Configuring Cisco Unified Computing System (DCCUCS)

In this Configuring Cisco Unified Computing System course segment delivers an in-depth exploration of Cisco UCS storage connectivity, security, access control, orchestration, and automation capabilities required for enterprise data center operations. It begins with Cisco UCS SAN fundamentals, including Fibre Channel and FCoE modes on Fabric Interconnects, VSAN design, and storage connectivity models, establishing how reliable and scalable SAN environments are built within Cisco UCS. The curriculum then expands into service profile-related policies such as BIOS, boot, IPMI, scrub, and maintenance policies, showing how consistent operational behavior and lifecycle management are enforced across server deployments.

The course further addresses advanced platform capabilities including Adapter FEX and Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) for high-performance I/O consolidation, followed by comprehensive identity and access management through role-based access control (RBAC) and external authentication integration. Security topics are reinforced through key management and public key infrastructure implementation within Cisco UCS Manager. Management and automation are explored through Cisco UCS Director and Cisco Intersight, highlighting orchestration, self-service portals, reporting, and hybrid management models. The curriculum concludes with programmability and monitoring, covering UCS Manager APIs, PowerTool, Python SDKs, logging, SNMP, and Call Home features. Hands-on labs reinforce these concepts through SAN configuration, zoning, VSAN setup, RBAC implementation, authentication integration, scripting, and monitoring, preparing learners for secure, automated, and operationally efficient Cisco UCS environments.

How you'll benefit
This course will help you:

• Gain in-depth experience implementing and maintaining Cisco UCS servers to help you accelerate and provide robust UCS deployments
• Gain knowledge and skills through Cisco’s unique combination of lessons and hands-on practice using enterprise-grade Cisco learning technologies, data center equipment, and software

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Describe and implement SAN on Cisco UCS
• Describe Cisco UCS policies for service profiles
• Describe and implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) on Cisco UCS
• Describe and implement external authentication providers on Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe and implement key management on Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe Cisco UCS Director
• Describe and implement Cisco Intersight
• Describe the scripting options for Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe and implement monitoring on Cisco UCS Manager

• Server Administrators
• Network Engineers
• Systems Engineers
• Consulting Systems Engineers
• Technical Solutions Architects
• Network Administrators
• Storage Administrators
• Network Managers
• Cisco Integrators and Partners

To fully benefit from this course, you should have the following knowledge and skills:

• General knowledge of servers
• Routing and switching knowledge
• Storage area networking knowledge
• Server virtualization knowledge

These are the recommended Cisco courses that may help you meet these prerequisites:

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)
• Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)
• Introducing Cisco Unified Computing System (DCIUCS)
• Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU)

Module 1: Implementing Cisco UCS Storage Area Network (SAN)

• SAN Introduction
• Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect Fibre Channels modes
• Named VSANs
• Cisco UCS Fibre Channel and FCoE Storage Connectivity

Module 2: Describing Cisco UCS Policies for Service Profiles

• Storage Policies and Profiles
• Basic Input Output System (BIOS) Policies
• Boot Policy
• Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Policies
• Scrub Policies
• Maintenance Policies

Module 3: Describing Cisco Adapter FEX and Single Root I/O Virtualization

• Cisco FEX Overview
• Cisco Adapter FEX
• Single Root I/O Virtualization

Module 4: Implementing RBAC on Cisco UCS

• RBAC in Cisco UCS
• Users, Roles, and Privileges
• Functions of Organizations and Locales
• Effective Rights of a User

Module 5: Implementing External Authentication Providers

• Options for External Authentication Providers

Module 6: Implementing Key Management on Cisco UCS Manager

• Public Key Infrastructure

Module 7: Implementing Cisco UCS Director

• Cisco UCS Director Overview
• Policies, Virtual Data Centers, and Catalogs
• Cisco UCS Director Virtualization Support
• Managing Compute with Cisco UCS Director
• Cisco UCS Manager Orchestration
• Self-Service Portal
• Reporting and Monitoring in Cisco UCS Director

Module 8: Implementing Cisco Intersight

• Cisco UCS Director Overview
• Important Features of Cisco Intersight

Module 9: Describing the Scripting Options for Cisco UCS Manager

• Cisco UCS Manager XML API
• Cisco UCS Management Information Tree
• Managed Object Browser
• Cisco UCS PowerTool
• Cisco UCS Python Software Development Kit (SDK)

Module 10: Implementing Key Management on Cisco UCS Manager

• Public Key Infrastructure

Module 11: Implementing Cisco Intersight

• Cisco Intersight Overview
• Important Features of Cisco Intersight

Module 12: Describing the Scripting Options for Cisco UCS Manager

• Cisco UCS Manager XML API
• Cisco UCS Management Information Tree
• Managed Object Browser
• Cisco UCS Manager PowerTool
• Cisco UCS Python SDK

Module 13: Implementing Monitoring on Cisco UCS Manager

• Logging Sources in Cisco UCS Manager
• Port Monitoring Capabilities of Cisco UCS Manager
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Security Ramifications
• Cisco UCS Manager Call Home Feature

LAB OUTLINE

• Configure Pod-Specific Device Aliases
• Configure Zoning
• Configure VSANs in Cisco UCS Manager
• Configure Unified Ports on Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects
• Install and Boot VMware Elastic Sky X Integrated (ESXi) on Cisco UCS from the FCoE Logical Unit Number (LUN) via FCoE
• Configure RBAC
• Configure Cisco UCS Manager to Authenticate Users via Open Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (OpenLDAP)
• Configure a Trusted Point and Key Ring in Cisco UCS Manager
• Configure Cisco UCS Manager Using Scripting
• Implement Syslog and Call Home