Detailed Course Outline
Lesson 1: Introduction to Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI)
- Identify the components of a Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI)
- Understand the challenges that are being addresses by Hyper-converged Infrastructure
- Explain the benefits of an HCI solution
- Compare First Generation HCI solutions with Cisco HyperFlex
- Present the components and physical topology of the Cisco HyperFlex with Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) solution
Lesson 2: Cisco HyperFlex Systems Hardware and Software Architecture
- Present the New Features available with the Cisco HX Release 3.5
- Understand the capabilities and functionality of the HyperFlex All-Flash server platform
- Present the Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform hardware components
- Describe the Cisco HyperFlex system architecture
- Understand the advanced storage features and performance enhancements of the HyperFlex cluster
- Identify the hardware functionality of the Hyperflex HX server nodes
- Describe the management and connectivity details for various HyperFlex HX cluster deployments
Lesson 3: Cisco HyperFlex Systems Use Cases, Solutions and Performance
- Introduce the Cisco Validated Design (CVD) guides that are available for the HyperFlex HX Data Platform solution
- Describe the Cisco HyperFlex All-Flash Systems for Deploying Microsoft SQL Server Database validated design details
- Present the Cisco HyperFlex M5 All-Flash Hyperconverged System with up to 600 Citrix XenDesktop Users validated design details
- Identify and compare the performance advantages of the Cisco HyperFlex HCI solution with other vendors for Oracle OLTP, SQL Server and mixed workload operating environments
Lesson 4: HyperFlex Pre-installation Requirements
- Review the software requirements for VMware ESXi
- Describe the physical requirements for successful HX cluster deployment
- Present the network requirements for HX Data Platform installation
- Define the port requirements for VMware ESXi and vCenter
- Identify the HyperFlex external connections
- Provide the deployment information and variables required when using the HX Data Platform installer
Lesson 5: HyperFlex HX Data Platform Installation Best Practices
- Confirm the configuration requirements of the northbound switches that are connected to the HyperFlex cluster
- Present the Cisco UCS configuration parameters required for the HyperFlex Data Installer utility
- Describe the VMware vCenter host, licensing and networking parameters that support successful of the HX Data Platform
Lesson 6: Installing Cisco HyperFlex Systems Using the HX Installer
- Present the benefits of the HX Data Platform automation function to streamline Cisco UCS and VMware vCenter configuration
- Describe the HyperFlex factory pre-installed hardware and software options
- Identify the steps required to install, deploy and launch the HX Data Platform Installer
- Describe HyperFlex cluster creation validation using UCS Manager and VMware vSphere Client/Web Client
Lesson 7: Post-Installation Requirements for HX Data Platform
- Describe the post installation capabilities of the HX Installer command line interface
- Present the post install script as a streamlined to perform cluster administrative functions such as Auto Support, email alerts and password changes
- Identify the HX vSphere Plug-in and the HX Connect utility as two methods to create and manage HyperFlex cluster datastores
- Explain the use of the HX vSphere Plug-in to create snapshots and ReadyClone VM clones
Lesson 8: Troubleshooting HX Data Platform Installation and Upgrades
- Present issues that are commonly encountered during HX cluster creation and upgrade activities
- Describe troubleshooting steps to validate and correct network connectivity problems due to misconfiguration of VLAN, frame size and quality of service parameters across vCenter, UCS and northbound switch platforms
- Identify issues that cause virtual machine migration (vMotion) failure
- Present the issues that prevent successful completion of HX cluster and node upgrades and provide corrective measures to complete the operations
Lesson 9: Upgrading the HX Data Platform
- Present the upgrade features for HX Data Platform v3.5(1a)
- Describe the HX Data Platform upgrade guidelines and recommendations
- Identify the Cisco HX Data Platform upgrade matrix including Cisco UCS manager and VMware ESXi
- Present the upgrade validations, pre-installation checks and pre-upgrade procedures
- Describe the process to upgrade the Cisco UCS Infrastructure using UCS Manager
- Describe the process to upgrade the HX Data Platform, Cisco UCS Server and VMware ESXi using the HX Connect utility
Lesson 10: HyperFlex Stretched Cluster Overview and Configuration
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• Introduce the HyperFlex Stretched Cluster architecture and pre-installation checklist requirements
• Describe the process to download the witness VM installation image file and complete the configuration and deployment within vCenter
• Present the process to create the Stretched Cluster Sites and run the Configure Site workflow for Sites A and B
• Explain the required steps to create the HyperFlex Stretched Cluster and run the Create Stretch Cluster workflow
Lesson 11: HX Data Platform for the Hyper-V Environment
- Describe the hardware, software network services and port requirements that support the installation of the HX Data Platform for the Hyper-V environment
- Present the guidelines and limitations for creating the HyperFlex cluster using the HX Data Installer as well as DNS and Active Directory
- Present the process to download the HX Data Installer VM and install the image onto a Hyper-V server
- Define the steps required to deploy the HyperFlex cluster for Hyper-V using the HX Data Installer
Labs
- Lab 1: Initial Cisco UCS HyperFlex (HX) Hardware Configuration
- Lab 2: Initial UCS HyperFlex (HX) Software Installation
- Lab 3: Validate UCS HyperFlex Software Installation
- Lab 4: Manage UCS HyperFlex Datastores
- Lab 5: Provision Virtual Machines
- Lab 6: Creating and Managing HyperFlex Ready Clones
- Lab 7: Creating and Managing HyperFlex Snapshots
- Lab 8: Monitoring and Alerts for HX Systems
- Lab 9: Cisco HX Systems CLI
- Lab 10: HX Cluster Installation
- Lab 11: HX Cluster Replication
- Lab 12: UCS Director Integration with HyperFlex
- Lab 13: Operation with HyperFlex Connect
- Lab 14: Operation with HyperFlex Plugin for vSphere
- Lab 15: Create a HyperFlex Stretched Cluster
- Lab 16: Manage the HyperFlex Stretched Cluster