualization NPV and NPIV

The lesson includes these topics:

• Storage Access Methods Comparison
• Fibre Channel Networks
• Fibre Channel over Ethernet
• FCoE Initialization Protocol
• FCoE and FIP Hardware
• SAN Virtualization NPV and NPIV

4: Identifying Data Center Standards and Trends

• Describe current and future trends of how data center networks are evolving and how these networks can be most efficiently designed and used
• Describe FCoE, which is the most popular application for Unified Fabric
• Present various Layer 2 multipathing examples, including the IETF-based TRILL, Shortest-Path Bridging, and Cisco FabricPath
• List the primary Cisco components for data center networks

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center Trends
• Unified Fabric and Lossless Ethernet
• Layer 2 Multipathing Protocols
• Data Center Network Components

Data Center Topologies

1: Designing Data Center Topologies

• Describe and review the evolution of the data center topologies
• Design the data center core layer
• Design the data center aggregation and collapsed core layer
• Design the data center access layer

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center Topologies
• Data Center Core Layer
• Data Center Aggregation and Collapsed Core Layers
• Data Center Access Layer

2: Designing Data Center Topologies Using FEX

• Design the data center aggregation and access layers using Cisco Nexus 5500, 5000, and 2000 Series FEX Switches
• Provide a brief overview of server connectivity redundancy
• Explore FEX attachment options
• Use Cisco Unified Fabric to transport FCoE over a fabric extender

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center Access and Aggregation Layer Design Using FEXs
• Server Connectivity Redundancy
• FEX Attachment Options
• Unified Fabric Connectivity

3: Designing Data Center Interconnect Solutions

• Describe the main reasons to implement DCIs
• Design DCIs using OTV
• Design DCIs using dark fiber and VSS or vPC topologies
• Design DCIs using EoMPLS, VPLS, service provider multihoming, and EEM
• Design DCIs using an IP network with L2TP, EoMPLSoGRE, and VPLSoGRE

The lesson includes these topics:

• DCI Drivers
• DCI with OTV
• DCI Using Dark Fiber
• DCI Using MPLS Technology
• DCI Using Tunneling Technologies

Data Center Services and Security

1: Designing Data Center IP Services

• Design data center routing, as well as Layer 2 and Layer 3 demarcation point options
• Design routing protocol optimizations
• Describe highly available designs with VDCs, VRFs, and service switches
• Design solutions using RHI for high availability or anycast
• Design solutions and list differences using HSRP, GLBP, VSS, and Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switch vPC peer-gateway
• Design multitenant solutions using VRFs

The lesson includes these topics:

• Data Center IP Layer Design
• Routing Protocol Design
• Highly Available Designs
• Route Health Injection
• IP Services Using FHRP
• Multitenancy Solutions

2: Designing Data Center Application Services

• Examine options for multitier application design
• Design application services placement, with and without VRF
• Design an application services implementation using the Cisco ACE Module and Cisco ACE GSS

The lesson includes these topics:

• Multitier Application Design
• Application Services Placement
• Application Services Using Cisco ACE and Cisco ACE GSS

3: Designing Data Center Security

• Examine options for network infrastructure security implementation
• Design network infrastructure security policy

The lesson includes these topics:

• Network Infrastructure Security Implementation
• Network Infrastructure Security Policy

Data Center Standards

1: Sizing the Data Center

• Analyze data center sizing examples and guidelines

The lesson includes this topic:

• Data Center Sizing Examples