Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions

Course description
This 5-day hands-on class gives you the essential knowledge and skills that you need to deploy Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN switches.

Course topics include installing and bringing up the switch, configuring Virtual SANs (VSANs), domains, interfaces, and zones, implementing PortChannels, configuring management security, and basic troubleshooting. You will also learn how to configure highly available FCIP tunnels and tune the performance of your FCIP links.

In the lab, you will configure the switch from an out-of-the-box state, perform non-disruptive software upgrade, configure VSANs and zones, and implement a high-availability SAN design that includes SAN extension with the FCIP protocol.


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

• Identify the components, services, and features of the MDS 9000 platform
• Install the switch hardware and perform the initial software configuration process
• Configure virtual SANs (VSANs), dynamic VSANs, and manage domains
• Configure and zone FC interfaces
• Configure intelligent addressing
• Secure management interfaces
• Configure PortChannels and FSPF
• Explain how to implement FCC and QoS to reduce congestion and prioritize traffic flows
• Configure high-availability SAN extension with FCIP
• Implement inter-VSAN routing (IVR) for FCIP
• Tune FCIP performance
• Diagnose SAN problems and common configuration errors

Who should attend
This course provides in-depth technical training for system engineers, network engineers, and field engineers who need to deploy, configure, and manage MDS 9000 Series switches.


Recommended prerequisites

• Understanding of basic data storage components and protocols and Fibre Channel SANs is recommended.

Course outline
Module 1: MDS 9000 Platform Overview
Lesson 1: Introducing MDS 9000 Platform Components

• The MDS 9000 Platform
• The MDS 9000 Linecard Modules

Lesson 2: Using Intelligent Network Services

• SAN Scalability Features
• Multiprotocol Support
• High Availability Features
• Traffic Engineering Features
• Security Features
• Interoperability
• CFS Infrastructure

Lesson 3: Implementing Integrated Management

• The Command Line Interface
• Cisco Fabric Manager
• Cisco Device Manager
• Fabric Manager Server
• Performance Manager and Traffic Analyzer
• CiscoWorks Resource Manager Essentials

Lesson 4: Introducing the MDS 9000 System Architecture

• Crossbar and Supervisor Module Architecture
• MDS Line Card Module Architectures
• Fabric-Based Application Services
• FAIS Overview
• SANTap Overview
• Network-Accelerated Serverless Backup Overview
• Storage Media Encryption (SME)
• Data Mobility Manager (DMM)
• SAN Device Virtualization (SDV)
• N-Port Virtualizer (NPV)

Module 2: System Installation and Initial Configuration
Lesson 1: Installing Switch Hardware

• Installation Guidelines
• Configuring Power Supplies
• Supervisor and Line Card Modules Installation

Lesson 2: Performing the Initial Switch Configuration

• Completing the Initial Setup
• Setup Defaults
• Installing Cisco Fabric Manager
• Quickstart Overview

Lesson 3: Installing and Licensing SAN-OS

• Software Licensing
• Installation and Upgrade Prerequisites
• Software Upgrade Methods
• Version Downgrade Procedure

Lesson 4: Using Call Home

• Call Home Services
• Call Home Messages
• Call Home Output Options
• Configuring Call Home
• Customized Alert Group Messages

Module 3: Building VSANs
Lesson 1: Configuring VSANs

• VSAN Overview
• Creating VSANs
• Displaying VSAN Information
• The Default and Isolated VSANs
• VSAN Recommended Practices

Lesson 2: Managing Domains

• The Domain Configuration Process
• Configuring the Principal Switch Priority
• CFS Distribution of Allowed Domain ID Lists
• Configuring Fabric Merge Options

Lesson 3: Configuring Interfaces

• Configuring Fibre Channel Interfaces
• Configuring Advanced Parameters
• Second-Generation Port Bandwidth Reservation

Lesson 4: Configuring Dynamic VSANs

• DPVM Overview
• Configuring DPVM Entries
• Using DPVM Autolearning
• Configuring DPVM Distribution

Lesson 5: Using Intelligent Addressing

• Displaying the FCNS Database
• FCID Assignment
• Distributed Device Alias Services
• N_Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV)
• N-Port Virtualizer (NPV)

