Implementing Cisco HyperFlex

Data Center engineers involved in the implementation of a Hyperflex multicloud solution.

After completing this course you should be able to:

• Describe hyperconvergence, Cisco HyperFlex, and the components of Cisco HyperFlex
• Explain the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) and what makes it valuable to business
• Describe how Cisco HyperFlex Data Platform (HXDP) works
• Describe the physical components of Cisco HyperFlex
• Describe Cisco Intersight and introduce functionalities relevant to HyperFlex
• Install standard ESXi-based vSphere Cisco HyperFlex
• Manage your Cisco HyperFlex VMware ESXi-based cluster
• Describe how to maintain Cisco HyperFlex
• Design a Cisco HyperFlex solution
• Protect the data on your Cisco HyperFlex cluster using replication and data at rest encryption
• Describe a stretched cluster and how is it different from a standard cluster
• Describe an Edge cluster and how is it different from a standard cluster
• Perform basic troubleshooting tasks and explain Cisco Intersight

Introducing Hyperconvergence and Cisco HyperFlex

• Traditional Data Center Design
• What Is Hyperconvergence?
• What is Cisco HyperFlex?
• Cisco HypeFllex Basics
• Cisco HyperFlex Deployment Options
• Evolution of Cisco HyperFlex

Describing Cisco UCS: The Foundation of Cisco HyperFlex

• Cisco Server Deployment Models: Standalone Versus Managed
• Cisco UCS M5 Overview
• Cisco UCS M5 Server Types
• Cisco UCS GPU Acceleration
• Cisco VICs and Their Benefits
• Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects
• Cisco UCS Manager

Describing Cisco HyperFlex Software Components

• Virtual Machine Hypervisor
• Log-Structured File System
• Cisco HyperFlex Snapshots vs VMware Snapshots
• Cisco HyperFlex vs. Regular Virtualised Server
• Cisco HyperFlex Data Distribution
• Writing and Reading Process
• Data Optimization Overview
• Cisco HyperFlex vs. Other HCI Solutions
• Investigate Software Components of Cisco HyperFlex

Describing Cisco HyperFlex Hardware Components

• Introducing Cisco HyperFlex Servers
• Storage Technologies in Cisco HyperFlex
• Storage Components of Cisco HyperFlex Converged Nodes
• Other Components of Cisco HyperFlex Nodes
• Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects
• Compute-Only Nodes
• Investigate Cisco UCS Part of HyperFlex

Introducing Cisco Intersight

• Cisco Intersight Overview
• HyperFlex Features of Intersight
• Connecting Systems to Intersight
• Intersight Infrastructure Services
• Intersight Cloud Orchestrator
• Intersight Workload Optimizer
• Intersight Kubernetes Service
• Intersight Service for Terraform
• Investigate Cisco Intersight

Installing and Expanding Standard ESXi Cisco HyperFlex

• Installation Summary
• Software Prerequisites
• Hardware Prerequisites
• Cisco HyperFlex Networking
• Required Deployment Information
• Installing Physical Components
• Configuring Upstream Switches
• Preparing Fabric Interconnects
• Deploying the Installer VM
• HyperFlex Installation
• Post-Installation
• Intersight-Based HyperFlex Expansion
• Additional Installation Options
• Install Cisco HyperFlex

Managing Cisco HyperFlex in vSphere Environment

• Management Interfaces Overview
• Cisco HyperFlex Plugin for vCenter
• Cisco HyperFlex Connect
• Storage CLI
• REST API Overview
• iSCSI and Cisco HyperFLEX LUN Management
• Cisco HyperFlex Container Storage Interface
• ReadyClones
• Cisco HyperFlex Snapshots
• Manage Cisco HyperFlex

Maintaining Cisco HyperFlex

• Cisco HyperFlex Upgrade Overview
• Cisco HyperFlex Online Upgrade
• Cisco HyperFlex Offline Upgrade
• Cisco HyperFlex Maintenance Mode
• ESXi Upgrade
• Moving Cisco HyperFlex Group to Another vCenter

Designing Cisco HyperFlex

• Cluster Resiliency: VM-Level
• Cluster Resiliency: HXDP-Level
• Cisco HyperFlex Scalability
• Cisco HyperFlex Storage Capacity
• Multiple Systems on One Cisco UCS Domain
• Cisco HyperFlex and External Storage
• Exporting Cisco HyperFlex Storage with iSCSI
• Licensing Tiers
• Cisco Smart Licensing
• Cisco HyperFlex Use Cases
• Graphical Processing Units on Cisco HyperFlex
• Designing Multicloud Data Center with Cisco HyperFlex
• HyperFlex: Releases Beyond 4.5 (1a)

Protecting Your Data

• Disaster Recovery Overview
• Third-Party Data Restore Solutions
• Cisco HyperFlex Native Replication Solutions
• Cisco HyperFlex One-to-One Native Replication
• Disaster Recovery Orchestration for One-to-One Native Replication
• Cisco HyperFlex Many-to-One Replication
• Data at Rest Encryption
• Data at Rest Encryption: Remote Key Management
• Protect Your Cisco HyperFlex VMs

Introducing Cisco HyperFlex Stretched Deployment

• Stretched Deployment Overview
• Prerequisites
• Data Distribution
• Data Stores and VM Affinity
• Installation Process
• Monitoring and Maintenance
• Investigate Stretched Group
• Install and Manage Stretched HyperFlex Group

Introducing Cisco HyperFlex EDGE

• Cisco HyperFlex EDGE System Overview
• EDGE Design Considerations
• Cisco HyperFlex EDGE Network Topologies
• Prerequisites and Recommendations
• Installation Process
• Management and Monitoring
• Upgrades and Maintenance
• Investigate HyperFlex Edge

Troubleshooting Cisco HyperFlex

• Cisco HyperFlex Best Practices
• Cisco HyperFlex Security Hardening
• Troubleshooting Guidelines
• Generating Tech Support Bundles
• Common Troubleshooting Issues

Labs

• Lab 1: Investigate Software Components of HyperFlex
• Lab 2: Investigate Cisco UCS Part of HyperFlex
• Lab 3: Investigate Cisco Intersight
• Lab 4: Install Cisco HyperFlex
• Lab 5: Manage Cisco HyperFlex
• Lab 6: Protect Your HyperFlex VMs
• Lab 7: Investgate Stretched Group
• Lab 8: Install and Manage Stretched HyperFlex Group
• Lab 9: Investigate Hyperflex Edge

Attendees should meet the following prerequisites:

• Cisco CCNA level knowledge about data center architecture and products technologies (network, compute, storage network)
• Familiarity with VMware vCenter and ESXi
• Familiarity with public cloud offerings, primarily AWS, but also Azure and GCP

• CCNA - Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions
• DCFNDU - Understanding Cisco Data Center Foundations
• VSICM - VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

Recommended as preparation for the following exams:

• 700-905  - CHXSE - Cisco HyperFlex for Systems Engineers