Mastering Cisco ACI - DCACI 300-620 Prep Course

Packt via Coursera

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

17 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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Master Cisco ACI and Nexus 9000 switches with this course. Gain hands-on experience in SDN, fabric discovery, external network integration, and ACI policies. Perfect for those preparing for the 300-620 DCACI exam. This course provides a deep dive into Cisco ACI, focusing on implementing, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco Nexus 9000 switches in ACI mode. The journey begins with understanding the ACI architecture, including external network integration and fabric discovery. Participants will explore the APIC controller, configuring tenants, VRFs, and bridge domains for real-world deployments. You will progress to more advanced topics like configuring policies, interface profiles, and VLAN pools. The labs ensure hands-on experience in setting up ACI environments and troubleshooting common issues. As you advance, you'll tackle inter-EPG connectivity, external Layer 2 and Layer 3 domains, and NTP configuration. The course culminates in setting up a VMware-based ACI lab, offering a robust, practical approach to mastering Cisco ACI. From fundamental concepts to complex deployments, this course prepares you thoroughly for the DCACI 300-620 exam and real-world application of Cisco ACI. This course is designed for network engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals looking to expand their expertise in SDN and Cisco ACI. Those preparing for the Cisco DCACI 300-620 certification exam will benefit from a comprehensive understanding of Cisco Nexus 9000 switches, fabric discovery, ACI policies, and troubleshooting techniques. Prior knowledge of networking concepts, Cisco systems, and basic configuration is recommended to maximize learning. Prepare for the DCACI 300-620 exam by mastering Cisco ACI concepts and hands-on labs. The course guides you through ACI fabric deployment, management, external network connectivity, and Nexus 9000 series switch configuration. Explore policies, traffic flow, and bridge domains while simulating real-world scenarios to ensure in-depth comprehension. This course is based on Mastering Cisco ACI - DCACI 300-620 Prep Course, by Ashish Ashish. This course is licensed and distributed by Packt. All rights reserved. Packt is one of the world's most prolific publishers of cutting-edge technical content. For over two decades we've made it our mission to curate and publish the knowledge of only the very best technical experts. We focus on real-world courses that help our customers get the job done, with coverage that extends across a wide range of established and cutting-edge technical topics. If you're an individual or an organisation that embraces learning by doing, Packt is the perfect fit for you.

Syllabus

Introduction
- This module provides an overview of the course structure, key topics, and learning goals, helping learners understand what to expect and how to approach the material effectively.
Cisco ACI and Hardware Overview
- This module provides an overview of Cisco ACI, covering its architecture, hardware components, and networking protocols. Learners will gain an understanding of how ACI supports data center management through automation and monitoring capabilities. The content also includes practical insights into health monitoring, fault interpretation, and audit log utilization.
APIC and CLI Walkthrough
- This module guides learners through the setup and navigation of Cisco ACI using both the APIC GUI and CLI. It covers essential tasks such as initial controller configuration, policy setup, and fabric management. Learners will gain hands-on experience with the tools needed to manage Cisco ACI environments effectively.
Tenant, Context and Bridge Domain
- This module explores the foundational concepts of Cisco ACI tenants, including their role in network management, and covers the setup and configuration of VRFs, Bridge Domains, and subnets. Learners will gain hands-on experience through lab exercises that reinforce key network segmentation and policy management techniques.
Interface Policy and IPG in Cisco ACI
- This module covers the fundamentals of Interface Policies and Interface Policy Groups (IPG) in Cisco ACI, including their configuration and use in managing network behavior. Learners will gain hands-on experience setting up policies and groups to optimize endpoint connectivity and network efficiency.
Interface and Switch Profiles
- This module explores the creation and configuration of Switch and Interface Profiles in Cisco ACI, focusing on how these components enable effective network management and policy deployment. Learners will gain hands-on experience with lab exercises to implement these profiles and understand their role in connecting devices to the ACI fabric. The module also covers the relationships between profiles, selectors, and policy groups for optimized network functionality.
VLAN Pool and Domain
- This module covers the configuration and management of VLAN Pools and Domains in Cisco ACI, focusing on network segmentation, traffic management, and practical implementation through labs and knowledge checks.
Domain and AAEP
- This module covers the creation and configuration of domains and AAEPs in Cisco ACI, focusing on how these elements enable network communication and policy enforcement within the ACI fabric. Learners will gain hands-on experience in setting up network profiles and understanding their roles in endpoint connectivity.
App Profile and EPG in ACI
- This module focuses on understanding the fundamentals of Endpoint Groups (EPGs) and Application Profiles in Cisco ACI, including their roles in network segmentation, configuration, and policy management. Learners will gain hands-on experience with setting up EPGs and practicing intra-EPG communication in a lab environment. The module also reinforces key concepts through a knowledge check to ensure comprehension.
Contract, Subject and Filter
- This module covers the fundamental concepts of Contracts, Subjects, and Filters in Cisco ACI, explaining how they regulate communication between Endpoint Groups. Learners will gain an understanding of traffic policies, consumer-provider relationships, and the role of specialized contracts like taboo contracts. The content prepares learners to implement and manage network policies effectively.
Inter EPG L3 Connectivity
- This module covers configuring and testing inter-EPG communication in Cisco ACI environments, focusing on Layer 3 connectivity, contract definitions, and policy mapping. Learners will gain hands-on experience in setting up and verifying communication between EPGs to ensure secure and efficient network segmentation.
OOB Addressing and NTP Setup
- This module covers the configuration of Out-of-Band (OOB) addressing and NTP setup in Cisco ACI, focusing on establishing dedicated management channels and ensuring time synchronization across a data center network. Learners will gain hands-on experience in setting up critical infrastructure components for efficient network management.
vPC in Cisco ACI
- This module provides an in-depth look at configuring and managing vPC in Cisco ACI, focusing on redundancy, load balancing, and network reliability. Learners will gain hands-on experience through labs involving port number configurations and troubleshooting techniques. The module also covers key concepts like policies, profiles, and best practices for maintaining virtual port channels.
External Layer 2 Domain
- This module covers the integration of external Layer 2 networks with Cisco ACI fabric, including configuration of external connections, EPG extensions, and bridge domains. Learners will gain practical skills in enabling communication between internal and external network environments.
External Layer 3 Domain
- This module covers the configuration of external Layer 3 domains in Cisco ACI, including routing protocols like MP-BGP and OSPF, and how to integrate them with the ACI fabric for seamless network communication.
Setup ACI Home Lab on VMware ESXi
- This module guides learners through the process of setting up an ACI home lab on VMware ESXi, covering fabric discovery, configuration, and component registration. It provides essential knowledge on prerequisites, network setup, and resource allocation for effective ACI simulator operations.
Some Additional Labs
- This module provides hands-on practice in configuring and managing various components of a Cisco ACI fabric, including tenants, VRFs, BDs, switch profiles, interface policies, and VLAN pools. Learners will gain practical skills in network segmentation, policy configuration, and fabric visualization. The content is designed to build a comprehensive understanding of ACI implementation and management.