Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) Administration

In this Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) Administration updated four-day course (2026) focuses on the current generation of 32GB / 64GB MDS Switches with modern FC Analytics ASICs and provides a deep technical exploration of Cisco MDS 9000 Series 64 GB SAN architectures, advanced congestion control, and modern Intent-Based Automation (IBN) using Cisco Nexus Dashboard 4.x. Unlike traditional SAN courses that focus primarily on manual CLI configuration, this training emphasizes automated SAN operations, monitoring. predictive analytics, and self-healing fabric design. Students learn how modern Cisco SAN environments leverage software-driven policies, automation frameworks, and advanced analytics to detect, analyze, and remediate performance issues using SAN Insights before they impact production storage environments. Different Zoning options will be discussed such as Smart Zoning, IVR Zoning, Basic, Enhanced, Auto Zoning, etc..

Throughout the course, participants gain practical experience configuring Cisco MDS fabrics using both CLI and Nexus Dashboard policy-based automation. The training focuses on real-world SAN operational challenges such as congestion, (Slow Drain and Overutilization) devices, lossless flow control behavior, and fabric stability. Engineers learn how Cisco SAN Analytics, FPIN notifications, and DIRL mechanisms enable intelligent congestion detection and automated remediation. 

By combining scalable non-blocking internal hardware architecture with Virtual Output Queuing (VoQ) and specialized centralized arbitration  with the understanding  of  modern software automation techniques, students develop the skills required to  design, operate large-scale, high-performance storage fabrics supporting 32G and 64G Fiber Channel environments.

How our CTCLC MDS Course is superior to the rest! 

• Intent-Based Automation using Nexus Dashboard
• Advanced Congestion Control
• FC Lossless Flow control impact on Congestion within MDS Architecture that triggers
• Nexus Dashboard Infrastructure and FC SAN Insights
• Intelligent Zoning & Routing support in Nexus Dashboard or CLI
• Integrated with FSPF Routing and Port Channeling for Fabric Stability and per-exchange load balancing and per-flow load balancing
• FC SAN Fabric Stability Analytics
• Principal Switch Selection, Domain ID Assignment, Exchange Fabric Parameters, Fabric stability Timeout values, Error Detection Timeout etc..
• Predictive Analytics with Nexus Dashboard
• Hardware Architecture Mastery
• All features are covered using CLI Configuration and using Nexus Dashboard

Why Attend with Current Technologies CLC

• Our Instructors are the top 10% rated by Cisco
• Our Lab has a dedicated 1 Gig Fiber Connection for our Labs
• Our Labs run up to Date Code for all our courses

• Intent-Based Automation using Nexus Dashboard
• Advanced Congestion Control
• FC Lossless Flow control impact on Congestion within MDS Architecture that triggers
• Nexus Dashboard Infrastructure and FC SAN Insights
• Intelligent Zoning & Routing support in Nexus Dashboard or CLI
• Integrated with FSPF Routing and Port Channeling for Fabric Stability and per-exchange load balancing and per-flow load balancing
• FC SAN Fabric Stability Analytics
• Principal Switch Selection, Domain ID Assignment, Exchange Fabric Parameters, Fabric stability Timeout values, Error Detection Timeout etc..
• Predictive Analytics with Nexus Dashboard
• Hardware Architecture Mastery
• All features are covered using CLI Configuration and using Nexus Dashboard

This course is ideal for SAN administrators, storage engineers, and IT professionals responsible for managing Cisco storage networks in enterprise and data center environments. It emphasizes operational best practices and prepares attendees to optimize SAN performance, improve resilience, and simplify network management.

• Basic Foundations and Networking Knowledge
• Familiarity with Virtualization Platforms
• Hands-on Experience in Cisco Networking (Preferred)

Module 1: Cisco MDS Intent-Based SAN Automation

Introduces self-healing SAN operations and AI-powered network automation.

• Lesson 1: Cisco MDS Intent-Based SAN Automation
• Lesson 2: Automated SAN Network Analytics

Module 2: Overview of Cisco MDS SAN Switches

Explores the MDS product line and switch capabilities for modern SAN architectures.

• Lesson 1: Cisco MDS Switching Portfolio Overview
• Lesson 2: MDS 9124V and MDS 9148V Fabric Switches
• Lesson 3: MDS 9700 Series Director-Class Switches
• Lesson 4: Key Features of Cisco MDS Switches
• Lesson 5: High Availability, Reliability, and Redundancy
• Lesson 6: Use Cases for Cisco MDS SAN Switches

Module 3: Cisco (NDFC) Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Overview

Demonstrates NDFC’s role in automation, analytics, and policy enforcement.

• Lesson 1: NDFC Overview
• Lesson 2: NDFC Architecture & Integration
• Lesson 3: NDFC Connectivity & Deployment
• Lesson 4: Deploying NDFC on ND
• Lesson 5: NDFC VMM Integration
• Lesson 6: Monitoring Fabric and Intended State
• Lesson 7: ND4.1 New Features

Module 4: Cisco Smart Licensing Model

Covers Smart Licensing Policies and transition from traditional licensing.

• Lesson 1: Feature-Based Licensing and On-Demand Port Activation License
• Lesson 2: Smart Licensing Model
• Lesson 3: Smart Software Licensing Model using Policy (SLP)
• Lesson 4: Enabling SLP
• Lesson 5: SLP Deployment Models
• Lesson 6: Example of SLP on 9124V and 9148V
• Lesson 7: Converting Traditional Mode Licenses to Smart Mode
• Lesson 8: SLC Reports and Alerts

Module 5: Designing & Implementing SAN Fabrics 

Focuses on SAN design, VSANs, zoning, and NDFC operations.

