ICSNS - Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions

Summary

This hands-on class gives the essential knowledge and skills needed to deploy the Cisco MDS 9000 Family. Course topics include installing and bringing up the switch, configuring VSANs, domains, interfaces, and zones, implementing PortChannels, configuring management security, and basic troubleshooting. Students will also learn how to configure highly available FCIP tunnels and tune the performance of FCIP links. In the lab, students will configure the switch from an out-of-the-box state, perform a non-disruptive software upgrade, configure VSANs and zones, and implement a high-availability SAN design using FCIP.

Prerequisites

You should have:

• Basic understanding of data storage hardware components and protocols, including SCSI and Fibre Channel

This intermediate course is for:

• Customers
• Employees
• Channel Partners / Resellers

Skills Taught

• Given a SAN environment, identify the components, services, and features of the MDS 9000 platform that can be used to improve the availability, scalability, performance, and manageability of the SAN
• Given an MDS 9000 switch, safely install the switch hardware and perform the initial software configuration process
• Given a SAN design, implement the logical topology specified by a SAN design, so that connectivity between end devices can be verified
• Given a SAN design, describe the traffic management features associated with Intelligent Network Services for the MDS 9000 series in order to configure basic traffic management services for the SAN
• Given a SAN environment, describe how to use FCIP to implement appropriate solutions for SAN extension
• Given a SAN environment, identify MDS 9000 diagnostic tools in order to diagnose SAN problems and common configuration errors

Course Outline

• MDS 9000 Platform Overview
• System Installation and Initial Configuration
• Building Virtual SANs
• Managing SAN Traffic
• Implementing FCIP
• Troubleshooting Tools and Scenarios
• Appendix A The Fibre Channel Protocol
• Appendix B Installation and Configuration Reference