Configuring Cisco Nexus 5000 Switches

Configuring Cisco Nexus 5000 Switches (DCNX5K) v 2.0 is the second iteration of the DCNX5K course, with significant differences to the course structure, labs, and content. DCNX5K v2.0 is intended to be a lab focused product course. The course focuses on the key components and procedures needed to install, configure, manage and troubleshoot the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch in the network and SAN environment.

The course has been restructured as a lab-centric course, with 2/3 of a student's overall class time that is expected to be spent performing labs. This timing provides approximately 3-4 hours of lab content and only 2-3 hours of lecture content per ILT class day.

It is expected that technology concepts are off-loaded to prerequisites. The course structure is based on the Cisco Configuration Guides.

Each module, as much as possible, is independent of any other module.

The labs need to be able to be performed by one student configuring a complete pod for virtual training purposes. The labs must be scalable to two people per pod in an ILT delivery.

Each lab exercise is independent of previous labs. There is a requirement for configurations scripts and a reset procedure to establish a given labs context before the student performs any lab exercise or activity.

Each lab exercise must be restricted to the student's own pod environment and be independent of other student pod activities. There are no labs requiring pod-to-pod configuration or cooperation.

Every effort was made to base the DCNX5K v2.0 lab topology on the existing DCNX5K v1.0 lab topology. Using this topology minimizes changes to hardware and software and facilitates Cisco Learning Partner adoption.

Who should attend

•  Network Administrators
• Network Designers
• Network Engineers
• Systems Engineers
• Consulting Systems Engineers
• Cisco Integrators/Partners

Prerequisites

Attendees should meet the following prerequisites:

• Good understanding of networking protocols
• Recommended CCNA Certification
• Good understanding of the Fibre Channel protocol and the SAN environment
• Recommended attendance of a Fibre Channel Protocol class or equivalent experience
• Recommended attendance of the Implementing Cisco Storage Network Solutions (ICSNS) class or equivalent experience

Course Outline

Module 1: Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches Product Overview

Identify the products that make up the Cisco Nexus 5000 product family; understand the system architecture and the Cisco NX-OS Software features running on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

Lesson 1: Introducing the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

•  Introducing the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches
• I/O Consolidation
• I/O Consolidation Using Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch
• The Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders
• Deployment Benefits

Lesson 2: Understanding the Cisco Nexus Family System Architecture

•  Cisco Nexus 5000 and 2000 System Architecture
• Traffic Forwarding Paths
• The Cisco Nexus 5500 Switch System Architecture
• VN-Tags and VN-Links

Lesson 3: Understanding the Cisco NX-OS Software Architecture

•  The Cisco NX-OS Software Architecture
• The Cisco NX-OS Software CLI
• Licensing on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

Lesson 4: Cisco Nexus 5000 and 2000 Hardware Installation

•  Installing the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch and Cisco Nexus 2000 Fabric Extender
• Cabinet and Rack Installation
• Cabling Requirements
• Power Requirements
• Site Preparation

Module 2: Network Feature Configuration on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

Configure the network features on the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch.

Lesson 1: Configuring Layer 2 Switching Features

• Configuring Ethernet Interfaces
• Configuring VLANs
• Configuring the Spanning Tree Protocol

Lesson 2: Configuring Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders

• Configure fabric interfaces
• Configuring static pinning
• Configuring dynamic pinning
• Configuring Fabric Extender host interfaces

Lesson 3: Configuring Ethernet Port Channels and Virtual Port Channels

•  Configure port channels
• The Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches and the Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders deployment models
• Configure virtual port channels (vPCs)

Lesson 4: Configuring Quality of Service

•  Explain QoS
• QoS features
• Configuring QoS
• Configure the maximum transmission unit (MTU) value

Lesson 5: Configuring Cisco FabricPath

•  Implementing Cisco FabricPath

Lesson 6: Troubleshooting Layer 2 Switching

•  Troubleshooting Overview and Tools
• Troubleshooting MAC Address Table
• Troubleshooting the Spanning Tree Protocol
• Troubleshooting VLAN

Module 3: Fibre Channel over Ethernet

Configure the system management features on the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch.

