The Designing Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric (DCUFD) v5.0 course enables engineers to choose and design scalable, reliable and intelligent data center networks based on Unified Fabric, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and virtualized devices and topologies.

The DCUFD 5.0 course is a 5-day instructor-led course (ILT) The course describes the technologies used in modern Cisco-based data centers, ways of integrating components, and latest guidelines and principles on data center design.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to meet these overall objectives:

• Evaluate data center solution design and design process in regards to the contemporary data center challenges, Cisco Data Center Architecture solution, and components
• Provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of technologies used in data centers, and describe scalability implications and their possible use in cloud environments
• Design data center connections and topologies in the core layer
• Present and design data center storage designs, solutions, and limitations of various storage technologies
• Design secure data centers to be protected from application-based threats, network security threats, and physical security threats
• Design data center infrastructure that is required to implement network-based application services
• Design data center management to facilitate monitoring, managing, and provisioning data center equipment and applications

Module 1: Cisco Data Center Solutions

• Identifying Data Center
• Categorize general data center solution components
• Define the baseline technology and terminology used in the data center solutions
• Analyze business, technical, and environmental challenges
• Recognize cloud computing paradigm, terms, and concepts
• Recognize the importance of virtualization technologies and solutions for data center evolution
• Identifying Cisco Data Center Solution
• Evaluate the Cisco data center architectural framework
• Evaluate the Cisco data center architectural framework network component
• Evaluate the Cisco data center architectural framework storage component
• Defining Cisco Data Center Solution Design
• Describe the design process for the Cisco Unified Computing solution
• Assess the deliverables of the Cisco Unified Computing System solution

Module 2: Data Center Technologies

• Designing Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching
• Understand and explain hardware forwarding architectures
• Describe IP addressing considerations and IP routing technologies
• Virtualizing Data Center Components
• Identify device virtualization mechanisms
• Design virtualized solutions using VDCs
• Design virtualized services using contexts on firewalling and load-balancing devices
• Design virtualized services using virtual appliances
• Designing Layer 2 Multi-Pathing Technologies
• Explain link virtualization technologies that allow for scaling of the network
• Design solutions using vPCs and MEC
• Design solutions using FabricPath

Module 3: Data Center Topologies

• Designing Data Center Core Layer Network
• Identify the need for the data center core layer
• Design a Layer 3 data center core layer
• Design a Layer 2 data center core layer
• Evaluate designs using data center collapsed core
• Designing Data Center Aggregation Layer
• Describe classical aggregation layer designs
• Design the aggregation layer with VDCs
• Design the aggregation layer when using unified fabric
• Design the aggregation layer with IP storage-related specifics in mind
• Designing Data Center Access Layer
• Describe the classical access layer designs and design issues
• Design the access layer with vPC and MEC
• Design the access layer with FEXs
• Design the access layer with unified fabric
• Designing Data Center Virtualized Access Layer
• Define the virtual access layer
• Describe the virtual access layer solutions within virtual machine hosts
• Design solutions with adapter FEX
• Design solutions with VM-FEX
• Design solutions with Cisco Nexus 1000V switch
• Designing High Availability
• Design high availability for IP-based services
• Design high availability by implementing link aggregation
• Design high availability of services using IP routing and FHRPs
• Provide high availability with RHI
• Design high availability of services using LISP
• Designing Data Center Interconnects
• Identify the reasons for data center interconnects
• Describe data center interconnect technologies
• Design data center interconnects using OTV
• Describe storage replication technologies

Module 4: Data Center Storage

• Introducing Storage Area Networking
• List data storage and Fibre Channel basic terms
• Explain Fibre Channel basic concepts
• Explain Fibre Channel flow control mechanisms
• Designing SAN
• Explain different storage designs and topologies
• Design SANs using Cisco best practices and CVDs
• Design scalable SANs with provisions for multi-tenancy
• Designing Unified Fabric
• Explain flow control when using FCoE
• Explain the use of FIP
• Describe different design options with unified fabric networks
• Design unified fabric deployments with fabric extenders
• Designing SAN Services
• Identify the need for SAN-based Fibre Channel services
• Design SAN-based Fibre Channel services
• Explain SAN replication
• Design long-distance Fibre Channel interconnects
• Present design examples and use cases for various SAN long-distance acceleration solutions

Module 5: Data Center Security

• Designing Data Center Application Security
• Identify the need for data center security technologies
• Describe characteristics of firewalls
• Position security appliances within data center networks
• Design secure communication on multiple layers
• Designing Link Security Technologies and Device Hardening
• Identify design requirements for TrustSec
• Describe device hardening technologies
• Design secure management networks
• Designing Storage Security
• Design secure SANs
• List security solutions for data encryption
• Outline security implications for IP-based storage

Module 6: Data Center Application Services

• Designing Data Center Application Architecture
• Present application architecture and design
• Explain application tiering
• Explain application optimization technologies
• Designing Application Services
• Explain server load-balancing technologies
• Add application services to an existing data center
• Explain contexts
• Design secure application load balancing solutions
• Designing Global Load Balancing
• Explain the need for global load balancing
• Design a global load balancing solution
• Explain protocols used for site selection and site monitoring
• Explain the site selection process

Module 7:

• Data Center Management
• Designing Data Center Management Solutions
• Describe the need for network management
• Present Cisco data center management products
• Describe scalability limitations
• Secure management in multi-tenant environments

Course Labs and Case Studies

Case Study 1-1: Design a Migration to vPC

Lab 1-2: Familiarize with the Lab Equipment

Lab 3-1: Explore VDCs

Lab 3-2: Examine vPC

Lab 3-3: Explore FabricPath

Lab 3-4: Connect FEXs

Lab 3-5: Interconnect Data Centers with OTV

Case Study 3-6: Design VLAN Extension

Case Study 4-1: Design Unified Fabric

• Channel Partner / Reseller
• Customer
• Employee

The recommended knowledge and skills that a learner should have to attend this course can be obtained in the following courses:

• Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking (DCICN)
• Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies (DCICT)