Data Center Unified Computing Implementation 4.0

The primary audience for this course is as follows: • Data-center technicians, data-center administrators, and system engineers The secondary audience for this course is as follows: • Data-center designers and managers The tertiary audience for this course is as follows: • Program and project managers

Before taking this course, students should have successfully completed the following courses or have the equivalent work experience:
CCNA210: ICND Part 1 - Mastering Critical Internetwork Technologies
CCNA220: ICND Part 2 - Mastering Cisco Associate-Level Internetworking
ICSNS: Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions 

Additionally, students should have a good understanding of the following:
•  Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions
•  Server system design and architecture
•  Familiarity with Ethernet and TCP/IP networking
•  Familiarity with SANs
•  Familiarity with Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP)
•  Understanding of Cisco Enterprise Data Center Architecture
•  Familiarity with hypervisor technologies (VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Xen)​

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Explain how Cisco Unified Computing System addresses key management challenges in data center server environments
• Describe the Cisco UCS B-Series and C-Series system architectures, hardware components, and field-installable options
• Explain how to connect to and manage Cisco Unified Computing System components
• Configure Cisco UCS B-Series blade servers with Cisco UCS Manager
• Configure Cisco UCS C-Series blade servers with Cisco IMC
• Explain the connectivity requirements for the Cisco UCS platform
• Configure server profiles to allocate physical resources
• Configure maintenance tasks
• Configure high availability at the LAN, SAN, and server NIC level
• Identify common deployment scenarios for Cisco Unified Computing System
• Troubleshoot common LAN and SAN connectivity issues
• Troubleshoot service profile issues
• Configure Cisco Nexus 1000V in a VMware vSphere 4.1 environment
• Configure Cisco UCS Manager to support VMware PTS
• Configure Cisco UCS Manager to support VMware DirectPath I/O​

Lesson 1: Brief Survey of Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Implementation E-Learning

• Reviewing Evolution of Cisco UCS
• Reviewing Cisco UCS
• Reviewing Cisco UCS C-Series Hardware Components
• Installing Cisco UCS C-Series Hardware
• Reviewing Cisco UCS B-Series Hardware Components
• Reviewing B-Series Blade Server Architecture and Features
• Reviewing Cisco UCS Use Cases
• Reviewing Server Virtualization
• Designing the Data Center Access Layer
• Reviewing VMware Ethernet Networking
• Reviewing Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switch Architecture

Lesson 1: Updating Firmware Components of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Servers

• Locate and Download C-Series Firmware on Cisco.com
• Install and Activate Cisco UCS C-Series IMC Firmware
• Update C-Series BIOS Firmware
• Update C-Series BIOS Before Loading Operating System
• Recover from Corrupted BIOS

Lesson 1: Configuring Cisco IMC

• Access the Server BIOS
• Perform Scripted Setup of Cisco IMC BIOS
• Monitor Sensor and Log Data in Cisco IMC
• Sensor Thresholds, Alerts, and Actions
• Cisco IMC Logs and TFTP Export of Tech Support Data

Lesson 2: Provisioning Server Hardware with Cisco IMC

• Configure Cisco IMC Local User Accounts
• Launch and Use the KVM Console
• Configure Virtual Media
• Operating System Drivers and Utilities
• Configure IPMI for Remote Management
• Configure SoL Protocol

Lesson 1: Configuring Cisco UCS B-Series Physical Connectivity

• I/O Uplinks and Bandwidth Oversubscription
• IOM Architecture, Including CMC, I/O MUX, and CMS
• Cisco IMC Management Component of the B-Series Blades
• Discovery Process and How to Monitor It

Lesson 2: Exploring the Cisco UCS B-Series User Interfaces

• Cisco UCS Manager GUI
• Navigation Window
• Main Features of the Cisco UCS Manager
• Access the Cisco UCS Manager CLI
• Connect to the CLI Shells

Lesson 3: Configuring Compute Node LAN Connectivity

• Port Personality States of 10-Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces on the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect
• Requirements and Configuration of Port Channels from the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect to a Northbound Switch
• End-Host Mode
• End-Host Mode Versus Switched Mode
• Requirements for Configuring VLANs in Cisco UCS Manager
• Role of the vNIC in Abstracting MAC Addresses
• Static IOM Pinning and Recovery from Failure
• Automatic Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
• Configuration of Manual Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure

Lesson 4: Configuring Compute Node SAN Connectivity

• Fibre Channel Switching
• Cisco NPV
• Benefits and Drawbacks of NPV and Fibre Channel Switching
• How NPIV Allows a Single N_Port to Be Associated with Multiple FC_IDs
• Requirements and Configuration of VSANs in Cisco UCS Manager
• Role of vHBAs to Abstract WWNNs and WWPNs into a Service Profile
• Automatic Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
• Configuration of Manual Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure

Module 6: Server Resources Implementation

Lesson 1: Creating Identity and Resource Pools

• Rationale for Creating Identity and Resource Pools
• UUID Pools
• MAC Pools
• WWNN Pools
• WWPN Pools
• Server Pools
• Automating Server Pool Membership Based on a Qualification Policy
• Importance of Creating Pools in the Correct Organization

