Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU)

In this Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern data center architectures, focusing on how compute, network, storage, virtualization, and automation technologies integrate to form scalable and resilient enterprise data centers. The curriculum begins with foundational concepts such as data center network designs, Cisco Nexus platforms, NX-OS fundamentals, Layer 3 redundancy, port channels, virtual port channels, and switch virtualization, establishing a strong technical baseline for data center operations.

The course then expands into virtualization and storage, covering machine and network virtualization, Fibre Channel fundamentals, Cisco MDS switches, zoning, NPV and NPIV, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet. Learners are introduced to Cisco UCS and UCS X-Series components, centralized management with UCS Manager and Cisco Intersight, and policy-driven infrastructure models. Advanced topics include data center automation, Cisco Nexus Dashboard, Cisco ACI, and cloud computing concepts. Extensive hands-on labs reinforce these topics, allowing participants to configure Nexus features, UCS service profiles, storage zoning, virtualization platforms, APIs, and ACI, preparing them to operate and support modern, automated data center environments.

How you’ll benefit
This class will help you:

• Prepare for entry-level job roles in the high-demand area of data center environments
• Prepare for trainings that support the CCNP Data Center certification exams
• Gain knowledge and hands-on skills through Cisco’s unique combination of lessons and hands-on practice using enterprise-grade Cisco learning technologies, data center equipment, and software
• Earn 25 CE credits toward recertification

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the foundations of data center networking
• Describe Cisco Nexus products and explain the basic Cisco NX-OS functionalities and tools
• Describe Layer 3 first-hop redundancy
• Describe Ethernet port channels and vPCs
• Introduce switch virtualization
• Introduce machine virtualization
• Describe network virtualization
• Compare storage connectivity options in the data center
• Describe Fibre Channel communication between the initiator server and the target storage
• Describe Fibre Channel zone types and their uses
• Describe NPV and NPIV
• Describe data center Ethernet enhancements that provide a lossless fabric
• Describe FCoE
• Describe data center server connectivity
• Describe Cisco UCS Manager
• Describe the purpose and advantages of APIs
• Describe Cisco ACI
• Describe Nexus Dashboard
• Describe the basic concepts of cloud computing

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• Data Center Designers
• Data Administrators
• Data Center Engineers
• Systems Engineers
• Technical Solutions Architects
• Network 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:  

• Good foundation of networking protocols
• Basic knowledge of computer virtualization
• Basic computer literacy
• Basic knowledge of computer operating systems
• Basic internet usage skills

In addition, CCNA-level knowledge is recommended as a prerequisite for success in this certification: 

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)

Course Outline

Module 1: Describing the Data Center Network Architectures

• Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
• Three-Tier Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
• Spine-and-Leaf Network
• Two-Tier Storage Network

Module 2: Describing the Cisco Nexus Family and Cisco NX-OS Software

• Cisco Nexus Data Center Product Overview
• Cisco NX-OS Software Architecture
• Cisco NX-OS Software CLI Tools
• Cisco NX-OS Virtual Routing and Forwarding

Module 3: Describing Layer 3 First-Hop Redundancy

• Default Gateway Redundancy
• Hot Standby Router Protocol
• Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol
• Gateway Load Balancing Protocol

Module 4: Describing Cisco FEX

• Server Deployment Models
• Cisco FEX Technology
• Cisco FEX Traffic Forwarding
• Cisco Adapter FEX

Module 5: Describing Port Channels and VPCs

• Ethernet Port Channels
• Virtual Port Channels
• Supported VPC Topologies

Module 6: Describing Switch Virtualization

• Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
• Virtual Routing and Forwarding
• Cisco Nexus 7000 Virtual Device Contexts (VDCs)
• VDC Types
• VDC Resource Allocation
• VDC Management

Module 7: Describing Machine Virtualization

• Virtual Machines
• Hypervisor
• VM Manager

Module 8: Describing Network Virtualization

• Overlay Network Protocols
• Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) Overlay
• VXLAN Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Control Plane
• VXLAN Data Plane
• Cisco Nexus 1000VE Series Virtual Switch
• VMware vSphere Virtual Switches

Module 9: Introducing Basic Data Center Storage Concepts

• Storage Connectivity Options in the Data Center
• Fibre Channel Storage Networking
• Virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) Configuration and Verification

Module 10: Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and the Target Storage

• Fibre Channel Layered Model
• Fabric Login (FLOGI) Process
• Fibre Channel Flow Control

Module 11: Describing Fibre Channel Zone Types and Their Uses

• Fibre Channel Zoning
• Zoning Configuration
• Zoning Management

Module 12: Describing Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV

• Cisco NPV Mode
• NPIV Mode

Module 13: Describing Data Center Ethernet Enhancements

• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Data Center Bridging
• Priority Flow Control
• Enhanced Transmission Selection
• Data Center Bridging Exchange (DCBX) Protocol
• Congestion Notification

Module 14: Describing FCoE

• Cisco Unified Fabric
• FCoE Architecture
• FCoE Initialization Protocol
• FCoE Adapters

Module 15: Describing Cisco UCS Components

• Physical Cisco UCS Components
• Cisco Fabric Interconnect Product Overview
• Cisco I/O Module (IOM) Product Overview
• Cisco UCS Mini
• Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) Supervisor
• Cisco Intersight™

Module 16: Describing Cisco UCS Manager

• Cisco UCS Manager Overview
• Identity and Resource Pools for Hardware Abstraction
• Service Profiles and Service Profile Templates
• Cisco UCS Central Overview
• Cisco HyperFlex™ Overview

Module 17: Using APIs

• Common Programmability Protocols and Methods
• How to Choose Models and Processes

Module 18: Describing Cisco ACI

• Cisco ACI Overview
• Multitier Applications in Cisco ACI
• Cisco ACI Features
• VXLAN in Cisco ACI
• Unicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
• Multicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
• Cisco ACI Programmability
• Common Programming Tools and Orchestration Options

Module 19: Describing Cloud Computing

• Cloud Computing Overview
• Cloud Deployment Models
• Cloud Computing Services

LAB Outline

• Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
• Explore Topology Discovery
• Configure HSRP
• Configure vPCs
• Configure VRF
• Explore CoPP and Spanning Tree on Cisco Nexus Switches
• Install VMware ESXi and vCenter
• Configure VSANs
• Validate FLOGI and FCNS
• Configure Zoning
• Review Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE
• Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment
• Configure a Cisco UCS Service Profile
• Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
• Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree
• Explore Cisco ACI