(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

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 here to learn more.

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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.

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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

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Dates and Prices

Date Language Location Price|

12.05.2025 - 16.05.2025

English

Online, GMT+2

3470 €

3510 $

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17.11.2025 - 21.11.2025

English

Online, GMT+1

3470 €

3510 $

Book now
All prices exclude VAT.

Language: English

Location: Online

Price:  3470 € 3510 $

Book now

Language: English

Location: Online

Price:  3470 € 3510 $

Book now

All prices exclude VAT.

What are CLCs (Cisco Learning Credits)?

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.

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

If you’re interested in training for teams, specific language or on-premise delivery, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will try to accommodate all your expectations to get you the best training experience.

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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:

Get expert knowledge

Our learning programs are designed and led by expert IT engineers, consultants, and instructors. We constantly implement participants’ feedback to improve courses.

Our experiences build your competencies

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.

Rise above the industry average

Cisco courses are intended not only for passing the certification exam but also for developing your skills and rising above the industry average. Our instructors provide guidance and references that allow you to grow into a confident and competent professional.

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.

Be ahead of the curve

As Cisco Platinum Learning Partner and technical community member, we create learning content for major technological vendors. NIL Learning is among the first to offer high-quality learning and training courses in Cisco Technologies.

Get more from a training

Our instructors deliver the courses with practical and useful examples from real-life situations. All NIL Learning instructors are field-proven experts – each both an active engineer and instructor.

Courses delivered by experts for experts in the making.

Among the first to offer training on newly arrived Cisco technologies

Part of Conscia, leading European IT solutions and services provider

A tech powerhouse with 30+ years of training & field experience

Industry-acclaimed, broadly expertised, and technically proficient

Connecting you with future trusted industry advisors

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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Course Instructors

Knowledge is your greatest power. And it resides in the people that lead our courses.

Why NIL?

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30+ years of experience

Since 1992, NIL has been at the forefront of advanced contributors to strategic partner Cisco technologies, learning curriculum and value-added solutions deployed to clients around the globe.

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FAQ

A remote lab is a virtual environment that provides access to Cisco equipment and software for hands-on practice. It allows learners to simulate real-world scenarios and apply what they have learned in a controlled setting, all from a remote location.

Labs work by providing a set of tasks or exercises that learners must complete using the remote lab environment. These tasks are designed to reinforce theoretical knowledge through practical application, often using real or simulated Cisco hardware and software configurations.

Access to labs is provided to learners by an instructor at the beginning of the training.

Access to the remote lab is limited to the duration of the course.

Accessing a remote lab requires a stable internet connection and a compatible web browser. Some labs may also require specific software or plugins to be installed on your computer. Detailed system requirements are provided in advance.

Not every course includes a remote lab. Whether a course includes a remote lab depends on the course’s objectives and structure. Courses focused on practical skills or technical certifications are more likely to include remote labs. Each training has lab exercises listed in its description.

To access the Course Book or Student Guide, you must have an active Cisco.com ID (CCO ID). Access details are provided a few days before the start date of the training and on the first day of the training by the instructor (in case an email from Cisco is missed).

Access to the Course Book (Student Guide) is related to the learners’s CCO ID and is valid for the life of a specific course.

Reach out to our team!

For any additional information, team training or language options, write to our team! We’re eager to help you meet your learning goals.

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