Storage Networking Training

2 Certification - Cisco Storage Networking Support & Design Boot Camp

The Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist validates an individual's knowledge of selecting and integrating Cisco storage products to design a highly scalable, efficient, high performing storage networking solution based on converged architecture.

Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist professionals understand how to utilize and employ the features and benefits of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches, Cisco MDS 9509 Director Switch, Cisco 9216 Fabric Switch, and Cisco MDS 9120 products to create a high availability storage network design.

The Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist validates an individual's knowledge of installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco storage products to maintain a highly scalable, efficient, high performing storage networking environment.

Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist professionals understand how to deploy and optimize the features and benefits of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches, Cisco MDS 9509 Director Switch, Cisco 9216 Fabric Switch, and Cisco MDS 9120 products to provide fast and accurate resolution to network installation and customer service issues.

• Cisco MDS Storage Networking Fundaments (CMSNF)
• MDS 9000 Configuration and Troubleshooting (MDSCT)
• Cisco Multiprotocol Storage Essentials (CMSE)
• Cisco Advanced Storage Implementation and Troubleshooting (CASI)
• Cisco Storage Network Design Essentials (CSDE)

Cisco MDS Storage Networking Fundaments (CMSNF)

The Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist validates an individual's knowledge of selecting and integrating Cisco storage products to design a highly scalable, efficient, high performing storage networking solution based on converged architecture. Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist professionals understand how to utilize and employ the features and benefits of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches, Cisco MDS 9509 Director Switch, Cisco 9216 Fabric Switch, and Cisco MDS 9120 products to create a high availability storage network design.

Course Outline (642-353 CSNDS)

Perform a needs analysis that identifies the appropriate Storage Networking topology, protocols, and transport to meet customer's requirements

• Describe the benefits of implementing a Cisco collapsed core SAN network design
• Describe the evolution of SAN topology design
• Evaluate over-subscription ratio for a given design
• Determine if iSCSI is appropriate for design implementation
• Determine SAN Extension requirements for customer solution
• Evaluate deployment opportunities for MDS family
• Evaluate customer's applications requirements
• Evaluate customer's business continuance requirements
• Evaluate customer's backup/replication requirements
• Evaluate customer's high availability requirements
• Evaluate the customer's storage utilization and propose consolidation options
• Evaluate customer's Storage Virtualization implementation strategy
• Evaluate customer's Security requirements

Identify the interoperability requirements of a customers SAN

• Identify and document existing customer infrastructure
• Identify considerations that should be addressed when designing a heterogeneous fabric

Design a solution that addresses a customer's SAN requirements

• Describe value added MDS features that address identified customer needs and requirements
• Determine the appropriate topology for a given implementation
• Select the appropriate protocols for design implementation
• Select appropriate collapsed core design given a set of customer requirements
• Select the appropriate design option given a set of customer requirements including applications like database, mail-server, backup and replication
• Identify characteristics of customer's host operating systems that could impact their SAN design
• Develop a capacity plan for implementing a Cisco SAN solution
• Propose SAN Extension topology, devices, and features appropriate for designed SAN
• Propose alternative protocols, topologies, devices, and features that would improve customer solution
• Design an appropriate management infrastructure
• Determine hardware configurations, power requirements, and environmental considerations to support SAN fabric design
• Select appropriate media solution given a specific topology design

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MDS 9000 Configuration and Troubleshooting (MDSCT)

The Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist validates an individual's knowledge of installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco storage products to maintain a highly scalable, efficient, high performing storage networking environment. Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist professionals understand how to deploy and optimize the features and benefits of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches, Cisco MDS 9509 Director Switch, Cisco 9216 Fabric Switch, and Cisco MDS 9120 products to provide fast and accurate resolution to network installation and customer service issues.

