1. Cisco Data Center Solutions

• Defining the Data Center
  • Categorizing general data center solution components
  • Baseline technology and terminology used in data center solutions
  • Analyzing business, technical, and environmental challenges
  • Recognizing the cloud computing paradigm, terms, and concepts
  • Recognizing the importance of virtualization technologies and solutions for data center evolution
• Identifying the Cisco Data Center Solution
  • Evaluating the Cisco Data Center architectural framework
  • Evaluating the Cisco Data Center architectural framework network component
  • Evaluating the Cisco Data Center architectural framework storage component
• Designing the Cisco Data Center Solution
  • Design process for the CiscData Center solution
  • Assessing the deliverables of the Cisco Data Center solution
  • Cisco Validated Designs

2. Data Center Technologies

• Designing Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching
  • Hardware-forwarding architectures
  • IP addressing considerations and IP routing technologies
• Virtualizing Data Center Components
  • Device virtualization mechanisms
  • Designing virtualized solutions using VDCs
  • Designing virtualized services using contexts on firewalling and load-balancing devices
  • Designing virtualized services using virtual appliances
• Designing Layer 2 Multipathing Technologies
  • Link virtualization technologies that allow for scaling of the network
  • Designing solutions using vPCs and MEC
  • Designing solutions using Cisco FabricPath

3. Data Center Topologies

• Designing the Data Center Core Layer Network
  • Need for the data center core layer
  • Designing a Layer 3 data center core layer
  • Designing a Layer 2 data center core layer
  • Evaluating designs using data center collapsed core
• Designing the Data Center Aggregation Layer
  • Classical aggregation layer designs
  • Designing the aggregation layer with VDCs
  • Designing the aggregation layer using Cisco Unified Fabric
  • Designing the aggregation layer with IP storage-related specifics in mind
• Designing the Data Center Access Layer
  • Classic access layer designs and design issues
  • Designing the access layer with vPC and MEC
  • Designing the access layer with FEXs
  • Designing the access layer with Cisco Unified Fabric
• Designing the Data Center Virtualized Access Layer
  • Virtual access layer
  • Virtual access layer solutions within virtual machine hosts
  • Designing solutions with Cisco Adapter FEX
  • Designing solutions with Cisco VM-FEX
  • Designing solutions with the Cisco Nexus 1000V switch
• Designing High Availability
  • Designing high availability for IP-based services
  • Designing high availability by implementing link aggregation
  • Designing high availability of services using IP routing and FHRPs
  • Providing high availability with RHI
  • Designing high availability of services using LISP
• Designing Data Center Interconnects
  • Reasons for data center interconnects
  • Data center interconnect technologies
  • Designing data center interconnects using Cisco OTV
  • Storage replication technologies

4. Data Center Storage

• Introducing SAN
  • Data storage and Fibre Channel basic terms
  • Fibre Channel basic concepts
  • Fibre Channel flow control mechanisms
• Designing SAN
  • Explore different storage designs and topologies
  • Designing SANs using Cisco best practices and Cisco Validated Designs
  • Designing scalable SANs with provisions for multitenancy
• Designing Unified Fabric
  • Flow control when using FCoE
  • Using FIP
  • Different design options with unified fabric networks
  • Designing unified fabric deployments with FEXs
• Designing SAN Services
  • Need for SAN-based Fibre Channel services
  • Designing SAN-based Fibre Channel services
  • SAN replication
  • Designing long-distance Fibre Channel interconnects
  • Presenting design examples and use cases for various SAN long-distance acceleration solutions

5. Data Center Security

• Designing Data Center Application Security
  • Need for data center security technologies
  • Characteristics of firewalls
  • Positioning security appliances within data center networks
  • Designing secure communication on multiple layers
• Designing Link Security Technologies and Device Hardening
  • Design requirements for Cisco TrustSec
  • Device-hardening technologies
  • Designing secure management networks
• Designing Storage Security
  • Designing secure SANs
  • Security solutions for data encryption
  • Outline security implications for IP-based storage

6. Data Center Application Services

• Designing Data Center Application Architecture
  • Application architecture and design
  • Application tiering
  • Application optimization technologies
• Designing Application Services
  • Server load-balancing technologies
  • Adding application services to an existing data center
  • Contexts
  • Designing secure application load-balancing solutions
• Designing Global Load Balancing
  • Need for GSLB
  • Designing a GSLB solution
  • Protocols that are used for site selection and site monitoring
  • Site selection process

7. Data Center Management

• Designing Data Center Management Solutions
  • Need for network management
  • Cisco Data Center management products
  • Scalability limitations
  • Secure management in multitenant environments