Implementing Cisco Unified Computing System

Learn the basics of the Cisco Unified Computing System from an operational viewpoint to provide LAN, SAN, management, and compute resources for your converged Data Centers and prepare for CCNP Data Center certification exams. This LiveLesson takes you from an introduction to the hardware components to a sophisticated understanding of UCS Manager.

Description

Cisco UCS are servers optimized for virtualization, giving companies the capability to provide high availability, support for Fibre Channel or iSCSI and fast provisioning. Experienced instructor, Desiree Lindfield, guides you through a step-by-step configuration of Resource Pools, Service Profiles, and how to set up common administrative tasks such as Backups.

Each video lesson addresses core concepts, lab demonstrations, and helpful tips for supporting Cisco UCS. The instruction throughout offers detailed explanations, tips, and configuration verifications. The LiveLesson also provides information to help prepare for the CCNP Data Center certification track.

Skill Level

Beginner to Intermediate

What You Will Learn

You will learn:

• UCS Initial Configuration
• UCS Manager Overview
• Fabric Interconnect Behaviors
• Provisioning Logical and Physical Resource Pools
• Service Profile Creation
• Template Pros and Cons
• Role Based Access
• UCS Backups and restores

Who Should Take This Course

Ideal for Server Administrators looking to build their basic and advanced knowledge of implementation and support of Cisco’s Unified Computing System. Often, other Data Center employees such as Network or Storage engineers may have to provision address pools or components within UCS Manager, therefore they can benefit from an understanding the operations of UCS Manager, a Service Profile, and the position it fits into the bigger Data Center picture. Also appropriate study resource for CCNP Data Center certification candidates.

Course Requirements

Familiarity with the following is required:

• Basic networking understanding
• Basic x86 server knowledge
• Basic virtualization understanding

Table of Contents

Lesson 1: UCS Hardware Components

This lesson provides an overview and brief description of the hardware components that make up the UCS Domain. Such items include: Fabric Interconnects, IO Modules, Chassis, Blade servers, and Cisco VICs.

Lesson 2: Initial UCS Configuration

This lesson explains the physical and logical components needed for initial configuration of the UCSDomain and demonstrates the process of initial setup.

Lesson 3: Fabric Interconnect Modes

This lesson provides a high-level overview of how Fabric Interconnects work in their default mode: End host mode versus Switching mode.  The lessons also provides demonstrations focusing on the process of changing the port types and configuring the different Port Personalities.

Lesson 4: Resource Pools

This lesson describes the difference between Logical and Physical Resource Pools. Additionally, the lesson reviews the recommended ways to provision Logical Resource Pools,  and how they are beneficial to ensuring unqiue addressing for every physical server.

Lesson 5: Service Profiles, Part 1

This lesson describes the basics of a Service Profile. Next, the lesson demonstrates creating the first few steps in the Service Profile:  Identification, Network portion, Storage portion, and the purpose of creating a vNIC and vHBA template.

Lesson 6: Service Profiles, Part 2

This lesson describes the second half of the Service Profile creation process, which includes the Boot Order, the Maintenance Policy, the Server Assignment, and Operational Policies.

Lesson 7: Service Profile Templates

This lesson covers the difference between the Updating and Intial Service Profiles Templates, vNIC and vHBA Templates, in addition to understanding the complexities.

Lesson 8: UCS Administration

This lesson reviews common administrative tasks such as Role Based Access, Creating a Role and an Org, Provisioning Smart Call Home, and configuring backups.

Lesson 9: C-Series Servers

This lesson covers some of the types of C-Series or Rack Mount Standalone Servers. The lesson also reviews the CIMC Management Interface and the process of Integration with UCS Manager in a UCS Domain.

About LiveLessons Video Training

LiveLessons Video Training series publishes hundreds of hands-on, expert-led video tutorials covering a wide selection of technology topics designed to teach you the skills you need to succeed. This professional and personal technology video series features world-leading author instructors published by your trusted technology brands: Addison-Wesley, Cisco Press, IBM Press, Pearson IT Certification, Prentice Hall, Sams, and Que. Topics include: IT Certification, Programming, Web Development, Mobile Development, Home and Office Technologies, Business and Management, and more. View all LiveLessons on Cisco Press: http://www.ciscopress.com/livelessons.