The long rumored, highly expected and very desired has finally been released and it’s a beast!
Since the release of the Nexus platform there has been talk about when these platforms were to be introduced in a CCIE track. With the introduction of UCS in 2009 this became an even higher request especially since UCS really took off in sales. When I started my CCIE Storage studies in 2010 I initially wrote an article for IPexpert about my predictions for the CCIE DC (http://blog.ipexpert.com/2010/01/13/storage-and-datacenter-ccie/). Most of them where very easy guesses, but those also became reality in the track, though with new hardware that is now available (2 years later).
You might have already read most information on other blogs, but I’m trying to consolidate that information. During the coming weeks/months more and more information will become available and during Cisco Live in June there will be a huge amount of information and questions during the 4-hour Techtorial (TECCCIE-9544).
The scope of the exam is pretty much based on the usual suspects, so in summary you should know the:
- UCS B-series blade systems
- UCS C-series rackmount systems connected to UCS Manager via FEX
- Virtual Interface Cards (virtualized NICs and HBAs) in all servers
- Nexus 7000 with all features like VDC, OTV, FabricPath, etc.
- Nexus 5500 with all features like FCoE, FEX
- Nexus 2000 connected to either the 5k or the 7k
- Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch in ESX
- There is no mention of any VMware product in the blueprint, so expect ESX and vCenter to be pre-installed on the UCS blades and FC boot to pre-configured disks
- MDS 9222i for connecting FC storage to UCS
- ACE appliance
- DCNM management software
Availability
From May 1st the written exam is available in BETA all the way up to June 15. They specifically mentioned that the beta test is available for testing during Cisco Live, which is also when I’m going to take it. The live exam is available from September 1st.
Currently there are no dates when the lab is available.
Written exam
The written exam has an extensive blueprint published to Cisco Learning Network (CLN) including a reading list. As mentioned before the beta version of the CCIE Data Center Written Exam will be available for scheduling and testing at all worldwide Cisco-authorized Pearson VUE testing centers beginning May 1 through June 15, 2012. The beta test will also be offered during Cisco Live San Diego event from June 10-14, 2012. Candidates may schedule and take the exam on the same day. The beta exam will be offered at a discounted price of US$50, with full recertification or lab qualification credit granted to all passing candidates.
The current published reading list:
Data Center Fundamentals (ISBN-10: 1-58705-023-4)
NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching (ISBN-10: 1-58705-892-8)
Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) (ISBN-10: 1-58714-193-0)
I/O Consolidation in the Data Center (ISBN-10: 1-58705-888-X)
Storage Networking Fundamentals (ISBN-10: 1-58705-162-1)
Please find the extensive blueprint published by Cisco on the bottom of this blogpost.
Lab exam
There is not much information available regarding the lab exam. Availability is not mentioned. There is however information regarding the hardware list and this is an immense list of expensive hardware you require:
Hardware blueprint:
Cisco Catalyst Switch 3750 = Switch for management connections
Cisco 2511 Terminal Server = Lab terminal server
MDS 9222i
Nexus 7009
– (1) Sup
– (1) 32 Port 10Gb (F1 Module)
– (1) 32 Port 10Gb (M1 Module)
Nexus 5548
Nexus 2232
Nexus 1000V
UCS C200 Series Server
– VIC card for c-series
UCS-6248 Fabric Interconnects
UCS-5108 Blade Chassis
– B200 M2 Blade Servers
– Palo mezzanine card (VIC card)
– Emulex mezzanine card (2 vNICs and 2 vHBAs)
Cisco Application Control Engine Appliance – ACE4710
Dual attached JBODs (prepare for pre-configured disks)
Software Versions
NXOS v6.0(2) on Nexus 7000 Switches
NXOS v5.1(3) on Nexus 5000 Switches
NXOS v4.2(1) on Nexus 1000V
NXOS v5.2(2) on MDS 9222i Switches
UCS Software release 2.0(1x) for UCS-6248 Fabric Interconnect and all UCS systems
Software Release A5(1.0) on ACE4710
Cisco Data Center Manager software v5.2(2)
How do I get my hands on this?
