Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT)

The Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) v7.2 training shows you how to troubleshoot LAN, SAN, Cisco® Data Center Unified Fabric, Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®), and Cisco Application-Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®). You will learn methodologies and tools to identify issues that may occur in data center network architecture. You will get extensive hands-on practice troubleshooting installation, configuration, and interconnectivity issues on Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) switches, Cisco Nexus® switches, Cisco Fabric Extenders (FEXs), Cisco UCS, and Cisco ACI. 

How You'll Benefit

This training will help you:  

• Learn how to deploy and troubleshoot various components of Cisco data center infrastructure to support performance, resiliency, scalability needs
• 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
• Qualify for professional-level job roles
• Prepare for the 300-615 DCIT v1.2 exam
• Earn 50 CE credits toward recertification

What to Expect in the Exam

Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (300-615 DCIT) v1.2 is a 90-minute exam associated with the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Operations certification and satisfies the concentration exam requirement for the CCNP Data Center certification. 

This exam tests your knowledge of troubleshooting a data center infrastructure, including: 

• Network
• Compute platforms
• Storage network
• Automation
• Management
• Operations

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to meet these objectives:

• Describe how to troubleshoot the data center network
• Describe the troubleshooting tools and methodologies available from the Command-Line Interface (CLI) that are used to identify and resolve issues in a Cisco data center network architecture
• Identify and resolve issues that are related to: Virtual LANs (VLANs) and private VLANs (PVLANs); port channels and virtual port channels; and Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)
• Describe troubleshooting of routing and high-availability protocols
• Describe troubleshooting of the LAN security features
• Identify and resolve issues that are related to a single device
• Identify and resolve issues that are related to Fibre Channel interface operation
• Identify and resolve Fibre Channel switching issues when the Cisco NX-OS Software is used in switched mode and in N-Port Virtualization (NPV) mode
• Identify and resolve issues that are related to Fibre Channel switching when a Cisco NX-OS switch is used in NPV mode
• Describe Cisco UCS architecture, initial setup, tools, and service aids that are available for Cisco UCS troubleshooting and interpretation of the output
• Describe Cisco UCS configuration and troubleshooting
• Describe Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Server operation and troubleshoot related issues
• Describe UCS B-Series LAN, SAN, and Fibre Channel operations, including in-depth troubleshooting procedures
• Describe Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) tools for validating performance and facilitating data-gathering activities for Cisco UCS C-Series server troubleshooting, and the troubleshooting approach for hardware and firmware failures
• Define the proper procedures for configuring Cisco UCS C-Series LAN and SAN connectivity, avoiding issues with the VIC, troubleshooting connectivity issues
• Troubleshooting Cisco UCS C-Series server integration with Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe Cisco Intersight characteristics
• Explore the Cisco Nexus Dashboard platform
• Explain Cisco Nexus Dashboard cluster connectivity and installation procedures
• Identify the tools, protocols, and methods to effectively troubleshoot Cisco ACI
• Describe how to troubleshoot automation and programmability tools
• Understand functionality provided by the on-box tooling on the Cisco Nexus series switches and implement simple solutions to improve daily operations
• Describe the use of Python and Ansible to leverage the NX-API to implement and verify configuration state using modern workflows

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• Network Designers
• Network Administrators
• Network Engineers
• System Engineers
• Data Center Engineers
• Consulting Systems Engineers
• Technical Solutions Architects
• Cisco Integrators and Partners
• Server Administrators
• Network Managers
• Storage Administrators
• Program Managers
• Project Managers

There are no prerequisites for this training. However, the knowledge and skills you are recommended to have before attending this training are: 

• Configure, secure, and maintain LAN and SAN based on Cisco Nexus and MDS switches
• Configure, secure, and maintain Cisco Unified Computing System
• Configure, secure, and maintain Cisco ACI

The following Cisco courses may help you meet these prerequisites:

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Networking Technologies (CCNA®)
• Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU)
• Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)
• Implementing Cisco NX-OS Switches and Fabrics in the Data Center (DCNX)
• Introducing Cisco Unified Computing System (DCIUCS)
• Configuring Cisco Unified Computing System (DCCUCS)

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: Describing the Troubleshooting Process

• Troubleshooting Overview
• Narrow Down the Cause of the Problem

Module 2: Understanding CLI Troubleshooting Tools

• Ping, Pong, and Traceroute
• Debugging, Event History, and System Monitoring
• Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) and Encapsulated Remote SPAN
• Ethanalyzer, Embedded Logic Analyzer Module (ELAM), and Data Plane Sampling Capture
• Logging
• Cisco Generic Online Diagnostics
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Cisco Embedded Event Manager (EEM), and Remote Network Monitor (RMON)

Module 3: Troubleshooting VLANs and PVLANs

• Troubleshoot VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)
• Troubleshoot Layer 2 Issues
• VLANs and Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) on Cisco Nexus Series Switches
• Troubleshoot VLANs, PVLANs, and SVIs
• Troubleshoot Rapid Per VLAN Spanning Tree+ (PVST+)

Module 4: Troubleshooting Port Channels and Virtual Port Channels

• Port Channel Overview
• Virtual Port Channel (vPC) Overview
• Troubleshoot vPCs
• Common vPC Issues

Module 5: Troubleshooting Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)

