OneSource Professional Training Solutions, Inc. presents
 

DCUCSCTS - Cisco Data Center Unified Computing System C-Series Troubleshooting v1.0 On-Site Training

DCUCSCTS - Cisco Data Center Unified Computing System C-Series Troubleshooting v1.0

Course Description/Agenda

This course is designed to prepare Cisco Channel Partners, systems engineers, and implementers with the knowledge and hands-on experience to install, configure, and troubleshoot UCS C-Series servers operating in standalone mode.

The goal of this course is to enable you to troubleshoot Level 1 and 2 standalone UCS C-Series integration issues.

You will gain hands-on experience with proper configuration procedures and become familiar with common troubleshooting scenarios and recommended solutions.

What You'll Learn

• UCS C-Series product platform with an emphasis on feature support
• Initial setup configuration, and connectivity for proper Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) operation
• UCS C-Series troubleshooting methodology as well as common configuration challenges
• CIMC utilities that enable performance validation and facilitate data gathering activities for troubleshooting
• Download firmware updates by using Host Upgrade Utility (HUU)
• Perform server BIOS updates with various methods
• Update the server BIOS by using the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) shell
• Recover a UCS C-Series server by using a USB Recovery Module
• Features and benefits of the UCS C-Series P81E Virtual Interface Card (VIC)
• Perform the proper network (LAN) configuration steps for the P81E VIC
• Common troubleshooting issues and recommended solutions for the UCS C-Series P81E VIC
• Cisco VIC P81E SAN configuration and virtual Host Bus Adapter (vHBA) properties
• Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Initialization Protocol (FIP) and its proper configuration
• P81E configuration-related problems
• RAID controller options for the UCS C-Series servers
• SAS Extender and Expander options for the C-Series servers
• Configure the LSI 1068E, LSI 9261-8i, and the software ICH10R RAID controllers
• Symptoms and recommended solutions of RAID adapter and disk failure modes
• Install an operating system onto a local disk
• Install an operating system by using a SAN boot
• Download and install additional device drivers after successful operating system (OS) installation
• Common device driver and operating system troubleshooting issues and recommended solutions
• Execute the password recovery process for UCS C-Series server CIMC and BIOS passwords
• Configure management access to the UCS C-Series server through the LAN on Motherboard (LOM) and NIC ports
• Configure the UCS C-Series Intelligent Peripheral Management Interface for management access
• Configure the UCS C-Series Serial over LAN service
• Various components required to complete UCS C-Series integration with UCS Manager
• Configure the Fabric Interconnect and Fabric Extender for a UCS C-Series server
• Configure the UCS C-Series server to operate as part of a UCS Manager instance

Who Should Attend

Cisco Channel Partner system engineers and field engineers who want to assume active roles in addressing and correcting Level 1 and 2 UCS C-Series standalone server issues

Course Outline

1. Troubleshooting Methodology

• UCS C-Series Product Review
  • Server models, including the C200, C210, C250, and C460
• C-Series Initial Setup and Configuration
  • Installation and setup
  • Configuring the CIMC to enable remote access management
• UCS C-Series Troubleshooting Methodology
  • Proper configurations that can avoid many problems
• C-Series Data Gathering Activities
  • Resources included with the CIMC GUI that provide real-time status, facilitating swift trouble resolution
  • Navigating utilities and interpreting the various command outputs

2. Configuring Firmware Updates

• Download Firmware Updates by Using the HUU
• Perform a Remote Update to the Server BIOS
• Perform a BIOS Update by Using the EFI Shell
• Configure USB Recovery Modules for Server BIOS Recovery

3. Troubleshooting LAN Connectivity

• UCS C-Series P81E VIC
• UCS C-Series P81E VIC Configuration
• Troubleshoot the UCS C-Series P81E VIC Installation and Configuration

4. Troubleshooting SAN Connectivity

• Cisco VIC P81E SAN Configuration and vHBA Properties
• FIP
  • Validating proper operation
• Cisco VIC P81E SAN Troubleshooting
  • Configuration-related problems
  • Configure and verify SAN connectivity by using the P81E VIC interfaces

5. Troubleshooting Local Disk and RAID

• UCS C-Series RAID Controller
  • Support for the various server models
• UCS C-Series LSI Controller SAS Expanders and Extenders
  • RAID controllers they support and the servers that use them
• UCS C-Series RAID Controller Configuration
  • Configure the LSI 1068E, LSI 9261-8i, and the software ICH10R RAID controllers
  • Use various local storage configuration utilities to create virtual RAID disks
• Troubleshoot RAID Adapter and Disk Failures
  • Common local disk and RAID troubleshooting scenarios
  • Symptoms and recommended solutions of RAID adapter and disk failure modes

6. Troubleshooting OS Driver Issues

• Installing a Windows OS onto a Local Drive
• Installing the OS Using a SAN Boot
  • Installing onto a remote SAN Logic Unit Number (LUN) configured on a Fibre Channel storage array
• Installing OS Device Drivers after Installation
• Troubleshoot OS Device Driver Problems

7. Troubleshooting Management Access

• Execute CIMC and BIOS Password Recovery
• Troubleshoot the LOM and Cisco Card Mode
  • Configure management access to the UCS C-Series server through the LOM and NIC ports
• Configure and Troubleshoot Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Access
• Troubleshoot Serial over LAN (SoL) Access

8. Configuring UCS C-Series Integration with UCS Manager

• UCS C-Series and UCS Manager Integration
  • Required UCS B-Series and C-Series components and Cisco Nexus products
• UCS C-Series and UCS Manager Installation
  • Connect data and management paths
• UCS C-Series and UCS Manager Troubleshooting
  • Configure the UCS C-Series server to operate as part of a UCS Manager instance

Labs

Lab 1: Access the Lab Equipment

Lab 2: CIMC Discovery

Lab 3: UCS C-Series Firmware Management

Lab 4: Troubleshooting LAN Connectivity

Lab 5: Troubleshooting SAN Connectivity

Lab 6: Troubleshooting Local Disk Configuration

Lab 7: Installing Windows 2008 Using the Server Configuration Utility (SCU)

Lab 8: Troubleshooting Access Problems

More Seminar Information

OneSource Professional Training Solutions, Inc. Delivery Method  On-Site Training Also Available As  Seminar