MDS 2-Day Workshop

Description:

In this 2 day MDS course attendees will learn how to design, implement, and troubleshoot Storage Area Networks (SANs) based on Cisco MDS fibre channel switches. Students will learn about the basics of Fibre Channel, such as FCID, World Wide Names, and Domain IDs. Students will learn how to design a highly redundant, highly scalable SAN to support their compute systems. Students will also learn how to implement and operate these SANs utilizing both NXOS and DCNM. These best practices are garnered from extensive experience in the Enterprise space. Students will learn how SAN networks can be stretched beyond a single data center using FCIP or DWDM. Finally, students will learn Day 2 operations, such as analytics, monitoring, and troubleshooting of SANs utilizing the latest in modern Cisco MDS technology, such as SAN Analytics, SAN Insights Discovery, PAA and port monitoring (SPAN).

This course will be utilizing real physical hardware of every function of MDS. Each student will have access to MDS switches, hosts, and storages for their labs.

MDS Objective:

• Understand Cisco MDS Products
• Understand how to deploy the MDS fabric
• Understand how to operate DCNM for MDS fabric
• Obtain “Best Practice” to maximize MDS VSANs’ benefit
• How to deploy SAN Extension solutions with FCIP
• How to utilize SAN Analytics/SAN Insights Discovery
• How to utilize Slow Drain Analysis for Troubleshooting MDS Fabric

Target Audience

• Operations and support Engineers
• Field Engineers
• Network, Server and Storage Engineers responsible for supporting MDS

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students who wish to attend this class should already have knowledge and understanding of below:

• The basic concept of Storage technology
• The basic knowledge of Cisco IOS

Duration

2 days instructor led training

Agenda

Course Content

• Challenges in Data Center Today
  • Challenges in the Data Center
  • Traditional Data Center SAN Design with MDS
  • SAN/LAN Convergence with MDS Portfolio MDS 9000
  • SAN Analytics, SAN Insights Discovery and Automation in the SAN
• MDS Platform
  • Cisco MDS 9700 Platform
  • Cisco MDS 9300/9200/9100 Platform
  • MDS and Nexus Converged Networks
  • Software Feature Sets – SAN Analytics, NVMe, etc.
  • SAN Services
• MDS Initial Setup
  • Cisco MDS Initial Configuration
  • Cisco MDS Command Line Interface
• Integrated Managements
  • Cisco MDS Software Licensing
  • Cisco NX-OS Installation and Upgrade
  • Cisco Data Center Network Manager 
• VSAN and Domain
  • Configuring Fibre Channel Interfaces
  • VSAN Trunking and the VSAN Allowed List
  • NPIV and NPV
  • Configuring VSANs
  • Switch Domain ID Assignment
• Implementing Zoning
  • Distributed Device Alias Database
  • Zoning Security and Hierarchy
  • Configuring Zones and Zone Sets
  • Smart Zoning
• Traffic Optimization
  • Configuring Port Channel
  • Edge Node Link Aggregation for F-Port, TF-Port
  • Best Practices
• SAN Extension
  • SAN Extension
  • Configuring FCIP
  • Configuring IVR
  • Best Practices 
• Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
  • Basic Diagnostics with LED and DCNM-SAN Client
  • Using CLI Commands to Troubleshoot MDS
  • Faults Protection with Generic OnLine Diagnostics
  • Embedded Event Manager
  • SPAN and RSPAN Overview
  • Utilizing PAA for Analyzing FC Traffic and Troubleshooting Fabric 

Discussion Group Session 

• Day 1 – MDS Product and System Architecture
  • Storage Challenges in the Data Center Today
  • Cisco MDS Product Overview
  • Licensing Package of MDS Fabric
  • Initial Setup for MDS
  • Cisco MDS Management with DCNM
  • Implementing Various Types of Interface on MDS
  • Optimizing Traffic
  • Implementing NPV and NPIV
• Day 2 – Building Virtual SANs and Managing Domain
  • Configuring VSANs
  • Managing Domains
  • Using Distributed Device Aliases
  • Implementing Zonesets and Zones
  • Configuring FCIP with HA
  • Inter-VSAN Routing
  • SAN Analytics
  • Slow Drain Analysis