About this Course

In this 5-day instructor-led course, you will become experienced with the planning, design, and implementation of a FlexPod integrated platform that includes NetApp® unified storage systems, Cisco® Unified Computing System™ servers, Cisco Nexus® fabric, and VMware® vSphere virtualization platform.

Using real-world scenarios and examples, this course will explore all of the components of the FlexPod system and guide you through the installation, management, and troubleshooting of the platform as a whole, as well as all of the individual Cisco, NetApp, and VMware components.

Audience Profile

• Systems Administrators and Engineers
• Technical Solutions Architects
• Systems Integrators
• Channel Partners
• Value-Added Resellers
• End-user Customers Deploying FlexPod

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of Cisco routing and switching
• Basic knowledge of servers and storage
• Familiarity with basic VMware virtualization concepts

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to the FlexPod Architecture

• Lesson 1: Overview of the FlexPod platform architecture
• Lesson 2: FlexPod Design Considerations

Module 2: Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

• Lesson 1: Introducing the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches
• Lesson 2: High-Level Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Product Features
• Lesson 3: Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch Hardware Architecture
• Lesson 4: Configuring Basic Integration with FlexPod Platform

Module 3: Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS)

• Lesson 1: Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Architecture Overview
• Lesson 2: Implementing Cisco UCS B-Series LAN Connectivity
• Lesson 3: Implementing Cisco UCS B-Series SAN Connectivity
• Lesson 4: Provisioning Resource Pools in the Cisco UCS Manager
• Lesson 5: Provisioning Service Policies in the Cisco UCS Manager

Module 4: Virtual Networking

• Lesson 1: VMware Virtual Switching Overview
• Lesson 2: Reviewing the Cisco Nexus 1000v Series Switch
• Lesson 3: Configuring and Administering the Virtual Supervisor and Virtual Ethernet Modules

Module 5: NetApp Storage Appliance

• Lesson 1: Discuss the benefits of Data ONTAP version 8.x and explain its two modes of operation
• Lesson 2: Describe the steps for setting up a basic cluster configuration
• Lesson 3: Introducing SAN and NAS Protocols
• Lesson 4: Administering Volumes, LUNs and Initiator Groups
• Lesson 5: Review and Discussion of Advanced Features in Data ONTAP

Module 6: Management and Monitoring of the FlexPod Platform

• Lesson 1: Configuring Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Management Features
• Lesson 2: Configuring Cisco Nexus 1000v Series Management Features
• Lesson 3: Managing and Upgrading Cisco UCS B-Series Firmware
• Lesson 4: Implementing Backup, Import, and Restore of the Cisco UCS Manager Database
• Lesson 5: Monitoring, Backing Up and Restoring of the NetApp Storage Appliance
• Lesson 6: Implementing Cisco UCS Director to Manage FlexPod Operations

Module 7: Troubleshooting the FlexPod Platform

• Lesson 1: Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Troubleshooting Tools
• Lesson 2: Troubleshooting the Cisco UCS B-Series Configuration
• Lesson 3: Basic Cisco Nexus 1000v Troubleshooting Tools
• Lesson 4: Basic NetApp Troubleshooting Tools

Course Labs

• Lab 0-0: Connecting to the Lab Environment
• Lab 0-1: Familiarization with the FlexPod GUI and CLI Interfaces
• Lab 2-1: Cisco Nexus 5000 Hardware Platform and System Management
• Lab 3-1: Verify B-Series LAN and SAN Physical Connections
• Lab 3-2: Provision Identity and Resource Pools in UCS
• Lab 3-3: Provision Mobile Service Profiles and Install VMware ESXi
• Lab 4-1: Configuring and Administering the Cisco Nexus 1000v VSM
• Lab 4-2: Configuring and Administering the Cisco Nexus 1000v VEM
• Lab 5-1: Base configuration of NetApp Cluster – Instructor Demo
• Lab 5-2: Provisioning of NetApp LUN and Initiator Group
• Lab 6-1: Backup and Restore the Cisco UCS Manager Database
• Lab 6-2: Provisioning Cisco UCS Director to Manage a FlexPod Environment
• Lab 7-1: Troubleshooting Nexus, UCS, and NetApp