Now this is a huge list. I’m so fortunate that I work for Telindus-ISIT a Cisco Gold partner with huge focus on Nexus and UCS, so we have most of this already available in our lab! Cisco knows that not everybody will be able to purchase a lab or even lab rental companies can’t afford this. Therefore they confirmed at Cisco Live Melbourne that Cisco will start offering rack rentals for the CCIE Datacenter, probably through the Cisco 360 program.
Other available information
During the session at Cisco Live Melbourne, more information was provided than already mentioned. Some important topics are:
CCIE Storage?
There are currently NO plans for replacing CCIE Storage for CCIE Datacenter. Because of this, there will not be a large focus on MDS/FC configuration as there is another track for that.
What about P and A tracks?
A CCNA Data Center and CCNP Data Center will be released soon!
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting will be a big part of the exam, which is also pretty clear in the blueprint. There is no confirmation yet how this will be introduced, either using tickets in the CCIE R&S or just by pre-configuration on the lab. I can imagine that they pre-configured a broken Nexus 1000V on a ESX installation on one of the JBODs. More information on how this troubleshooting is done will be available during other Q&A sessions. The implication is that it might be trouble tickets like the CCIE R&S.
Written Blueprint
Cisco Data Center Architecture
- Describe the Cisco Data Center Architecture
- Describe the products used in the Cisco Data Center Architecture
- Describe Cisco unified I/O solution in access layer
- Determine which platform to select for use in the data center different layers
Cisco Data Center Infrastructure—NX-OS
- Describe NX-OS features
Describe the architecture of NX-OS
Describe NX-OS Process Recovery
Describe NX-OS Supervisor Redundancy
Describe NX-OS Systems file management
Describe Virtual Output Queuing (VoQ)
Describe Virtual Device Contexts
Configure and Troubleshoot VDCs
Describe fabric extension via the nexus family
- Design and implement NX-OS Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality
Describe VLANs
Describe PVLANs
Describe Spanning-Tree Protocols
Describe Port-Channels and Virtual Port Channels
Compare and contrast VPC options
Describe basic features of routing protocols in a data center environment
Implement jumbo frames end-to-end in a data center
Describe FabricPath
Describe VRF lite in a data center environment
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands.
- Describe Multicast
Describe Multicast Operation in a data center environment
Describe Basic PIM configuration
Describe IGMP operation and configuration on the Nexus Platform
Validate Configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
- Describe basic NX-OS Security features
AAA Services
RBAC, SSH, and SNMPv3
Control Plane Protection and Hardware Rate Limiting
IP ACLs, MAC ACLs, and VLAN ACLs
Port Security
DHCP Snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, and IP Source Guard
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
- Implement NX-OS high availability features
Describe First-Hop Routing Protocols
Describe Graceful Restart and nonstop forwarding
Describe OTV
Describe the ISSU process
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
- Implement NX-OS management
Describe DCNM LAN features
Implement SPAN and ERSPAN
Implement embedded Ethernet analyzer and Netflow
Describe XML for network management and monitoring
Describe SNMP for network management and monitoring
Describe Implement Embedded Event Management
Describe configuration management in Data Center Network Manager
Describe Smart Call Home
Detail connectivity and credentials required for Data Center Network Manager
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
Cisco Storage Networking
- Describe Standard-based SAN Protocols
Describe Fiber Channel Standards and protocols
Describe SCSI standards and protocols
Describe iSCSI standards and protocols
Describe FCIP standards and protocols
- Implement Fiber Channel Protocols features
Describe Port Channel, ISL, trunking and VSANs
Design basic and enhanced zoning
Describe FC domain parameters
Describe Cisco Fabric services and benefits
Design and implement proper oversubscription in an FC environment
Validate proper configuration of FC storage based solutions
- Implement IP Storage based solution
Implement FC over IP (FCIP)
Describe iSCSI and its features
Validate proper configuration of IP Storage based solutions
- Design and describe NX-OS Unified Fabric features
Describe Fiber Channel features in the NX-OS environment
Describe Fiber Channel over Ethernet Protocol and technology
Design and implement data center bridging protocol and lossless Ethernet
Design and implement QoS features
Describe NPV and NPIV features in a Unified Fabric environment
Describe FCoE NPV features