Lesson 1: Understanding the Fibre Channel Protocol

•  The SCSI Protocol
• The Fibre Channel Model
• Fibre Channel Frames
• Fibre Channel Interfaces and Ports
• Fibre Channel Addressing
• Fibre Channel Flow Control
• Fibre Channel Domain Initialization
• Virtual Fabrics and Zoning
• The Fabric Shortest Path First Protocol
• Fibre Channel Login Procedures

Lesson 2: System Management on the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch

•  FCoE Adapters
• FCoE Architecture
• FCoE Emulated Node (ENode)
• FCoE Initialization Protocol
• Multi-hop FCoE

Lesson 3: Identifying IEEE Data Center Bridging Enhancements

•  Identify the components and the purpose of DCB
• Identify the purpose of IEEE 802.1Qbb Priority Flow Control (PFC)
• Identify the purpose of IEEE 802.1Qaz Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS)
• Identify the purpose of the IEEE 802.1AB Data Center Bridging Exchange (DCBX) Protocol

Lesson 4: Configuring FCoE

•  Configure FCoE
• Configure FCoE VLANs and Virtual Interfaces

Lesson 5: Troubleshooting FCoE

•  Troubleshooting Data Center Bridging issues
• Troubleshooting FIP issues
• Troubleshooting CNA issues
• Troubleshooting PFC issues

Lesson 6: Configuring SAN Switching Features

•  Fibre Channel Interfaces
• Configuring Domain Parameters
• Configuring VSANs
• VSAN Trunking
• SAN Port Channels
• Distributed Device Alias Service
• Zoning
• FSPF Protocol FLOGI, FCNS, and RSCN Databases

Lesson 7: SAN Management Tools

•  Cisco Data Center Network Manager for SAN
• Cisco Device Manager

Lesson 8: Implementing Cisco NPV Mode and NPIV

•  Understanding Cisco NPV mode
• Configuring Cisco NPV mode
• Understanding NPIV
• Configuring NPIV

Lesson 9: Troubleshooting SAN Switching

•  General SAN Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting Cisco NPV Mode
• Troubleshooting Zoning
• Troubleshooting SAN Port Channels
• Troubleshooting VSANs

Module 4: System Management Features of the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches

Configure the system management features on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches.

Lesson 1: Configuring Security Features

•  Security Features Overview
• System Message Logging
• Configuring Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
• Configuring Role-Based Access Control
• Configuring Secure Shell
• Configuring Access Control Lists

Lesson 2: Configuring System Management

• Understanding Switch Management Methods and Features
• Cisco Fabric Services
• Generic Online Diagnostics
• Smart Call Home
• Simple Network Management Protocol
• The XML Interface
• Cisco Data Center Network Manager

Lesson 3: Understanding Cisco Nexus High Availability

• Cisco NX-OS Software High Availability Features
• Stateful and Stateless Process Restarts
• In Service Software Updates (ISSU)

DCNX5K Hands-On Lab Exercises

• Module 1 Lab 1-1: Initial Switch Configuration
• Module 2 Lab 2-1: Configuring Layer 2 Switching Features
• Module 2 Lab 2-2: Connecting the Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extender
• Module 2 Lab 2-3: Implementing Virtual Port Channels (vPC)
• Module 2 Lab 2-4: Configuring QoS
• Module 2 Lab 2-5: Troubleshooting Layer 2 Switching
• Module 3 Lab 3-1: Implementing FCoE
• Module 3 Lab 3-2: Troubleshooting FCoE
• Module 3 Lab 3-3: Configuring SAN Switching
• Module 3 Lab 3-4: Configuring Cisco NPV Mode on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches
• Module 3 Lab 3-5: Troubleshooting SAN Switching
• Module 4 Lab 4-1: Configuring Security Features
• Module 4 Lab 4-2: Configuring System Management Features
• Module 4 Lab 4-3: Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software with ISSU