700-695

Main points of Cisco 700-695 Test

The Cisco 700-695 exam, Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing covers various topics related to Cisco UCS. Here are the main points you should focus on:

1. Cisco UCS Architecture and Components:

• Understanding the architecture of Cisco UCS, including its core components:
  • UCS Manager: The central management platform.
  • Fabric Interconnect: High-speed switches connecting servers and storage.
  • UCS Blades and Rack Servers: The physical servers within the UCS environment.
  • UCS Virtual Interface Cards (VICs): Network interfaces for connecting servers to the fabric.
  • UCS Fabric Extenders: Used to extend the Fabric Interconnect to other locations.
• Understanding the concept of vNICs and how they are mapped to physical network interfaces.
• Understanding different Cisco UCS hardware platforms and their key features.

2. Configuration and Management of UCS:

• Deploying and configuring UCS Manager:
  • Setting up the initial configuration.
  • Creating and managing service profiles.
  • Deploying and managing virtual machines.
  • Implementing and managing security policies and access control.
• Managing Cisco UCS hardware:
  • Monitoring server health and performance.
  • Updating firmware and drivers.
  • Managing power and thermal settings.
• Utilizing UCS Central for centralized management:
  • Integrating with external systems.
  • Performing multi-chassis management.
  • Monitoring and troubleshooting across multiple UCS domains.

3. Cisco UCS Network Connectivity:

• Understanding different network topologies used with UCS, such as:
  • Single Uplink: Connecting UCS to a single switch.
  • Dual Uplink: Connecting UCS to two switches for redundancy.
  • Multi-Chassis Fabric: Connecting multiple UCS domains for scalability.
• Configuring and managing network connectivity options:
  • Implementing VLANs and trunking.
  • Configuring Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking.
  • Implementing static and dynamic routing.
  • Configuring network security.
• Understanding different fabric switching protocols (e.g., FCoE, Fibre Channel over Ethernet, etc.).

4. Storage Integration and Management:

• Configuring and managing SANs (Storage Area Networks) with UCS.
• Connecting storage devices to the UCS fabric.
• Implementing Fibre Channel zoning.
• Managing storage connectivity and performance.
• Utilizing UCS for storage virtualization (e.g., VMware vSphere).

5. Virtualization and Automation:

• Deploying and managing virtual machines in the UCS environment.
• Integrating with virtualization platforms like VMware vSphere.
• Automating deployments using UCS templates.
• Implementing and managing service chaining to enhance application performance.

6. Troubleshooting and Monitoring:

• Identifying and troubleshooting common UCS issues.
• Utilizing monitoring tools to track the health and performance of UCS components.
• Analyzing logs and system events for diagnostic purposes.

7. Security in Cisco UCS:

• Implementing security features like:
  • Access control: Controlling access to UCS Manager and other components.
  • Authentication and authorization: Securely authenticating users and devices.
  • Data encryption: Encrypting data at rest and in transit.
• Understanding security best practices for building secure UCS environments.

8. UCS Advance Features:

• Understanding and implementing features like:
  • UCS Central: Centralized management for multiple UCS deployments.
  • UCS Director: Advanced management and orchestration for UCS infrastructure.
  • UCS Manager APIs: Programmatically interacting with UCS Manager.
  • UCS Express Service: Facilitating troubleshooting and issue resolution.

The best way to prepare for the 700-695 exam is to:

• Study the official Cisco documentation: The Cisco documentation provides a comprehensive overview of UCS concepts and functionalities.
• Practice with labs and simulations: Hands-on experience is crucial for understanding how UCS works.
• Take practice exams: Several online resources offer practice exams to test your knowledge and identify knowledge gaps.
• Join online forums and communities: Engage with others preparing for the exam and learn from their experiences.

By focusing on these key topics and devoting adequate time to preparation, you can increase your chances of success on the Cisco 700-695 exam.