Course Outline (642-354 CSNSS):

Install a Cisco Storage Solution

• Demonstrate a high level understanding of SAN technology
• Demonstrate knowledge of SAN Applications and Topologies (Layer 6 & up)
• Identify Environmental considerations
• Determine installation process steps & expected outcomes
• Identify & mitigate design and installation implications
• Perform initial setup tasks
• Perform routine administrative tasks
• Validate operational function of Cisco Storage Solution

Implement Cisco Storage equipment in multi-vender multiprotocol environments

• Demonstrate knowledge of interoperability standards and industry implementations
• Determine configuration requirements based on information provided on a design document
• Configure the appropriate interoperability settings

Implement the fabric design from the design document

• Configure the correct system & interface configuration parameters
• Use Cisco best practices in order to minimize disruption to the existing fabric
• Configure appropriate VSANs and Inter VSAN Routing (IVR)
• Configure Zoning
• Configure management infrastructure
• Configure correct licensing to insure proper licensing compliance
• Verify proper configuration using appropriate tools
• Configure static domain ID's & persistent FC IDs

Configure security in a multiprotocol storage environment

• Configure fibre channel port & fabric security
• Configure security for iSCSI
• Configure security for SAN Extension
• Configure security for data management path, including ACLs
• Configure VSAN-based roles
• Configure AAA services

Analyze and tune customer configurations to optimize application performance in multiprotocol storage networks

• Monitor network status with RMON / SNMP to identify potential problems
• Monitor control plane and data plane flows with Port Analyzer Adapter and Ethereal
• Verify performance statistics with Device Manager / Fabric Manager
• Chart performance with Performance Manager to identify trends and potential problems
• Capture SCSI level protocol flows using Traffic Analyzer
• Validate tuning performance using SAN Extension Tuner
• Configure traffic engineering to manage congestion and provide prioritization
• Configure TCP/IP parameters for optimizing performance of storage flows
• Configure write & tape acceleration to optimize bandwidth usage
• Configure proper compression deployment

Troubleshoot SAN infrastructure

• Capture and analyze fibre channel control flows using Fabric Analyzer
• Configure RMON, SNMP, and Call Home for detecting problems
• Troubleshoot problems and or failures using Device Manager/Fabric Manager
• Troubleshoot problems and failures using Command Line Diagnostic tools, show and debug commands
• Configure SPAN & RSPAN to capture data & control flows
• Configure and interpret the various system logs SYSLOG, RADIUS accounting logs
• From the switch, verify host connectivity
• From the switch, verify connectivity from the host to the storage
• Diagnosing problems with switch upgrades
• Select appropriate repair strategy to resolve problems while minimizing disruption

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Cisco Multiprotocol Storage Essentials (CMSE)

The Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist exam is a post-sales/support focused exam which will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to install, implement, support, upgrade, and monitor and troubleshoot existing storage implementations.

Course Outline (642-352 CSNSS)

The following information provides general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam.

Install Cisco Storage equipment per design document/implementation plan

• Demonstrate capabilities of various components
• Perform initial setup tasks
• Perform software upgrades and downgrades
• Identify environmental concerns

Configure Cisco equipment in multi-vendor environment to meet designed solution

• Use correct system and interface configuration parameters
• Choose or enter appropriate command sets to affect the desired performance and minimize disruptions to existing Fabric
• Configure appropriate VSANs and Inter VSAN Routing (IVR)
• Verify proper configuration using appropriate tools
• Configure correct options to provide secure operation
• Configure correct licensing to insure proper licensing compliance

Analyze and tune customer configurations to optimize application performance and Fiber Channel network flows

• Use Fabric Analyzer to chart performance
• Use RMON or SNMP to monitor network status
• Use Port Analyzer Adapter and ethereal to monitor control plane and data plane flows
• Use Device Manager or Fabric Manager for performance statistics

Troubleshoot and repair SAN infrastructure to meet customer specifications

• Operate Fabric Analyzer and identify faults
• Use RMON and SNMP to diagnose performance issues
• Use Device Manager or Fabric Manager to troubleshoot performance problems and or failures
• Use command line diagnostic tools to troubleshoot problems or failures
• Interpret POST data to determine device state
• Select appropriate repair strategy to resolve problems
• Implement repair strategy

Maintain peak performance and reliability of SAN infrastructure

• Demonstrate an understanding of the Cisco MDS support policies
• Configure Call Home facility
• Perform trend analysis using appropriate tools

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Cisco Advanced Storage Implementation and Troubleshooting (CASI)

CASI focuses on advanced storage networking topics for the Cisco MDS Family of switches, including building virtual SAN fabrics, building heterogeneous SAN fabrics, configuring management and security services, and advanced troubleshooting skills. A significant portion of the course will be devoted to troubleshooting.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, the learner will be able to implement reliable, scalable SAN fabrics using the full range of features enabled by the MDS Family of switches, and will be able to diagnose and resolve issues using advanced diagnostic tools.

