Data Center Unified Computing Implementation (DCUCI) is designed to serve the needs of engineers and technicians who implement Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) B-Series Blade Servers and Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Servers.
Data Center Unified Computing Implementation (DCUCI) v4.0 updates and replaces Data Center Unified Computing Implementation (DCUCI) v3.0 and guides learners through rack installation and the provisioning of server hardware, operating systems or hypervisors, and applications. Significant content is devoted to management, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Data Center Unified Computing Implementation (DCUCI) v4.0 articulates Cisco data-center virtualization solutions and explains how to execute a virtualization solution that is based on a detailed implementation plan.
Because of the rapid development pace of new product features, approximately 50 percent or more of the course content is modified or replaced in this update. This design effort aims to achieve several goals:
- Restructure the content to better suit the needs of implementation personnel, by aligning course content and labs with actual workflow and by preparing learners to configure the most recent, innovative Cisco *Unified Computing System solutions.
- Complete an overall update of Cisco data-center product portfolio hardware and software releases for Cisco *UCS B-Series, Cisco UCS C-Series, and Cisco Nexus 1000V product families.
- Provide updated implementation guidelines for included technologies
Module 1: Review of Data Center Unified Computing Implementation E-Learning
Lesson 1: Brief Survey of Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Implementation E-Learning
- Reviewing Evolution of Cisco UCS
- Reviewing Cisco UCS
- Reviewing Cisco UCS C-Series Hardware Components
- Installing Cisco UCS C-Series Hardware
- Reviewing Cisco UCS B-Series Hardware Components
- Reviewing B-Series Blade Server Architecture and Features
- Reviewing Cisco UCS Use Cases
- Reviewing Server Virtualization
- Designing the Data Center Access Layer
- Reviewing VMware Ethernet Networking
- Reviewing Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switch Architecture
Module 2: Installation of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Servers
Lesson 1: Updating Firmware Components of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Servers
- Locate and Download C-Series Firmware on Cisco.com
- Install and Activate Cisco UCS C-Series IMC Firmware
- Update C-Series BIOS Firmware
- Update C-Series BIOS Before Loading Operating System
- Recover from Corrupted BIOS
Module 3: Cisco IMC Configuration
Lesson 1: Configuring Cisco IMC
- Access the Server BIOS
- Perform Scripted Setup of Cisco IMC BIOS
- Monitor Sensor and Log Data in Cisco IMC
- Sensor Thresholds, Alerts, and Actions
- Cisco IMC Logs and TFTP Export of Tech Support Data
Lesson 2: Provisioning Server Hardware with Cisco IMC
- Configure Cisco IMC Local User Accounts
- Launch and Use the KVM Console
- Configure Virtual Media
- Operating System Drivers and Utilities
- Configure IPMI for Remote Management
- Configure SoL Protocol
Module 4: Cisco UCS B-Series Hardware and Management
Lesson 1: Describing Cisco UCS B-Series Hardware Components
- Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect Licensing Requirements
- Fault-Tolerant Configurations of the Cisco UCS B-Series Power Supplies
- Hardware Redundancy Components for Data and Management Planes
Lesson 2: Assembling B-Series Architecture and Features
- Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect Cluster Requirement
- Fault Detection and Correction Using Cisco UCS Manager and the CLI
Lesson 3: Installing Cisco UCS B-Series Hardware
- Physical and Environmental Requirements for Cisco UCS B-Series Servers
- Physical Installation of Rack-Mount Slides in the Enclosure and on the UCS 5108 Chassis
- Opening the Cases of UCS B200, B230, B250, and B440 Blade Servers
- Installation and Removal of CPU, RAM, and Mezzanine Cards in Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers
- Physical Installation and Removal of Local Hard Drives
- Installation of RAID BBU and RAID Key in B440 Blades
