Description

Building Enterprise Data Center Architectures is a lab-intensive course that allows students to integrate and test Cisco® data center products and best practices that compose the Cisco® Enterprise Data Center Architecture. Students will implement and integrate the Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Series Content Services Module (CSM); Cisco Secure Sockets Layer Service Module (SSLSM); Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE); the Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Series Firewall Services Module (FWSM); Cisco MDS 9000 Storage Directors; and the Cisco ONS 15454 SONET Multi-service Provisioning Platform (MSPP). Hands-on lab experience allows students to configure and verify that implemented techniques are successful.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Characterize the Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) framework and the Enterprise Data Center Architecture
• Outline L2 and L3 implementations common to the Enterprise Data Center Architecture
• Analyze a given data center topology and document a design hierarchy
• Outline and compare FWSM/CSM/SSLSM/ACE implementation options available for the data center network
• Characterize the advantages of storage area networking in the data center
• Explain where SONET architecture fits in the Enterprise Data Center Architecture
• Explain the advantages of implementing iSCSI and FCIP in the data center
• Verify L2 and L3 implementations conform to best practices in the Enterprise Data Center Architecture
• Configure a combination of FWSM and ACE modules to optimize the availability, accessibility, and security of data center applications
• Verify configuration of data center equipment for optimal redundancy and resiliency (failover capability)
• Implement and verify storage switches to support SAN architecture in the data center
• Implement a SONET Ring using ONS 15454 MSTP to facilitate interconnectivity between data centers
• Configure and verify SAN protocols (iSCSI, FCIP) as appropriate to facilitate storage networking in the data center

Prerequisites

The knowledge and skills that a learner must have before attending this course are as follows:

• Considerable knowledge in hierarchical design principles, including network protocols, addressing, and subnets.
• Considerable knowledge and experience in Cisco IOS® Software router and switch protocols and configuration, including routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, redistribution), ACLs, and VLANs
  • Suggested Training: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)
• Familiarity with Layer 3 switches running Cisco IOS Software (preferably Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series)
  • Suggested Training: Building Cisco Multilayer Switch Networks (BCMSN)
• Ability to efficiently use command-line interface (CLI) to perform Cisco IOS Software configuration
  • Suggested Training: Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND)
• Fundamental knowledge and understanding of:
  • Cisco PIX® firewall operation and architecture
  • SSL concepts
    • Suggested Training: Securing Cisco IOS Networks (SEIOS)
  • Cisco CSM concepts and operations
    • Suggested Training: Self-Study: Designing Content Switching Solutions; Naseh, Khan – Cisco Press
  • Basic SAN concepts: VSANs, zoning
    • Suggested Training: Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions (ICSNS)
  • Basic optical concepts (SONET)
    • Suggested Training: Self-Study: Building Cisco Metro Optical Networks (METRO); Warren, Hartmann – Cisco Press

Who Should Attend

This course is targeted toward the following audiences:

• Large enterprise/financial customers deploying data centers
• Tier 3 and tier 4 data center support staff
• Planning, design, and implementation personnel

• Introduction
• Enterprise Data Center Architecture Overview
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Content Services Module in Routed Mode
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 SSL Service Module for SSL Offloading
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Application Control Engine in Routed Mode
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Firewall Services Module in Transparent Mode
• Implementing Data Center Redundancy
• Implementing Active/Active Data Center Redundancy
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Application Control Engine in Bridged Mode
• Implementing the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Application Control Engine in One-Armed Mode
• Enterprise Data Center Storage Overview
• Data Center Interconnectivity Using SONET
• Implementing Storage Networking Protocols – FCIP
• Implementing Storage Networking Protocols - iSCSI