• Lesson 1: SAN Fabric Design Principles & Topologies
• Lesson 2: VSANs and Inter-VSAN Routing
• Lesson 3: Use Case and Benefits of Using Multiple VSANs
• Lesson 4: Implementing VSAN Fabric in NDFC
• Lesson 5: Zone, Zonesets and CFS Distribution
• Lesson 6: Configuring Zones, Autozones, Smart Zones and Zonesets in NDFC/CLI
• Lesson 7: Configuring ISL Trunking, Port Channeling and Load-Balancing in NDFC
• Lesson 8: Other NDFC Features: Device Alias, Image Managements, Event Analytics, Programmable Reporting, Alarms, Templates

Module 6: Automated SAN Analytics & Telemetry

Provides insight into SAN performance with telemetry and analytics.

• Lesson 1: SAN Analytics Architecture and Solution Components
• Lesson 2: SAN Fabric Analytics Deployment
• Lesson 3: SAN Analytics Configuration and Verification using NDFC/CLI
• Lesson 4: Core Capabilities and Benefits of SAN Analytics
• Lesson 5: Key Performance Metrics in SAN Analytics/SAN Insights
• Lesson 6: NDI App Integration with Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller
• Lesson 7: Use Cases for SAN Analytics/SAN Insights
• Lesson 8: Automated Proactive Fabric Monitoring, Predictive Analytics, Predicting and Avoiding Congestion

Module 7: CLI-based Troubleshooting

Teaches congestion mitigation, DIRL, and FPIN-based acceleration.

• Lesson 1: SAN Analytics & Troubleshooting
• Lesson 2: Automated Detection of SAN Congestion
• Lesson 3: Detection & Alerting of SAN Congestion
• Lesson 4: Automated Alerting of SAN Congestion on MDS using PMON
• Lesson 5: Automated Congestion Prevention
• Lesson 6: Congestion Prevention using DIRL
• Lesson 7: Congestion Prevention using FPIN
• Lesson 8: Troubleshooting SAN Congestion

Module 8: Cisco MDS SAN Security 

Focuses on fabric and link-layer security, TrustSec, and secure boot.

• Lesson 1: Cisco MDS SAN Management Security
• Lesson 2: Fabric Target Access Security
• Lesson 3: Fabric Control Plane Security
• Lesson 4: FC & FCIP Link Security
• Lesson 5: Secure Boot & Anti-Counterfeit Technology
• Lesson 6: Secure Erase

Module 9: SAN/MDS Programmability and Automation

Introduces MDS automation tools including Python, NX-API, and Ansible.

• Lesson 1: MDS 9000 Programmability Options
• Lesson 2: NX-API
• Lesson 3: MDS Python API
• Lesson 4: Cisco MDS SDK
• Lesson 5: Ansible
• Lesson 6: NDFC Automation

Module 10: Appendix FC SAN Concepts 

Provides a foundational overview of SAN protocols and operations.

• Lesson 1: Why FC Today
• Lesson 2: FC SAN Overview
• Lesson 3: FC-0
• Lesson 4: FC-1
• Lesson 5: FC-2
• Lesson 6: Login Parameters, Flow, and Class
• Lesson 7: FC Switch Fabric
• Lesson 8: Error Management
• Lesson 9: FC Zoning Concepts
• Lesson 10: FC SAN Flow Control
• Lesson 11: FC SAN Topology and Port Types
• Lesson 12: FC Services
• Lesson 13: NPV and NPIV
• Lesson 14: Device Alias
• Lesson 15: Port Channel
• Lesson 16: Introduction to SCSI and NVMe

LAB Outline

Lab 1: Connect to the Lab Pod Environment

Lab 2: Introduction to Cisco MDS SAN Switches and Initial Setup

• Task 1: Basic Setup
• Task 2: MDS 9124V & 9148V Configuration

Lab 3A: NDFC SAN Controller

• Tasks: Setup, Integration, Discovery

Lab 3B: NDFC Virtualized Environment Integration

• Tasks: VM Tagging, FPINs, VMware Integration

Lab 4: Cisco Smart Licensing Model

• Tasks: Configuration, Registration, Port Activation, Compliance

Lab 5A: Implementing Fabrics in NDFC

• Tasks: VSAN, Zoning, IVR, Reporting

Lab 5B: AutoZone & Advanced Operations

• Tasks: AutoZone, RBAC, Analytics, Multi-Tenant Design

Lab 6A: VM-Aware Analytics

• Tasks: VM-ID Tagging, FPINs, Segmentation

Lab 6B: Telemetry Streaming

• Tasks: DPI, Data Collection, Insights

Lab 6C: SAN Analytics in NDFC

• Tasks: Flow Analysis, Congestion, Proactive Monitoring

Lab 7A: Guided Remediation

• Tasks: DPI, FPIN, DIRL, Historical Analysis

Lab 7B: Slow Drain Mitigation

Lab 7C: DIRL

Lab 7D: FPIN Integration

Lab 8A: Port-Level Security and Zoning

Lab 8B: Advanced SAN Protection

• Tasks: FC-SP, RBAC, Secure Boot, Monitoring

Lab 9: Automation Techniques

• Task: Configure Embedded Event Manager (EEM)