Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking

Overview

In this course this course, delegates will learn to describe how a network works, configure, verify, and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications, implement an IP addressing scheme and IP services to meet network requirements and configure, verify, and troubleshoot routing operations on Cisco Nexus switches.

Target Audience:

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• Network administrators
• Network engineers
• Cisco Integrators/Partners
• Systems engineers

The secondary audience for this course is as follows:

• Network designers
• Network managers
• Consulting systems engineers
• Technical solutions architects

Certifications:

This course is part of the following Certifications:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center (CCNA DATA CENTER)

Objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Describe how a network works
• Configure, verify, and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications
• Implement an IP addressing scheme and IP services to meet network requirements
• Configure, verify, and troubleshoot routing operations on Cisco Nexus switches

Outline

1: Simple Network Design

Understanding the Functions of Networking

• What Is a network?
• Common Physical Components of a Network
• Interpreting a Network Diagram
• Resource-Sharing Functions and Benefits
• Network User Applications
• Impact of User Applications on the Network
• Characteristics of a Network
• Physical Topologies
• Connection to the Internet

Understanding the Host-to-Host Communications Model

• Understanding Host-to-Host Communications
• OSI Reference Model
• OSI Model Layers and Their Functions
• Encapsulation and De-Encapsulation
• Peer-to-Peer Communication
• TCP/IP Suite

Describing Ethernet Connections

• Ethernet LAN Hardware
• Ethernet Transceivers and Cables
• UTP Implementation

Describing Ethernet Communications Standards

• Definition of a LAN
• Components of a LAN
• Functions of a LAN
• Ethernet
• Ethernet LAN Standards
• Role of CSMA/CD in Ethernet
• Ethernet Frames
• Ethernet Frame Addressing
• Ethernet Addresses
• MAC Addresses and Binary-Hexadecimal Numbers

Describing OSI Network Layer Addressing

• IP Overview
• IP Addressing
• Public and Private IP Addresses
• DHCP Method
• Domain Name System
• Using Common Host Tools to Determine the IP Address of a Host

Describing the TCP/IP Transport Layer

• Transport Layer Functions
• Reliable vs. Best-Effort
• UDP Characteristics
• TCP Characteristics
• TCP/IP Applications
• Mapping Layer 3 to Layer 4
• Mapping Layer 4 to Applications
• Establishing a Connection with a Peer System
• Flow Control
• TCP Acknowledgment
• Windowing
• TCP Sequence Number and Acknowledgment Numbers

Describing the Packet Delivery Process

• Layer 1 Devices and Their Function
• Layer 2 Devices and Their Function
• Layer 2 Addressing
• Layer 3 Devices and Their Function
• Layer 3 Addressing
• Mapping Layer 2 Addressing to Layer 3 Addressing
• ARP Table
• Host-to-Host Packet Delivery
• Function of the Default Gateway
• Using Common Host Tools to Determine the Path Between Two Hosts Across a Network

2: Switched Network Implementation

Describing Switching

• Understanding the Challenges of Shared LANs
• Solving Network Challenges with Switched LAN Technology

Describing the Packet Delivery Process

• Layer 2 Addressing
• Layer 3 Addressing
• Host-to-Host Packet Delivery

Describing Cisco NX-OS Software

• Cisco NX-OS Software Architecture
• Cisco NX-OS Process Recovery

Operating Cisco NX-OS Software

• Describing the Features of the CLI
• Identifying the Help Functions of the CLI
• Describing the Startup Characteristics of the Switch
• Describing Configuration Management

Implementing VLANs and Trunks

• Understanding VLANs
• Understanding Trunking with 802.1Q
• Understanding VTP
• Configuring VTP, Trunks, and VLANs

Building a Redundant Switched Topology

• Recognizing Issues of a Redundant Switched Topology
• Resolving Issues with STP
• Describing 802.1w RSTP
• Describing 802.1s MSTP
• Describing LAN Port Channels
• Verifying LAN Port Channels

3: IP Addressing

Describing an IP Addressing Scheme

• Describing Routing
• Understanding Numbering Systems
• Constructing a Network Addressing Scheme

Transitioning to IPv6

• Reasons for Using IPv6
• Understanding IPv6 Addresses
• Assigning IPv6 Addresses
• Strategies for Implementing IPv6

4: Routing on the Cisco Nexus Switch

Exploring the Packet Delivery Process

• Host-to-Host Packet Delivery
• Cisco NX-OS Tools

Exploring the Routing Process on Cisco Nexus Switches

• Traditional Inter-VLAN Routing
• Multilayer Switching
• Routing Tables
• Distance Vector Routing Protocols
• Link-State Routing Protocols

Exploring Routing Protocols on Cisco Nexus Switches

• Routing Information Protocol
• Open Shortest Path First
• Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

Exploring ACLs on Cisco Nexus Switches

• Understanding ACLs
• ACL Processing
• Configuring ACLs
• Understanding Object Groups

Course Labs

• Lab 1-1: Using Windows Applications as Network Tools
• Lab 1-2: Observing the TCP Three-Way Handshake
• Lab 1-3: Observing Extended PC Network Information
• Lab 2-1: Connecting to Cisco Nexus Switches
• Lab 2-2: Configuring Cisco Nexus Switches
• Lab 2-3: Configuring VLANs and Trunks
• Lab 2-4: Verifying and Configuring Spanning Tree
• Lab 2-5: Configuring EtherChannel
• Lab 3-1: Converting Decimal to Binary and Binary to Decimal
• Lab 3-2: Classifying Network Addressing
• Lab 3-3: Computing Usable Subnetworks and Hosts
• Lab 3-4: Calculating Subnet Masks
• Lab 4-1: Configuring Multilayer Switching

Prerequisites

• Basic computer literacy

• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems

• Basic Internet usage skills