Lesson 6: Implementing Zones

• Zoning Overview
• Creating Zones and Zone Sets
• Verifying Zone Configuration
• Configuring Zoneset Distribution
• Merging Zones without Disruption
• Recovering From Zone Merge Failures
• Managing Zonesets
• Recommended Practices for Zoning
• Enhanced Zoning Features
• Modifying the Enhanced Zone Database
• Creating Attribute Groups
• Configuring Read-Only Zones
• Configuring LUN Zones
• Configuring Broadcast Zoning

Lesson 7: Improving Management Security

• Securing Management Ports
• Configuring SSH
• Using Digital Certificates
• Role-Based Access Control
• Creating Roles and Users
• Centralizing Security Management
• Enhanced AAA Services

Module 4: Managing SAN Traffic
Lesson 1: FSPF and Port Tracking

• Implementing Traffic Engineering
• Configuring Load Balancing
• In-Order Delivery
• Tracking and Redirecting Traffic

Lesson 2: Configuring PortChannels

• PortChannel Overview
• Creating PortChannels
• The PortChannel Protocol
• PortChannel Autocreation
• Modifying PortChannel Links

Lesson 3: Configuring Traffic Priority

• Virtual Output Queues
• Configuring QoS
• Configuring FCC
• QoS Behavior with Generation-1 and Generation-2 Switching Modules
• Zone-Based QoS

Module 5: Implementing FCIP
Lesson 1: Protocol Overview

• The FCIP Protocol
• FC Frame Encapsulation
• FCIP Specifications
• FCIP Implementation on the MDS 9000
• IP Addressing
• IP Routing Protocols
• TCP/IP Protocol Headers

Lesson 2: Configuring FCIP

• FCIP Configuration Overview
• Configuring Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces
• Configuring FCIP Tunnels
• Verifying the FCIP Configuration
• Using the FCIP Wizard
• Using VLAN Subinterfaces

Lesson 3: FCIP High Availability

• PortChannel Configuration Guidelines
• PortChannels with FCIP Tunnels
• PortChannel Protocol
• PortChannel Configuration Verification
• Other High Availability Options

Lesson 4: Implementing IVR for SAN Extension

• IVR Overview
• IVR Zones and Zonesets
• Configuring IVR
• Verifying the IVR Configuration
• IVR Recommended Practices

Lesson 5: Tuning FCIP Performance

• Overview of FCIP Tuning Parameters
• Configuring TCP Keepalive, Retransmit, and Selective Acknowledgement
• Configuring the MTU
• FCIP Flow Control
• Packet Shaping
• FCIP Compression
• FCIP Write Acceleration
• FCIP Tape Acceleration
• IP QoS Overview
• Using the SAN Extension Tuner

Module 6: Troubleshooting Tools and Scenarios
Lesson 1: Diagnostic Tools and Methodologies

• SAN Fault Isolation Methodology
• Verifying Power
• Troubleshooting Interfaces
• Troubleshooting VSANs
• Using fcping and fctrace
• Fabric Manager Troubleshooting Tools
• FCIP Troubleshooting Overview
• Module Status Verification
• Network Connectivity Verification

Lesson 2: Capturing and Analyzing SAN Traffic

• SPAN Overview
• RSPAN Overview
• PAA Configuration
• The Cisco Fabric Analyzer
• Wireshark Overview

Lesson 3: Basic Troubleshooting Scenarios

• Troubleshooting Host-to-Switch Connectivity
• Troubleshooting ISLs
• Troubleshooting Fabric Merges
• FCIP Troubleshooting Situations

Course labs
Lab 1: Quickstart Switch Configuration
Lab 2: Configuring Call Home
Lab 3: Creating VSANs
Lab 4: Configuring Interfaces
Lab 5: Configuring Zones
Lab 6: Configuring PortChannels
Lab 7: Implementing an FCIP Tunnel
Lab 8: Configuring FCIP High Availability
Lab 9: Implementing IVR for SAN Extension
Lab 10: Tuning FCIP Performance
Lab 11: Using SPAN and the Cisco Port Analyzer Adapter
Lab 12: Upgrading Switch Software
Lab 13: Challenge Lab