• Given a detailed Fibre Channel SAN design specification, the learner will be able to implement a SAN with multiple virtual fabrics using the full range of features and capabilities provided by the Cisco MDS platform, so that the SAN demonstrates high availability, scalability, and performance.
• Given a detailed set of Fibre Channel SAN management requirements, the learner will be able to configure and use fabric management, performance management, and security services on the Cisco MDS platform, so that the SAN can be effectively managed, tuned, and secured.
• Given a set of observable symptoms on a Fibre Channel SAN, the learner will be able to diagnose and correct software configuration issues and inoperable hardware components, so that the problems are resolved with minimal disruption to the SAN environment.

Course Outline

Building Virtual Fabrics

• Implementing VSANs
• Configuring Zones
• Implementing Inter-VSAN Routing
• Configuring PortChannels
• Tuning Fabric Performance
• Building Heterogeneous Fabrics

Implementing Management and Security Services

• Configuring Management Services
• Managing Performance
• Configuring AAA Services
• Implementing Port and Fabric Security

Advanced Troubleshooting

• Basic Troubleshooting Tools Review
• Capturing Protocol Traces
• Using Physical Port Diagnostics
• Troubleshooting Modules
• Troubleshooting Fx_Port Issues
• Troubleshooting the Data Path
• Troubleshooting Advanced Services
• Troubleshooting Switch Upgrades
• Troubleshooting Fabric Manager and Device Manager
• Working with the Cisco TAC

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Cisco Storage Network Design Essentials (CSDE)

The Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist exam is a pre-sales/design focused exam which will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to recommend and design new storage solutions and recommend improvements to existing implementations.

Course Outline (642-351 CSNDS)

Identify appropriate Storage Network topology, protocols, and transport features

• Describe the benefits of implementing a Cisco collapsed core SAN network design
• Describe the evolution of SAN topology design
• Select the appropriate distance solution given a set of customer requirements
• Select appropriate collapsed core design given a set of customer requirements
• Select appropriate media solution given a specific topology design
• Compare costs and ROI to scale a given SAN solution
• Calculate oversubscription ratio for a given design
• Select appropriate dual fabric design given a set of customer requirements
• Identify protocol capabilities and constraints impacting solution selection
• Identify topology appropriate to satisfy customer requirements
• Select appropriate iSCSI design given a set of customer requirements

Select features for interoperation in an existing customer SAN environment

• Identify the Fibre Channel standard features that enable the Cisco family of MDS switches to interoperate with other devices when installed within an existing Storage Network
• Identify characteristics of customer's host operating systems that could impact their SAN design
• Identify characteristics of customer's HBAs that could impact their SAN design
• Identify characteristics of customer's storage arrays that could impact their SAN design
• Identify characteristics of customer's tape libraries that could impact their SAN design
• Identify characteristics of customer's existing fabrics that could impact their SAN design
• Identify the Cisco Value Added features that enable the Cisco family of MDS switches to interoperate with other devices when installed within an existing Storage Network

Identify selling opportunities for MDS family

• Differentiate between standard Fibre Channel features and those that are Cisco Value Added features
• Identify weakness and deficiencies of customer's current SAN implementation
• Select the Cisco Value Added features that will address the weakness and deficiencies of a customer's currently installed SAN

Develop a network design for implementing or migrating to a Cisco SAN solution

• Develop a capacity plan for implementing a Cisco SAN solution
• Collect the proper statistics to identify the characteristics of an installed customer SAN
• Extract customer requirements from a given scenario
• Propose Distance Solution topology, devices and features appropriate for designed SAN
• Propose an iSCSI solution, topology, devices and features appropriate for designed SAN
• Propose SAN topology, devices and features appropriate for designed SAN

Identify and propose Storage Networking Solutions

• Design a NAS, SAN and iSCSI solution to satisfy the customer's requirements
• Select the appropriate SAN solution to satisfy the customer's business continuance requirements
• Evaluate the customer's backup requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's replication requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's data warehousing requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's high availability requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's storage consolidation requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's Storage Virtualization requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution
• Evaluate the customer's Security requirements and propose the appropriate SAN solution

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*Cisco Credits can not be used for travel or expense costs.

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CED Solutions is sponsored by Element K, a Cisco Learning (Solutions) Partner
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