HXICA - HyperFlex Implementation and Administration v3.5 Course Details:

HXICA - HyperFlex Implementation and Administration v3.5 provides an introduction to hyper-converged infrastructure and presents the Cisco HyperFlex (HX) hardware and software architecture.  HX use cases and solutions based on Cisco Validated Designs (CVD) are presented as well as performance advantages of the HX platform over competing vendors.  Pre-installation requirements, best practices and post installation requirements are delivered in conjunction with the HX Data Platform Installer as a utility to streamline cluster creation and validation. Additional topics include troubleshooting and upgrading HX, creating HyperFlex stretched clusters and installing HX within Hyper-V environments.

 

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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

  • 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

*Please Note: Course Outline is subject to change without notice. Exact course outline will be provided at time of registration.
  • Introduction to Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI)
  • Cisco HyperFlex - Hardware and Software Architecture
  • Cisco HyperFlex - Use Cases, Solutions and Performance
  • Cisco HyperFlex - Requirements and Best Practices
  • Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform - Installation, Troubleshooting, and Upgrading

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

 

  • Familiarity with data center storage
  • Familiarity with virtualization
  • Basic understanding of the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS)
  • Channel partners
  • Systems engineers needing to position HyperFlex
  • Engineers and architects interested in HyperFlex
  • Administrators needing to manage HyperFlex

 

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