The Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations (DCFNDU) v1.0 course 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 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
-
- Earn 30 CE credits toward recertification
 
After taking this course, you should be able to:
-
- 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