Lesson 2: Creating Service Profiles

• Benefits of Service Profiles
• Configuration of a BIOS Policy
• Configuration of an Adapter Policy
• Create a QoS System Class
• Configuration of IPMI and SoL Policies
• Configuration of a Scrub Policy for Local Disks and BIOS
• Simple vs. Expert Service Profile Wizards
• Service Profile Expert Wizard
• Configure the Service Profile to Take Its UUID from a Pool
• Configuration of vHBAs
• Configuration of vNICs
• vNIC and vHBA Placement on Full-Slot Blades
• Binding of a vHBA to a Fibre Channel Boot Target
• Server Assignment
• Required vs. Optional Components of the Service Profile Definition

Lesson 3: Creating Service Profile Templates and Cloning Service Profiles

• Service Profile Templates
• Creating Differentiated Service Profile Templates
• Automating Creation of a Server Farm Using Service Profile Templates
• Hidden Pitfalls When Using Updating Templates
• Unbind a Service Profile from its Template
• Cloning a Service Profile

Lesson 4: Managing Service Profiles

• Associating and Disassociating a Service Profile to a Server Blade
• Changes to a Service Profile That Trigger a Cisco UCS Utility Update
• Planning the Organization Where a Service Profile Is Created
• Moving a Service Profile to a New Server Blade in the Event of Hardware Failure

Module 7: Virtual Server Networking

Lesson 1: Evaluating the Cisco Nexus 1000V

• Cisco Virtual Switching Overview
• Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switching Feature Overview

Lesson 2: Working with VMware Ethernet Networking

• VMware vDS
• Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS
• Cisco Nexus 1000V Administrator Roles
• Comparing VN-Link in Software and Hardware

Lesson 3: Characterizing Cisco Nexus 1000V Architecture

• Cisco Nexus 1000V Overview
• Cisco Nexus 1000V Architectural Overview

Lesson 4: Installing and Configuring the Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch

• Configure the VSM vSwitch Networks
• Install VSM on a VM
• Initial VSM Configuration
• Configure the VSM-to-vCenter Connection
• Cisco Nexus 1000V High-Availability Configuration
• Cisco Nexus 1010 Virtual Services Appliance
• Comparing the Cisco Nexus 1000V and Cisco Nexus 1010 Virtual Services Appliance

Lesson 5: Configuring Basic Cisco Nexus 1000V Networking

• Port Profiles Within the VSM
• VLAN Configuration
• Private VLAN Configuration
• Creating Uplink Profiles
• Creating vEthernet Port Profiles
• Configuring Cisco Nexus 1000V Port Channels
• Adding VEMs to the VSM
• Backing up a VSM Configuration
• vMotion and Port Profile Mobility

Lesson 6: Configuring Cisco UCS Manager for VMware PTS

• Install Cisco UCS Manager Extension in vCenter
• Configure Cisco UCS Manager to Connect to vCenter
• Configure Uplink and vEthernet Profiles
• Configure Service Profiles with Dynamic NICs
• Configure vMotion and M81KR Port Profile Mobility

Module 8: Cisco Unified Computing System Management and Maintenance

Lesson 1: Implementing Cisco Unified Computing System Startup and Shutdown Procedures

• Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect Startup and Shutdown Procedures
• Effects of Shutting down or Rebooting a Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect on the High Availability Cluster
• Startup and Shutdown Procedures for Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers
• Procedures for Power State Verification

Lesson 2: Configuring Role-Based Access Control

• Overall Framework of RBAC in Cisco UCS B Series
• Configuring Local Users, Roles, and Privileges
• Configuring Organizations and Locales
• Effective Rights of a User, as an Intersection of Mapped Roles and Locales
• Configuring LDAP and Active Directory as an External Authentication and Authorization Service
• Mapping Cisco Unified Computing System Roles LDAP and Active Directory Attributes

Lesson 3: Backing Up and Restoring the Cisco UCS Manager Database

• Supported Backup Types and Functions
• Import Operations and Disaster-Recovery Restore Operations
• Configuring a Backup Job
• Verifying Backup Creation and Execution
• Configuring an Import Job to Restore the AAA User Database
• Verifying Restoration of the AAA User Database
• Configuring the Backup Job to Preserve Abstracted Identities
• Configuring the Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect for Disaster-Recovery Restore

Lesson 4: Managing High Availability

• High-Availability Cluster Connection Requirements for Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers
• Intercluster Communications and Cisco UCS Manager Database Synchronization
• How the Cisco UCS 5108 Chassis Serial EEPROM Resolves Split-Brain Issues in the High Availability Cluster
• Cluster Partition in Space and Partition in Time Conditions
• Modifying Cluster IP Addressing

Lesson 5: Monitoring System Events

• Fault Management System and Fault Severity Levels
• Using the Audit Log to Track Administrative Changes to the Cisco UCS Manager Database
• Areas of Operation that Are Subject to FSM Validation and FSM Output Interpretation
• Configuration and Validation of Logging Options
• Configuring the Smart Call Home Feature
• Validating the Smart Call Home Feature
• Settings for Logs, Events, and Faults

Lesson 6: Managing and Upgrading Cisco UCS B-Series Firmware

• Where to Find Cisco UCS C-Series Firmware Packages on Cisco.com
• Updating Cisco UCS B-Series Firmware
• Direct Upgrade of Cisco IMC, IOM, and Mezzanine Adapter Firmware
• Software Updates on the Fabric Interconnect
• Firmware Updates via Service Profile
• Differences Between Firmware Processes of Cisco UCS 61x0 Fabric Interconnects and Cisco IMC, IOM, and Adapter