Describe Unified Fabric Switch different modes of operations
Describe multihop FCoE
Describe and configure universal ports
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
- Design high availability features in a standalone server environment
Describe server-side high availability in the Cisco Unified I/O environment
Describe Converged Network Adapter used in FCoE topologies
Configuring NIC teaming
- Implement SAN management
Describe Device Manager for element management
Describe configuration management in Data Center Network Manager
Describe connectivity and credentials required for DCNM-SAN
Describe how to monitor and trend utilization with DCNM Dashboard
Cisco Data Center Virtualization
- Implement Data Center Virtualization with Nexus1000v
Describe the Cisco Nexus1000v and its role in a virtual server network environment
Describe Virtual Ethernet Module (VEM) on Nexus1000v
Describe Virtual Supervisor Module (VSM)
Describe the Cisco Nexus 1010 physical appliance and components
Describe Port Profiles and use cases in Nexus1000v
Describe QoS, Traffic Flow and IGMP Snooping in Nexus1000v
Describe Network monitoring on Nexus1000v
Explain the benefits of DHCP snooping in a VDI environment
Describe how to intercept traffic using Vpath and its benefits
Describe and implement Nexus1000v port channels
Describe Virtual Service Domain
Validate configurations and troubleshoot problems and failures using command line, show and debug commands
Cisco Unified Computing
- Unified Computing System components and architecture
Describe Cisco Unified Computing System components and architecture
Describe the Cisco Unified Computing server deployment and implementation model
Describe Cisco UCS Management features
Describe Cisco UCS Connectivity from both LAN and SAN perspective
Describe Cisco UCS High Availability
Describe what the capability catalog is and how it is used
Describe Cisco UCS C Series Integration
Describe the functional differences between physical and virtual adaptors
- Describe LAN connectivity in a Cisco Unified Computing environment
Describe Fabric Interconnect for LAN connectivity
Implement server and uplink ports
Describe End Host Mode
Implement Ethernet Switching Mode
Implement VLANs and port channels
Implement Pinning and PIN groups
Describe Disjoint Layer 2 and design consideration
Describe Quality of Service (QoS) options and configuration restrictions
Design and verify scalable Cisco Unified computing systems
- Describe Implement SAN connectivity in a Cisco Unified Computing environment
Describe Fabric Interconnect for SAN connectivity
Describe End Host Mode
Implement NPIV
Implement FC Switch mode
Implement FC ports for SAN connectivity
Implement Virtual HBA (vHBA)
Implement VSANs
Implement SAN port channels
Describe and implement direct attach Storage connectivity options
Describe and implement FC trunking and SAN pinning
- Describe Cisco Unified Computing Server resources
Describe Service Profiles in Cisco UCS including templates and contrast with cloning
Describe Server Resource Pools
Implement updating and initial templates
Describe Boot From remote storage
Detail best practices for creating pooled objects
Explain how to use the Cisco UCS KVM with Vmedia and session management
Describe local disk options and configuration protection
Describe power control policies and their effects
- Describe role-based Access Control Management Groups
Understand Cisco UCS Management Hierarchy using ORG and RBAC
Describe roles and privileges
Implement integrated authentication
- Cisco Unified Computing troubleshooting and maintenance
Understand backup and restore procedures in a unified computing environment
Manage high availability in a Cisco Unified Computing environment
Describe monitoring and analysis of system events
Implement External Management Protocols
Analyze statistical information
Understand Cisco Unified Computing components system upgrade procedure
Describe how to manage BIOS settings
Describe memory extension technology
Cisco Application Networking Services—ANS
- Data center application high availability and load balancing
Describe standard ACE features for load balancing
Describe different Server Load Balancing Algorithm
Describe health monitoring and use cases
Describe Layer 7 load balancing
Describe sticky connections
Understand SSL offload in SLB environment
Describe Protocol Optimization
Describe Route Health Injection (RHI)
Describe Server load balancing Virtual Context and HA
Describe Server load balancing management options
- Global load balancing
Describe basic DNS resolution process
Describe the benefits of the Cisco Global Load Balancing Solution
Describe how the Cisco Global Load Balancing Solution integrate with local Cisco load balancers
Implement a Cisco Global Load Balancing Solution into an existing network infrastructure
Lab Blueprint
Cisco Data Center Infrastructure – NXOS
- Implement NXOS L2 functionality
Implement VLANs and PVLANs
