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Design and Administration of Storage Area Networks

( ES-475 )


     Course DescriptionBack To Top

The Design and Administration of Storage Area Networks course provides students with an introduction to designing, implementing, and administering storage area networks (SANs) using Fibre Channel switches from Sun or Brocade. Through hands-on labs and interactive discussions, the course presents students with the opportunity to explore how a SAN implementation can benefit a variety of organizations. Key design considerations, installation, administration, and troubleshooting skills are addressed.


Course details
    id:      ES-475
    duration:  5 days
    list price:  $  3495.00

 
     Who Can Benefit Back To Top

Storage administrators, implementors, and architects who are responsible for high-availability and high-volume enterprise networks. Students should have a strong background in hardware redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage systems and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network administration.

 
     Prerequisites Back To Top

To succeed fully in this course, students should be able to:

  • Administer Sun[tm] workstations running the Solaris[tm] 7 Operating Environment (Solaris OE) or newer in a network environment
  • Install and maintain Sun systems
  • Configure the network file system (NFS) environment
  • Configure the network information service (NIS) environment
  • Configure Domain Name Service (DNS)
  • Plan, create, and administer a local area network (LAN)
  • Define Internet Protocol (IP) routing, DNS, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and IP version 6 (IPv6)
  • Manage disks using Solstice DiskSuite[tm] software or manage disks on Sun disk storage arrays using the Sun StorEdge[tm] Volume Manager array

    •  
         Skills Gained Back To Top

    Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

  • Discuss concepts of SANs, such as Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel topologies, SAN components, and storage issues addressed by a SAN solution
  • Design a SAN solution based on an analysis of specific business requirements
  • Install and test SAN hardware and software
  • Administer changes, backups, and disaster recovery in a SAN environment
  • Troubleshoot and manage the SAN environment

    •  
         Related Courses Back To Top

  • Before: ES-255: Sun Hardware RAID Storage Systems Administration
  • Before: SA-239: Intermediate System Administration for the Solaris[tm] 9 Operating Environment
  • Before: SA-399: Network Administration for the Solaris[tm] 9 Operating Environ

    •  
         Course Content Back To Top



    Module 1 - Evaluating the Benefits of a SAN Back To Top

  • Compare and contrast the direct attached storage (DAS) and network attached storage (NAS) models to the storage area network (SAN) model
  • Draw clear diagrams illustrating the three storage models
  • Provide one definition of a SAN
  • Identify and discuss the key benefits of a SAN
  • Identify and describe the functions of SAN hardware and software components


    • Module 2 - Analyzing Fibre Channel's Role in a SAN Back To Top

  • Discuss the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) standard as a foundation for Fibre Channel
  • Compare and contrast Fibre Channel and SCSI
  • Describe characteristics of each of the five layers of the Fibre Channel protocol
  • Analyze the Fibre Channel physical layer of a SAN configuration in terms of its cabling, bandwidth, clock frequency, and allowed bit error rate
  • Illustrate the reasons for 8b/10b encoding in the Fibre Channel protocol
  • Discuss Fibre Channel data delivery mechanisms
  • Discuss Fibre Channel support for several upper-layer command-sets and protocols


    • Module 3 - Examining Fibre Channel Topologies in a SAN Back To Top

  • Illustrate the Fibre Channel topologies
  • Identify the benefits and constraints of the point-to-point topology
  • Identify the benefits and constraints of the arbitrated loop topology
  • Identify the benefits and constraints of the switched fabric topology


    • Module 4 - Exploring SAN Hardware Components Back To Top

  • Describe the functionality and role of servers in a SAN
  • Describe the functionality and role of storage devices in a SAN
  • Describe the functionality and role of interconnect hardware in a SAN
  • Describe the functionality and role of firmware and device drivers in a SAN


    • Module 5 - Formulating SAN Management Concepts Back To Top

  • Differentiate between in-band and out-of-band fabric management functionality
  • Explain how the monitoring, servicing, and controlling functions of fabric management are accomplished in a SAN environment
  • Discuss the role of zoning in a SAN environment
  • Describe the role of multipathing in SANs
  • Install and configure Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager (Traffic Manager) software


    • Module 6 - Exploring Switch Hardware and Administration Back To Top

  • Compare and contrast Fibre Channel hubs with Fibre Channel switches
  • List the benefits of Fibre Channel switches
  • Identify Fibre Channel switch hardware features
  • Describe Fibre Channel switch management features
  • Discuss switch administration using SANSurfer
  • Assign custom IP addresses to the switch
  • Install SANSurfer on the Solaris OE server or WebTools on the Brocade switch


    • Module 7 - Designing a SAN Solution Back To Top

  • Perform a storage needs assessment
  • Perform a storage policies assessment
  • Outline the requirements for an initial SAN design
  • Identify software tools appropriate to the planned architecture


    • Module 8 - Implementing a SAN Solution Back To Top

  • Configure the cable plant for redundant and cascaded SANs
  • Configure port types and zones for the switch in both a redundant and cascaded SAN configuration
  • Confirm access to the storage devices using Solaris OE for both the redundant and cascaded SAN implementations
  • Archive both the redundant and cascaded SAN switch configurations to the server


    • Module 9 - Testing the SAN Environment Back To Top

  • State general rules for testing the SAN
  • Identify several types of cable testers that can be used to test the cable plant
  • Define the installation tuning process
  • Identify processes associated with network connectivity tests
  • Describe differences between verification tests performed at the installation of two similar SANs
  • Restore the switch configuration file


    • Module 10 - Administering the SAN Environment Back To Top

  • Differentiate between SAN administration tasks and administration tasks in other environments
  • Identify features and describe usage of SAN administration tools
  • Install and configure Network Storage Agent to send an email notification for monitored events


    • Module 11 - Backing Up a SAN Environment Back To Top

  • Analyze issues for selecting a backup tool
  • Describe how to segregate devices for backup using zoning and SCSI reserve/release commands in LAN-free backup configurations
  • Describe the role of the data mover in a server-free backup configuration
  • Identify the issues in disaster recovery planning
  • Identify characteristics of each of the three disaster recovery models considered for a SAN
  • Design a backup plan for a SAN


    • Module 12 - Troubleshooting Problems in a SAN Environment Back To Top

  • Describe how storage media and Fibre Channel transport integrity can pose problems in your SAN
  • Describe how pattern tests can help to isolate problems in transport integrity
  • Discuss the troubleshooting capabilities of SAN management software
  • Run loop back pattern tests on Fibre Channel switch ports


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