• VXLAN Overlay Features
• VXLAN Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP) Ethernet VPN
• Common VXLAN Issues
• VXLAN Troubleshooting

 Module 6: Troubleshooting Routing and High-Availability Protocols

• Troubleshoot Basic Routing Issues
• Troubleshoot OSPFv2 and OSPFv3
• Troubleshoot EIGRP
• Troubleshoot PIM
• Troubleshoot First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP)

Module 7: Troubleshoot Data Center LAN Security

• Troubleshoot Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) and Role-Based Access  Control (RBAC)
• Troubleshoot First-Hop Security
• Troubleshoot Control Plane Policing (CoPP)
• Troubleshoot Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Module 8: Troubleshooting Platform-Specific Issues

• Cisco Fabric Services Overview
• Troubleshoot Cisco Fabric Services
• Configure and Troubleshoot Configuration Profiles
• Common Virtual Device Contexts (VDC) Issues
• Troubleshoot VDC
• Troubleshoot Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF)
• Cisco FEX Troubleshooting
• Troubleshoot Cisco In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU)

Module 9: Troubleshooting Fibre Channel Interfaces

• Fibre Channel Overview
• Troubleshoot Fibre Channel Interfaces and Device Registration
• Troubleshoot Fibre Channel Port Channels
• Troubleshoot Port Security and Fabric Binding

Module 10: Troubleshooting Fibre Channel Fabric Services

• Troubleshoot Virtual Storage Area Networks (VSANs)
• Troubleshoot Fibre Channel Domain and Name Services
• Troubleshoot Zoning and Fabric Merges
• Troubleshoot Cisco Fabric Services

Module 11: Troubleshooting NPV Mode

• N-Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) and NPV Overview
• Troubleshoot NPV Mode

Module 12: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS Architecture and Initialization

• Troubleshoot Fabric Interconnect in Standalone and Cluster Mode
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS Management Access
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS Manager CLI
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS with Embedded Tools
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS Hardware Discovery

Module 13: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS Configuration

• Stateless Computing
• Troubleshoot Service Profile Association Issues Due to Unavailable Addresses
• Other Service Profile Association Issues
• Cisco UCS Manageability
• Troubleshoot Authentication Failures

Module 14: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS B-Series Servers

• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Server
• Troubleshoot Firmware Upgrade and Operating System Drivers
• Troubleshoot Remote Access
• Troubleshoot Server Hardware

Module 15: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS B-Series LAN and SAN Connectivity

• Troubleshoot Link-Level Issues
• Troubleshoot Connectivity Issues for Specific Servers
• Troubleshoot Intermittent Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Disjoint Layer 2 Networks
• Troubleshoot Redundant Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS B-Series SAN Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Directly Attached Storage
• Troubleshoot Server Boot from SAN and iSCSI
• Use SPAN for Troubleshooting
• Analyze Packet Flow

Module 16: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS C-Series Servers

• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Initialization and Cisco IMC
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Hardware and Firmware

Module 17: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS C-Series LAN and SAN Connectivity

• Troubleshoot the Cisco UCS C-Series VIC Module and Connectivity to Cisco IMC
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series LAN Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series SAN Connectivity
• Use SPAN to Capture Cisco UCS C-Series Server Traffic
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Boot from the Fibre Channel Logical Unit Number LUN
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series iSCSI Boot

Module 18: Troubleshooting Cisco UCS C-Series and Cisco UCS Manager Integration

• Integrate Cisco UCS C-Series Servers with Cisco UCS Manager
• Troubleshoot FEX Discovery and VIC Issues

Module 19: Cisco Intersight Overview 

Module 20: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Overview

Module 21: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Connectivity and Installation

Module 22: Exploring the Tools and Methodologies for Troubleshooting Cisco ACI

• Troubleshoot the Fabric Discovery Process
• Traditional Troubleshooting Methods in Cisco ACI Atomic Counters, Faults, and Health Scores
• Troubleshoot Tenant-Based Policies
• Packet Flow Through Cisco ACI Fabric
• Troubleshoot AAA and RBAC

Module 23: Troubleshooting Automation and Programmability Tools  

• Troubleshoot Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) EEM
• Troubleshoot the Cisco NX-OS Scheduler
• Troubleshoot Bash Shell and Guest Shell for NX-OS
• Troubleshoot Representational State Transfer (REST) API, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and Extensible Markup Language (XML) Encoding

Module 24:  On-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco NX-OS

Module 25: Off-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco NX-OS

LAB OUTLINE

• Document the Network Baseline
• Troubleshoot Rapid PVST+
• Troubleshoot LACP
• Troubleshoot vPC
• Troubleshoot VXLAN
• Troubleshoot OSPF
• Troubleshoot FHRP
• Troubleshoot Cisco Fabric Services
• Troubleshoot VRF
• Troubleshoot Fibre Channel Interfaces
• Troubleshoot Fibre Channel VSANs, Zones, and Domain Services
• Troubleshoot NPV Mode
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS Management and Service Profile Deployment
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Server LAN Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Server Boot from the Fibre Channel LUN
• Troubleshoot Cisco UCS C-Series Server Management Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Cisco ACI Integration with VMware vCenter
• Troubleshoot Contracts in Cisco ACI
• Troubleshoot Cisco ACI External Layer 3 Connectivity
• Troubleshoot Cisco ACI External Layer 2 Connectivity