CCIE Chapter 2: Data Center

DC thread ho! I am picking up DC and VMware VCP-NV simultaneously for the time being will spend some hours on one and some on the other whilst I am gathering information and coming up with a strategy for each exam. Obviously the DC lab is the bigger and badder of both goals, and already I will face some very interesting logistical challenges that will factor into my strategy and approach to the lab, but here I am. Whilst I am still in the position to study a lot, then DC is what I will ultimately aim for, and the VCP-NV to go with that I think is a very nice combination indeed.

A feather in the DC cap, so to speak.

Here's to it. This thread will be my blog for CCIE: DC and then my thread over in Virtualisation will be where I document my VCP-NV approach. I am putting 12 months as a target for the CCIE: DC initially, and luckily I can take the lab remotely (London) - so I already know my actual lab day approach.

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Comments

lrb

Good luck man! Do you have an idea which major subject you will tackle first in the DC (storage, networking, server)?

gorebrush

Well it is certainly going to be an interesting exam. Switching makes a lot of sense given that would be comparatively my strongest subject, and arguably the core of the actual network itself. I was a Server Administrator for a long time and still work with servers daily at home on my ESX server, so I will squarely count this as my 2nd strongest subject, leaving Storage. I know very little - so I think that is how I will approach the topics, i.e. Switching first, Servers second, Storage third.

Quite handy then that I'm on the DCNX7K course this very week, so I've already received a very good high level overview of most of the Nexus-centric features such as FabricPath, OTV, LISP, vPC/+ etc...

EDIT: I suppose I could count the hours in lectures and lab as my first hours on the clock? Why not

EDIT 2: Yes, yes I will. (counted for the week)

lrb

The INE videos aren't too bad for the storage configuration; i've used them a few times for stuff like NPIV. But yeah similar to you, storage would be my weakest of the three areas.

gorebrush

I shall check those out! There's a number of books around now and umpteen links online, so I can start gathering those - and also DocCD take #2.

gorebrush

Could a mod kindly pin this post? And any other CCIE diary we've got going at the moment, there are a few! (You could also unpin my R&S thread now as I'm done with it)

OfWolfAndMan

Wow man, that is an awesome combination to pursue! I haven't heard too much about the NV, but the DC track will be exciting I'm sure!

d4nz1g

I will just leave this here: NX-OS software architecture. Very helpful.

[HTML]http://d2zmdbbm9feqrf.cloudfront.net/2014/usa/pdf/BRKARC-3471.pdf[/HTML]

JoJoCal19

Good luck in your endeavors gorebrush!

gorebrush

Not much to report today. Tried to do some initial research into DC/VCP and didn't get far. Back to work today for the first day in 5 weeks - man that was hard going. In other news, parts of my lab are now going which I am pleased about as this means two things: -

1. Incoming funds for further lab purchases.
2. Freeing up space and moving on equipment I don't have a use for anymore.

gorebrush

Change of plans - I shall be here and will forget about VMware for the time being.

bermovick

You should look into signing up for the Stanly class, just to get the class requirement out of the way still.

I'm not actively studying for it, but I did enough to pass the class for now, with plans to do it after my (successful!) lab attempt sometime over the summer.

Iristheangel

Nice. Good luck. Hope you're enjoying the studies so far. What books have you read or are on your list to read?

joelsfood

You can use the CCNP/CCNA - VCP-NV setup to get out of class requirement for any VCP. Check out the threads in the virtualizaiton forum.

gorebrush

So far I am pretty much Day 1 with CCIE: DC - I had the 5 day Configuring Nexus 7K course which covered most of the Nexus centric features, like FabricPath, OTV etc, etc. I've got some books but nothing read yet - but have done some various bits and bobs with supporting them here at work so I am hoping to get cracking with this as soon as.

ninjaturtle

Who did you go with for the DCNX7K course? I'm scheduled for the DCNX7K course end of next month in DC with Global Knowledge. I'm really looking forward to it.

gorebrush

Fast Lane training did the course over here in London. Another CCIE took the course, really nice guy.

Iristheangel

I read the whole reading list and I'll tell you right now: Most of the books were pretty bad or just a waste of time. I would highly recommend only reading the following:
- Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals
- NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching
- Cisco Storage Networking Cookbook

You'll find the recommended UCS book massively out of date, the SAN book is dry and either INE or IPExpert goes into way more detail than the book, and Data Center Fundamentals is really out of date. I regret wasting my time reading the whole list and not focusing on the books people recommended. Also, SteveO has a great list of config guides and best practice/design guides on his blog. Definitely read those - even after knowing how to configure things, I got some great tidbits and time savers from those.

Anyways, good luck

gorebrush

Thanks for the headsup! I'll get those, though I know I have the 2nd book already.

ninjaturtle

Yea totally, as I was going through the list the other night and was a bit overwhelmed at the reading list I need to hit.

gorebrush

Heh, that doesn't scare me

Iristheangel

@Ninjaturtle - look at any other CCIE track's reading list. I think every other track is 3-10 times longer

lrb

There is a lot of overlap in the R&S and SP reading list as well. For example, you don't need to read the BGP introduction and peering basics in both Routing TCP/IP vol2 and Internet Routing Architectures.

gorebrush

The reading list isn't the end of it though - There are RFC's galore that really need reading as well

gorebrush

Iristheangel wrote: »

I read the whole reading list and I'll tell you right now: Most of the books were pretty bad or just a waste of time. I would highly recommend only reading the following:
- Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals
- NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching
- Cisco Storage Networking Cookbook

So I ordered the other two books I didn't have before.

gorebrush

So studies a bit slow lately - been getting used to the work routine again after 5 weeks out (Nice break though) - at the moment I'm not working too hard on studies as I've got some other things to attend to outside of work/study so will just do bits and pieces where I can for the time being. No rush really as I'm in my current role for the foreseeable.