(DCFNDU) Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations
DCFNDU: Your path to Cisco data center expertise. Develop networking, virtualization, and storage skills on Cisco equipment for advanced certifications.
Duration
5 days
Version
1.1
CE Credits
30
The Cisco Continuing Education Program enables you to renew your certifications while exploring new learning paths and enhancing your skillset. It's a convenient way to stay certified without retaking exams. Click here to learn more.
CLCs
46
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By default, our instructors deliver the courses remotely in real time in English. On-premise delivery and other languages available on request.
Course Overview
The Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) is an instructor-led or virtual instructor-led course that 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 also 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 CCNP and other 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
Welcome to Your Path to Mastery!
Hey! Ready to learn and grow? I'm here to help you every step of the way!
Welcome aboard! This course is tailored to empower you with the knowledge and skills you need. We'll make learning engaging and fun, turning your challenges into achievements. Let's get started on your amazing journey!
Robert Lesar
Lead Instructor
Dates and Prices
Date | Language | Location | Price| | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.05.2025 - 16.05.2025 |
English |
Online, GMT+2 |
3470 € 3510 $ |
Book now |
17.11.2025 - 21.11.2025 |
English |
Online, GMT+1 |
3470 € 3510 $ |
Book now |
All prices exclude VAT. |
All prices exclude VAT.
Cisco Learning Credits (CLCs) are prepaid training vouchers that can be used as investment into your knowledge. You can attend NIL Learning’s trainings and pay with CLCs. Click to learn more.
Objectives
Gain expert IT skills with NIL Learning: Benefit from our blend of theory and practical experience. Enhance your growth with insights into current and future tech trends. Choose us for cutting-edge Cisco training and more, taught by field-proven experts to maximize your training investment.
- 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 Cisco FEX connectivity
- Describe Ethernet port channels and vPCs
- Introduce switch virtualization, machine virtualization, and 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 the basic concepts of cloud computing
Who should enroll?
- Data center administrators
- Data center engineers
- Systems engineers
- Server administrators
- Network managers
- Cisco integrators and partners
- Data center designers
- Technical solutions architects
- Network architects
Course benefits:
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With 30+ years of experience, we’ve been on the market as long as Cisco. Our understanding of IT systems and industry job demands gives us the insight to guide you toward becoming a world-class expert yourself.
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Retain the knowledge longer
Our in-depth, non-interrupted learning program ensures you understand the bigger picture and retain the knowledge long term. It also reduces the risk of information loss and confusion.
Learn from the best in Cisco technologies
Our IT consultants-turned-instructors have years of experience and dedicate time to listening and interacting with participants within the course content. Their hands-on project involvement brings practical expertise to our learning programs
Have peace of mind
We deliver on our promise and schedule. Rest assured, our instructors will give you knowledge, information, hints, and practical experiences around specific topics. Based on a global survey conducted by Cisco, NIL Learning instructors enjoy an average score of 4.78 out of 5.
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Course Outline
- Describing the Data Center Network Architectures
- - Cisco Data Center Architecture Overview
- - Three-Tier Network: Core, Aggregation, and Access
- - Spine-and-Leaf Network
- - Two-Tier Storage Network
- 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 Cisco FEX
- - Server Deployment Models
- -Cisco FEX Technology
- - Cisco FEX Traffic Forwarding
- - Cisco Adapter FEX
- Describing Port Channels and VPCs
- - Ethernet Port Channels
- - Virtual Port Channels
- - Supported VPC Topologies
- Describing Switch Virtualization
- - Cisco Nexus Switch Basic Components
- - Virtual Routing and Forwarding
- - Cisco Nexus 7000 Virtual Device Contexts (VDCs)
- - VDC Types
- - VDC Resource Allocation
- - VDC Management
- Describing Machine Virtualization
- - Virtual Machines
- - Hypervisor
- VM Manager
- Describing Network Virtualization
- - Overlay Network Protocols
- - Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) Overlay
- - VXLAN Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Control Plane
- - VXLAN Data Plane
- - Cisco Nexus 1000VE Series Virtual Switch
- - VMware vSphere Virtual Switches
- Introducing Basic Data Center Storage Concepts
- - Storage Connectivity Options in the Data Center
- - Fibre Channel Storage Networking
- - Virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) Configuration and Verification
- Describing Fibre Channel Communication Between the Initiator Server and the Target Storage
- - Fibre Channel Layered Model
- - Fabric Login (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 NPV Mode
- - NPIV Mode
- Describing Data Center Ethernet Enhancements
- - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Data Center Bridging
- - Priority Flow Control
- - Enhanced Transmission Selection
- - Data Center Bridging Exchange (DCBX) Protocol
- - Congestion Notification
- Describing FCoE
- - Cisco Unified Fabric
- - FCoE Architecture
- - FCoE Initialization Protocol
- - FCoE Adapters
- Describing Cisco UCS Components
- - Physical Cisco UCS Components
- - Cisco Fabric Interconnect Product Overview
- - Cisco I/O Module (IOM) Product Overview
- - Cisco UCS Mini
- - Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) Supervisor
- - Cisco Intersight™
- Describing Cisco UCS Manager
- - Cisco UCS Manager Overview
- - Identity and Resource Pools for Hardware Abstraction
- - Service Profiles and Service Profile Templates
- - Cisco UCS Central Overview
- - Cisco HyperFlex Overview
- Using APIs
- - Common Programmability Protocols and Methods
- - How to Choose Models and Processes
- Describing Cisco ACI
- - Cisco ACI Overview
- - Multitier Applications in Cisco ACI
- - Cisco ACI Features
- - VXLAN in Cisco ACI
- - Unicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
- - Multicast Traffic in Cisco ACI
- - Cisco ACI Programmability
- - Common Programming Tools and Orchestration Options
- Describing Cloud Computing
- - Cloud Computing Overview
- - Cloud Deployment Models
- - Cloud Computing Services
Lab Outline
- Explore the Cisco NX-OS CLI
- Explore Topology Discovery
- Configure HSRP
- Configure vPCs
- Configure VRF
- Explore the VDC Elements
- Install ESXi and vCenter
- Configure VSANs
- Validate FLOGI and FCNS
- Configure Zoning
- Configure Unified Ports on a Cisco Nexus Switch and Implement FCoE
- Explore the Cisco UCS Server Environment
- Configure a Cisco UCS Service Profile
- Configure Cisco NX-OS with APIs
- Explore the Cisco UCS Manager XML API Management Information Tree
- Explore Cisco ACI
Prerequisite Knowledge
To fully benefit from this course, you should have the following knowledge and skills:
- Good understanding of networking protocols
- Good understanding of the VMware environment
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems
These are the recommended Cisco courses that may help you meet these prerequisites:
Associated Certifications
- CCNP Data Center
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