Storage Networking Fundamentals

Convergent Communications, Inc. - A Cisco Systems Learning Partner

STORAGE NETWORKING FUNDAMENTALS

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"CCI reedems Cisco Learning Credits as well as Hipass from Hitachi"

For more details call: (301) 565-0138 Ext 6027

Remarks about CCI's SAN Training

"CCI's instructor was very knowledgeable in the SAN area and his willingness to discuss topics raised by the participants, very remarkable.”

Stephen Chen

Systems Manager

SBC

"The instructor's real world experience was a tremendous advantage to the course.”

Attendee from the

Indy Mac Bank

Storage Networking Fundamentals - 2-day Technology Overview Course

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce Business Professionals to the fundamentals of Storage Area Networking technology, product components, terminology, marketplace, capabilities, challenges, applications alternative technologies and futures. This course introduces storage networking fundamentals from a vendor neutral perspective and assists the decision maker in understanding the capabilities and limitations of the current state of solutions without being product or manufacturer specific.

Course Objectives

Define basic SAN terms and acronyms along with alternative Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) technology choices. For example: Fibre Channel host bus adapters, SCSI to FC bridges, Directors and fabric switches, RAID and JBOD storage arrays, SAN gateways.
Explain both hardware and software component products and how they relate to SAN solutions.
Provide an overview of Fibre Channel and understand the strengths and weaknesses of different topology approaches. For example: Point to Point, Loop, Director and Switch Fabric with real world applications of each.
Develop a working knowledge of the issues and challenges involved with SAN technology. For example: industry standards, performance/load balancing, interoperability, quality of service and integrated management.
Provide an industry perspective of current capabilities and future directions of storage networking. Explaining the capabilities, strengths, limitations, and opportunities for various SAN techniques: Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and InfiniBand technology.
Apply acquired knowledge of SAN technology toward understanding its application to the needs of the marketplace and be able to appreciate the benefits of SAN solutions in addressing various customer environments.

Intended Audience

This course is for anyone wanting an introduction to Storage Area Networks. Intended audience Job Roles might be but are not excluded to:

Management and Corporate -Technology decision makers
Information Systems - MIS/IT manager - responsible for technology implementations and need to manage support personnel directly responsible for SANs
Administration and Office Support - Personnel that need to understand Fibre Channel and SAN terminology
Call Center Personnel - Ability to define problems and escalate them to relevant support

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of networking and storage concepts and terminology.

Course Outline

1. Overview of the Storage Market

Overview of the storage marketplace
Information strategies and their impact on business
IT strategies to address scalability, performance, availability and management
Applications that are driving the need for a storage strategy
Value propositions of network storage strategies to achieve TCO and ROI goals and objectives

2. Introduction to Storage Area Networking (SAN)

Strengths and weaknesses of Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
Alternatives for storage architectures - SAN and NAS technologies
Components that make up SAN customer solutions
Companies that shape the network storage marketplace

3. Fibre Channel for Network Storage Architectures

Overview of Fibre Channel technology (features, benefits and value propositions)
Addressing the relationship of Fibre Channel to network storage (SAN and NAS)
Historical prespective and current market requirements for various Fibre Channel topologies (Pt to Pt, Loop, Switch)
Fibre Channel topology choices addressing strength and limitation of each approach
Mapping customer objectives to different Fibre Channel architectures
Configuration alternatives with various network storage components (cable plants, connector types, HBAs, hubs, switches, bridges, gateways, management)
SAN component purchase criteria
Alternatives for SAN today and the future (FC, iSCSI, InfiniBand)

4. SAN Applications & Enterprise Strategies

The key SAN 'Killer Applications' and their value propositions
Specific SAN Applications for various line of business segments
Economic value [TCO, ROI techniques] of SAN solutions
Understanding how to exploit new opportunities in the global marketplace
Marketplace success stories - through network storage implementations
Overview of how SANs integrate with LAN/MAN/WAN network models
Case Studies of customer environments

5. Consulting and Best Practices Techniques

Best Practices considerations for success with SAN
Life cycle management of SAN success (assessment, design, test, deployment, maintenance)
Criteria to evaluate SAN products from various competitors

6. Planning for SAN and Future Directions

The state of the SAN industry today
Industry organizations for Fibre Channel and SAN standards, support and promotion
The state SAN interoperability and other issues with SAN environments
The future directions and roadmap for Fibre Channel and SAN technologies