Implementing and Configuring the Cisco Nexus 5000

Course description
In this hands-on course, you will learn how to design, implement, and manage a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) infrastructure using the Cisco Nexus 5000 platform. This course covers FCoE design guidelines, configuring FCoE on servers, and configuring FCoE on switches in switch mode and NPV mode. You will learn about the architecture of the Nexus 5000 FCoE switches, and how this architecture affects traffic flow in an FCoE network.


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

• Identify the benefits provided by Nexus 5000 switches in common user scenarios
• Explain how the Nexus 5000 operates within SAN and LAN environments
• Discuss the 10GB Ethernet capabilities of the Nexus 5000 switch
• Explain the HPC applications for the nexus 5000 switch
• Review the operation of Fibre Channel within SAN environments
• Discuss the Nexus 2000 fabric extender
• Discuss the Nexus 1000v virtual switch
• Describe how FCoE operates within SAN and LAN environments
• Describe the core features of the NX-OS platform
• Describe the ASIC-level architecture of the switch and CNAs, and explain how the architecture impacts network design
• Configure the Nexus 5000 in switch mode and NPV mode
• Manage traffic flow and priority
• Configure security policies
• Implement high-availability configurations
• Troubleshoot FCoE environments and Nexus 5000 hardware and configurations

Who should attend
This course is designed for experienced Network Field Engineers who are already capable of implementing Layer 2 services using Cisco IOS. Basic working knowledge of Fibre Channel and Storage Networking is also strongly recommended.


Recommended prerequisites

• Ability to configure advanced Layer 2 Ethernet services, including QoS and Spanning Tree
• Familiarity with Cisco Ethernet switching products
• Basic working knowledge of Fibre Channel and Storage Networking
• Understanding of Cisco data center architecture

Course outline
Module 1: Deploying the Nexus 5000
Lesson 1: Overview of the Nexus 5000

• Challenges in the Data Center
• I/O Consolidation
• Nexus 5000 Switch Products
• Nexus 2000 Fabric Extender
• Nexus 5000 Software Architecture
• Network Design
• FCoE Adapters and Software
• Nexus 5000 Switch Management Tools

Lesson 2: Understanding Fibre Channel

• Fibre Channel Networks
• Fibre Channel Frames
• Fibre Channel Flow Control
• Fabric Login
• Process Login
• FSPF
• N_Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV)
• N_Port Virtualizer (NPV)
• The RSCN Process
• Standard Fabric Services

Lesson 3: Understanding Ethernet

• Ethernet Networks
• Host to Host Communication
• Spanning Tree
• TCP/IP Flow Control

Lesson 4: Understanding Server Virtualization

• Virtualized Server model
• VMware virtualization
• Virtual Networks
• Virtual Storage
• Nexus 1000v
• Nexus 5000 VN-Link
• NPiV

Lesson 5: Understanding the FCoE Protocol

• Current FCOE Architecture
• FCOE Enode MAC Addresses
• FCOE Initialization Protocol (FIP)
• FCOE Work in Progress

Lesson 6: Nexus 5000 System Architecture

• System Architecture
• Switch Fabric Data Path
• Traffic Forwarding
• Multicast

Lesson 7: Ethernet Enhancements

• Converged Enhanced Ethernet
• Priority Flow Control
• Bandwidth management
• Data Center Bridging Exchange

Lesson 8: Ethernet Enhancements

• FCoE Initialization Protocl
• Lossless Ethernet Bridging
• Network interface Virtualization
• Delayed Drop
• Congestion Management
• End host Virtualizer

Module 2: Implementation and Configuration
Lesson 1: Configuring FCoE Server Connectivity

• Converged Network Adapters
• Host-Based Failover
• QLogic CNAs
• Emulex CNAs
• The FCoE Software Stack
• Managing the FCoE Software Stack

Lesson 2: Configuring a Nexus 5000 Switch in Switch Mode

• Switch Configuration Overview
• Configuring Administrative Access
• Configuring FCoE
• Configuring the Server-Facing Interfaces
• Configuring the Network-Facing Interfaces
• Verifying the Configuration

Lesson 3: Managing Nexus 5000 Switches with Cisco Device Manager and Cisco Fabric Manager

• Monitoring a Nexus 5000 Switch with Cisco Device Manager
• Monitoring an FCoE Network with Cisco Fabric Manager

Lesson 4: Configuring Nexus 5000 Switches in NPV Mode

• Understanding NPV Mode
• Configuring NPV Mode
• Verifying Switch Configuration in NPV Mode

Lesson 5: Managing Traffic Flow

• Understanding QoS Policy Management
• Configuring Qos Policy
• Tuning the MTU Value
• Configuring Priority Flow Control

Lesson 6: Configuring High Availability

• High Availability in an FCoE Network
• Configuring High Availability
• Configuring Server-Side HA
• Validating HA Configuration
• Understanding PortChannels
• Configuring Ethernet PortChannels
• Configuring FC PortChannels

Lesson 7: Securing the Switch

• Private VLANs
• Configuring Private VLANs
• Understanding Access Control Lists
• Configuring Access Control Lists
• TCAM Implementation of ACLs
• Configuring Zoning on a Nexus 5000 Switch

Lesson 8: Managing the Switch

• Role-Based Access Control
• SNMP and XML Support
• GOLD and EEM
• Smart Call Home

Lesson 9: Monitoring and Troubleshooting

• Diagnostics and Monitoring
• SPAN and ERSPAN
• Ethanalyzer
• Configuring SPAN
• Troubleshooting Physical Port Errors
• Troubleshooting Logical Interface Errors
• Password Recovery
• Common FCoE Troubleshooting

Course labs
Lab 1: Analyzing FCoE Packet Traces
Lab 2: Configuring the Switch for Administrative Access
Lab 3: Configuring the Nexus 5000 Switch for FCoE Connectivity
Lab 4: Configuring the Nexus 5000 Switch in NPV Mode
Lab 5: Traffic Engineering
Lab 6: Configuring and Monitoring Security Features
Lab 7: Troubleshooting FCoE Issues on the Nexus 5000 Switch