Implement Spanning-Tree Protocols
Implement Port-Channels
Implement Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD)
Implement Fabric Extension via the Nexus family
- Implement NXOS L3 functionality
Implement Basic EIGRP in Data Center Environment
Implement Basic OSPF in Data Center Environment
Implement BFD for Dynamic Routing protocols
Implement ECMP
Implement FabricPath
- Implement Basic NXOS Security Features
Implement AAA Services
Implement SNMPv3
Configure IP ACLs, MAC ACLs and VLAN ACLs
Configure Port Security
Configure DHCP Snooping
Configure Dynamic ARP Inspection
Configure IP Source Guard
Configure Cisco TrustSec
- Implement NXOS High Availability Features
Implement First-Hop Routing Protocols
Implement Graceful Restart
Implement nonstop forwarding
Implement Port-channels
Implement vPC and VPC+
Implement Overlay Transport Protocol (OTV)
- Implement NXOS Management
Implement SPAN and ERSPAN
Implement NetFlow
Implement Smart Call Home
Manage System Files
Implement NTP, PTP
Configure and Verify DCNM Functionality
- NXOS Troubleshooting
Utilize SPAN, ERSPAN and EthAnalyzer to troubleshoot a Cisco Nexus problem
Utilize NetFlow to troubleshoot a Cisco Nexus problem
Given an OTV problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given a VDC problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given a vPC problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given an Layer 2 problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given an Layer 3 problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given a multicast problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given a FabricPath problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Given a Unified Fabric problem, identify the problem and potential fix
Cisco Storage Networking
- Implement Fiber Channel Protocols Features
Implement Port Channel, ISL and Trunking
Implement VSANs
Implement Basic and Enhanced Zoning
Implement FC Domain Parameters
Implement Fiber Channel Security Features
Implement Proper Oversubscription in an FC environment
- Implement IP Storage Based Solution
Implement IP Features including high availability
Implement iSCSI including advanced features
Implement SAN Extension tuner
Implement FCIP and Security Features
Implement iSCSI security features
Validate proper configuration of IP Storage based solutions
- Implement NXOS Unified Fabric Features
Implement basic FC in NXOS environment
Implement Fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
Implement NPV and NPIV features
Implement Unified Fabric Switch different modes of operation
Implement QoS Features
Implement FCoE NPV features
Implement multihop FCoE
Validate Configurations and Troubleshoot problems and failures using Command Line, show and debug commands.
Cisco Data Center Virtualization
- Manage Data Center Virtualization with Nexus1000v
Implement QoS, Traffic Flow and IGMP Snooping
Implement Network monitoring on Nexus 1000v
Implement n1kv portchannels
Troubleshoot Nexus 1000V in a virtual environment
Configure VLANs
Configure PortProfiles
- Implement Nexus1000v Security Features
DHCP Snooping
Dynamic ARP Inspection
IP Source Guard
Port Security
Access Control Lists
Private VLANs
Configuring Private VLANs
Cisco Unified Computing
- Implement LAN Connectivity in a Unified Computing Environment
Configure different Port types
Implement Ethernet end Host Mode
Implement VLANs and Port Channels.
Implement Pinning and PIN Groups
Implement Disjoint Layer 2
- Implement SAN Connectivity in a Unified Computing Environment
Implement FC ports for SAN Connectivity
Implement VSANs
Implement FC Port Channels
Implement FC Trunking and SAN pinning
- Implement Unified Computing Server Resources
Create and Implement Service Profiles
Create and Implement Policies
Create and Implement Server Resource Pools
Implement Updating and Initial Templates
Implement Boot From remote storage
Implement Fabric Failover
- Implement UCS Management tasks
Implement Unified Computing Management Hierarchy using ORG and RBAC
Configure RBAC Groups
Configure Remote RBAC Configuration
Configure Roles and Privileges
Create and Configure Users
Implement Backup and restore procedures in a unified computing environment
Implement system wide policies
- Unified Computing Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Manage High Availability in a Unified Computing environment
Configure Monitoring and analysis of system events
Implement External Management Protocols
Collect Statistical Information
Firmware management
Collect TAC specific information
Implement Server recovery tasks
Cisco Application Networking Services – ANS
- Implement Data Center application high availability and load balancing
Implement standard ACE features for load balancing
Configuring Server Load Balancing Algorithm
Configure different SLB deployment modes
Implement Health Monitoring
Configure Sticky Connections
Implement Server load balancing in HA mode
Happy studying!
