Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations
- Course Code DCFNDU
- Duration 5 days
- Version 2.0
Course Delivery
Additional Payment Options
- CLC 46 excl. VAT
Jump to:
Course Delivery
This course is available in the following formats:
-
Company Event
Event at company
-
Elearning (Self-paced)
Self paced electronic learning
-
Public Classroom
Traditional Classroom Learning
-
Virtual Learning
Learning that is virtual
Request this course in a different delivery format.
Course Overview
TopThe Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations course helps you prepare for entry-level data center roles. In this course, you will learn the foundational knowledge and skills you need to configure Cisco® data center technologies including: networking, virtualization, storage area networking, and unified computing. You will get an introduction to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI™), automation, and cloud computing. You will get hands-on experience with configuring features on Cisco Nexus® Operating System (Cisco NX-OS) and Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®).
This course does not lead directly to a certification exam, but it does cover foundational knowledge that can help you prepare for several professional-level data center courses and exams.
This course will help you:
Prepare for entry-level job roles in the high-demand area of data center environments
Prepare for courses that support the Cisco Certified Network Professional 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
Virtual Learning
This interactive training can be taken from any location, your office or home and is delivered by a trainer. This training does not have any delegates in the class with the instructor, since all delegates are virtually connected. Virtual delegates do not travel to this course, Global Knowledge will send you all the information needed before the start of the course and you can test the logins.
Course Schedule
Top-
- Delivery Format: Virtual Learning
-
Date:
05-09 October, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Guaranteed To Run
- Location: Virtual (Arab Stand)
- Language: English
-
- Delivery Format: Virtual Learning
- Date: 19-23 October, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Virtual (Egypt Stan)
- Language: English
-
- Delivery Format: Virtual Learning
- Date: 20-24 October, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Virtual (Arabian St)
- Language: English
-
- Delivery Format: Virtual Learning
- Date: 15-19 December, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Virtual (Arabian St)
- Language: English
-
- Delivery Format: Virtual Learning
- Date: 21-25 December, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Virtual (Egypt Stan)
- Language: English
Target Audience
TopIndividuals looking to gain the knowledge and skills required for an entry level role in a Cisco Data Center environment.
Course Objectives
TopAfter completing 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
Course Content
TopDescribing the Data Center Network Architectures
- Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
- Three-Tier Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
- Spine-and-Leaf Network
- Storage Area Networks
- Hypoconverged Storage Systems
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
Describing Layer 3 First-Hop Redundancy
- Default Gateway Redundancy
- Hot Standby Router Protocol
- Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol
- Gateway Load Balancing Protocol
Describing Port Channels and vPCs
- Ethernet Port Channels
- Virtual Port Channels
Describing Switch Virtualization
- Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
- Virtual Routing and Forwarding
Describing Machine Virtualization
- Virtual Machines
- Hypervisor
- Virtual Machine Manager
Describing Network Virtualization
- Overlay Network Protocols
- VXLAN Overlay
- VXLAN BGP EVPN Control Plane
- VXLAN Data Plane
- VMware vSphere Virtual Switches
Introducing Basic Data Center Storage Concepts
- Storage Connectivity Options in the Data Center
- Fibre Channel Storage Networking
- VSAN Configuration and Verification
Describing the Cisco MDS Family
- Cisco MDS Overview
Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and the Target Storage
- Fibre Channel Layered Model
- FLOGI Process
- Fibre Channel Flow Control
Describing Fibre Channel Zone Types and Their Uses
- Fibre Channel Zoning
- Zoning Configuration
- Zoning Management
Describing Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV
- Cisco Switch Mode
- NPIV Mode
Describing FCoE
- FCoE Architecture
Describing Cisco UCS and UCS-X Components
- Cisco UCS Server Hardware
- Cisco Intersight
- Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix
Describing Cisco UCS Manager and Cisco Intersight
- Cisco UCS Manager Overview
- Identity and Resource Pools for Hardware Abstraction
- Service Profiles and Service Profile Templates
- Cisco Intersight Overview
Automating the Data Center
- Cisco NX-OS Programmability
- Cisco NX-OS Model-Driven Programmability
- Cisco Nexus API
- Python
- Ansible
- HashiCorp Terraform
Describing Cisco Nexus Dashboard
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Overview
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Overview
Describing Cisco ACI
- Cisco ACI Overview
- Cisco ACI Topology and Hardware
- Cisco ACI Policy Model
- Cisco ACI External Connectivity Options
- Cisco ACI and VMM Integration
- Cisco ACI and Layer4-Layer 7 Integration
- Cisco ACI Management and Automation
- Cisco ACI Anywhere
Describing Cloud Computing
- Cloud Computing Overview
- Cloud Deployment Models
- Cloud Computing Services
Labs
- Discovery Lab 1: Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
- Discovery Lab 2: Explore Topology Discovery
- Discovery Lab 3: Configure HSRP
- Discovery Lab 4: Configure vPCs
- Discovery Lab 5: Configure VRF
- Discovery Lab 6: Explore CoPP and Spanning Tree on Cisco Nexus Switches
- Discovery Lab 7: Install VMware ESXi and vCenter
- Discovery Lab 8: Configure VSANs
- Discovery Lab 9: Validate FLOGI and FCNS
- Discovery Lab 10: Configure Zoning
- Discovery Lab 11: Review Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE
- Discovery Lab 12: Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment
- Discovery Lab 13: Configure a Cisco UCS Service Profile
- Discovery Lab 14: Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
- Discovery Lab 15: Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree
- Discovery Lab 16: Explore Cisco ACI
Course Prerequisites
TopAttendees should meet the following prerequisites:
- Good foundation of networking protocols
- Basic knowledge of computer virtualization
- Basic computer literacy
- Basic knowledge of computer operating systems
- Basic internet usage skills
Test Certification
TopRecommended as preparation for the following exams:
- There are no exams currently aligned to this course