- Physical Installation of I/O Modules and Power Supplies in the Cisco UCS 5108 Chassis
- Installation and Removal of Fan Units
- Installation of B200, B230, B250, and B440 Blade Servers
- Installation and Removal of SFP+ Copper Twinax and Optical Modules
Module 5: Cisco UCS Connectivity Configuration and Management
Lesson 1: Configuring Cisco UCS B-Series Physical Connectivity
- I/O Uplinks and Bandwidth Oversubscription
- IOM Architecture, Including CMC, I/O MUX, and CMS
- Cisco IMC Management Component of the B-Series Blades
- Discovery Process and How to Monitor It
Lesson 2: Exploring the Cisco UCS B-Series User Interfaces
- Cisco UCS Manager GUI
- Navigation Window
- Main Features of the Cisco UCS Manager
- Access the Cisco UCS Manager CLI
- Connect to the CLI Shells
Lesson 3: Configuring Compute Node LAN Connectivity
- Port Personality States of 10-Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces on the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect
- Requirements and Configuration of Port Channels from the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect to a Northbound Switch
- End-Host Mode
- End-Host Mode Versus Switched Mode
- Requirements for Configuring VLANs in Cisco UCS Manager
- Role of the vNIC in Abstracting MAC Addresses
- Static IOM Pinning and Recovery from Failure
- Automatic Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
- Configuration of Manual Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
Lesson 4: Configuring Compute Node SAN Connectivity
- Fibre Channel Switching
- Cisco NPV
- Benefits and Drawbacks of NPV and Fibre Channel Switching
- How NPIV Allows a Single N_Port to Be Associated with Multiple FC_IDs
- Requirements and Configuration of VSANs in Cisco UCS Manager
- Role of vHBAs to Abstract WWNNs and WWPNs into a Service Profile
- Automatic Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
- Configuration of Manual Uplink Pinning and Recovery from Failure
Module 6: Server Resources Implementation
Lesson 1: Creating Identity and Resource Pools
- Rationale for Creating Identity and Resource Pools
- UUID Pools
- MAC Pools
- WWNN Pools
- WWPN Pools
- Server Pools
- Automating Server Pool Membership Based on a Qualification Policy
- Importance of Creating Pools in the Correct Organization
Lesson 2: Creating Service Profiles
- Benefits of Service Profiles
- Configuration of a BIOS Policy
- Configuration of an Adapter Policy
- Create a QoS System Class
- Configuration of IPMI and SoL Policies
- Configuration of a Scrub Policy for Local Disks and BIOS
- Simple vs. Expert Service Profile Wizards
- Service Profile Expert Wizard
- Configure the Service Profile to Take Its UUID from a Pool
- Configuration of vHBAs
- Configuration of vNICs
- vNIC and vHBA Placement on Full-Slot Blades
- Binding of a vHBA to a Fibre Channel Boot Target
- Server Assignment
- Required vs. Optional Components of the Service Profile Definition
Lesson 3: Creating Service Profile Templates and Cloning Service Profiles
- Service Profile Templates
- Creating Differentiated Service Profile Templates
- Automating Creation of a Server Farm Using Service Profile Templates
- Hidden Pitfalls When Using Updating Templates
- Unbind a Service Profile from its Template
- Cloning a Service Profile
Lesson 4: Managing Service Profiles
- Associating and Disassociating a Service Profile to a Server Blade
- Changes to a Service Profile That Trigger a Cisco UCS Utility Update
- Planning the Organization Where a Service Profile Is Created
- Moving a Service Profile to a New Server Blade in the Event of Hardware Failure
Module 7: Virtual Server Networking
Lesson 1: Evaluating the Cisco Nexus 1000V
- Cisco Virtual Switching Overview
- Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switching Feature Overview
- Lesson 2: Working with VMware Ethernet Networking
- VMware vDS
- Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS
- Cisco Nexus 1000V Administrator Roles
- Comparing VN-Link in Software and Hardware
Lesson 3: Characterizing Cisco Nexus 1000V Architecture
- Cisco Nexus 1000V Overview
- Cisco Nexus 1000V Architectural Overview
Lesson 4: Installing and Configuring the Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch
- Configure the VSM vSwitch Networks
- Install VSM on a VM
- Initial VSM Configuration
