Course Outline:
Module 1: Cisco UCS X-Series and Intersight Solution Architecture
- Cisco UCS 6th Generation Overview and Architecture Details
- Cisco UCS x9508 Chassis, Compute Nodes (x210c, x215c, x410c and x440p) M6, M7, M8 Generations
- Fabric Interconnects (6400, 6500 and 6600, Gen. 4, 5 and 6)
- Networking and Storage Infrastructure Options
- Cisco Unified Edge
Module 2: Cisco Intersight Foundation
- Introduction to Cisco Cloud Control
- Introduction to Cisco AI Canvas
- Introduction to Cisco Intersight (Cloud and On-Prem Architecture Details, SaaS Model) vs. Legacy UCSM
- Intersight Foundational Elements: GUI Navigation, Inventories, Firmware Baselines
- Cisco UCS Infrastructure Services Licensing
Module 3: Cisco UCS X-Series Management with Intersight Managed Mode
- Domain Policy Concepts and Usage
- Core Features: IMM Mode
- Domain Profiles
- Server Profiles and Templates
- Configuring Pools
Module 4: Cisco UCS X-Series Installation Considerations
- Detailed IMM Deployment Procedures, Prerequisites, and Planning
- Migration Strategies from Classic UCS Manager to IMM / Intersight
- Cisco Intersight Transition Tool Deployment and Operations
Module 5: Advanced Day-2 Operations in Intersight
- Firmware Lifecycle Management and Best Practices
- Advanced Resource Optimization: Server, Storage, and Network
- Monitoring, Logging and Alarms
Module 6: Cisco UCS X-Series Power and Cooling Management
- Airflow Optimization and Thermal policy Management
- Advanced Power Policies and Future-Proof Cooling
Module 7: Structured Troubleshooting Approach with Intersight and CLI
- Troubleshooting UCS Ethernet
- Troubleshooting UCS Fibre Channel Storage
- Troubleshooting UCS Local Storage
- Troubleshooting UCS Firmware Updates
- Troubleshooting a Failed Operating System Installation
Module 8: AI/ML Infrastructure Planning and GPU Integration with Cisco UCS X-Series
- GPU Technology Overview (NVIDIA Ampere and Hopper Architectures, CUDA Cores, and VRAM Types)
- Selecting the Right GPUs: Performance, Required Quantities per Workload, Supported UCS X-Series GPUs / Adapters
- GPU Deployment Architectures
Module 9: GPU Optimization and Best Practices
- GPU Virtualization and Orchestration via VMware, Nutanix, OpenShift, and Kubernetes
- GPU Tuning Parameters for AI Workloads (Multi-Instance GPU, vGPU Modes)
- Troubleshooting GPU Resource Allocation and Infrastructure Bottlenecks
Module 10: Intersight API Integration and Automation Overview
- Cisco Intersight REST API Fundamentals, Architecture, Authentication and Endpoint
- Exploration
- Executors - Ansible
- Executors - PowerShell
- Execute an ICO Workflow with the Python SDK
- Execute an ICO Workflow with Terraform
- Cisco Intersight Cloud Orchestrator
Lab Outline:
- Lab 0: Before You Begin
- Lab 1: Initial UCS X-Series Hardware Setup, Component Inventory and IMM Discovery
- Lab 2: View Inventory, Dashboard Creation, Configuring UCS X-Series with Intersight – Profiles, Policies & Templates
- Lab 3: Migration and Validation using Cisco Intersight IMM Transition Tool
- Lab 4: Firmware Management, Monitoring and Day-2 Operational Tasks
- Lab 5: Configure Advanced Thermal and Power Policies
- Lab 6: Hands-on Troubleshooting using CLI and Intersight GUI
- Lab 7: Validating GPU Performance, Monitoring GPU health and resource utilization in Intersight
- Lab 8: Monitoring GPU Intensive Workloads with Splunk
Bonus Labs
- Lab 9: Implementing and Troubleshooting RBAC using PowerShelI
- Lab 10: Utilizing IBM Turbonomic use cases IBM Turbonomic Demo