Duration: 2 Days
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 on the most recent release of UCS Manager, version 2.0.
What You Will 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
Audience
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
Prerequistes
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
Course 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