- Configure the VSM-to-vCenter Connection
- Cisco Nexus 1000V High-Availability Configuration
- Cisco Nexus 1010 Virtual Services Appliance
- Comparing the Cisco Nexus 1000V and Cisco Nexus 1010 Virtual Services Appliance
Lesson 5: Configuring Basic Cisco Nexus 1000V Networking
- Port Profiles Within the VSM
- VLAN Configuration
- Private VLAN Configuration
- Creating Uplink Profiles
- Creating vEthernet Port Profiles
- Configuring Cisco Nexus 1000V Port Channels
- Adding VEMs to the VSM
- Backing up a VSM Configuration
- vMotion and Port Profile Mobility
Lesson 6: Configuring Cisco UCS Manager for VMware PTS
- Install Cisco UCS Manager Extension in vCenter
- Configure Cisco UCS Manager to Connect to vCenter
- Configure Uplink and vEthernet Profiles
- Configure Service Profiles with Dynamic NICs
- Configure vMotion and M81KR Port Profile Mobility
Module 8: Cisco Unified Computing System Management and Maintenance
Lesson 1: Implementing Cisco Unified Computing System Startup and Shutdown Procedures
- Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect Startup and Shutdown Procedures
- Effects of Shutting down or Rebooting a Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect on the High-Availability Cluster
- Startup and Shutdown Procedures for Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers
- Procedures for Power State Verification
Lesson 2: Configuring Role-Based Access Control
- Overall Framework of RBAC in Cisco UCS B Series
- Configuring Local Users, Roles, and Privileges
- Configuring Organizations and Locales
- Effective Rights of a User, as an Intersection of Mapped Roles and Locales
- Configuring LDAP and Active Directory as an External Authentication and Authorization Service
- Mapping Cisco Unified Computing System Roles LDAP and Active Directory Attributes
Lesson 3: Backing Up and Restoring the Cisco UCS Manager Database
- Supported Backup Types and Functions
- Import Operations and Disaster-Recovery Restore Operations
- Configuring a Backup Job
- Verifying Backup Creation and Execution
- Configuring an Import Job to Restore the AAA User Database
- Verifying Restoration of the AAA User Database
- Configuring the Backup Job to Preserve Abstracted Identities
- Configuring the Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect for Disaster-Recovery Restore
Lesson 4: Managing High Availability
- High-Availability Cluster Connection Requirements for Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers
- Intercluster Communications and Cisco UCS Manager Database Synchronization
- How the Cisco UCS 5108 Chassis Serial EEPROM Resolves Split-Brain Issues in the High-Availability Cluster
- Cluster Partition in Space and Partition in Time Conditions
- Modifying Cluster IP Addressing
Lesson 5: Monitoring System Events
- Fault Management System and Fault Severity Levels
- Using the Audit Log to Track Administrative Changes to the Cisco UCS Manager Database
- Areas of Operation that Are Subject to FSM Validation and FSM Output Interpretation
- Configuration and Validation of Logging Options
- Configuring the Smart Call Home Feature
- Validating the Smart Call Home Feature
- Settings for Logs, Events, and Faults
Lesson 6: Managing and Upgrading Cisco UCS B-Series Firmware
- Where to Find Cisco UCS C-Series Firmware Packages on Cisco.com
- Updating Cisco UCS B-Series Firmware
- Direct Upgrade of Cisco IMC, IOM, and Mezzanine Adapter Firmware
- Software Updates on the Fabric Interconnect
- Firmware Updates via Service Profile
- Differences Between Firmware Processes of Cisco UCS 61x0 Fabric Interconnects and Cisco IMC, IOM, and Adapter
Lab Outline
- Lab 5-1: Initial Configuration (Instructor Demo)
- Lab 5-2: Configure LAN & SAN Physical Connections (Instructor Demo)
- Lab 6-1: Configuring Resource Pools
- Lab 6-2: Creating Simple Service Profiles
- Lab 6-3: Creating Mobile Service Profiles
- Lab 6-4: Configuring C-Series Servers w/UCS integration
- Lab 7-1: Installing VMware vCenter & provision service profile for Cisco Nexus 1000V
- Lab 7-2: Installing a Cisco Nexus 1000V VSM & VEM
- Lab 7-3: Configuring Port Profiles
- Lab 8-1: Configuring RBAC
- Lab 8-2: Backing Up and Importing Configuration Data
- Lab 8-3: Testing High Availability
- Lab 8-4: Reporting