Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist

The 642-355 Cisco Storage Networking Solutions Design Specialist (CSSDS) exam is associated with the Data Center Storage Networking Specialization. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Designing Cisco Storage Network (DCSN) course. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge of selecting and integrating Cisco storage products to design a highly scalable, efficient, high performing storage networking solution based on converged architecture. Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist professionals understand how to utilize and employ the features and benefits of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches, Cisco MDS 9509 Director Switch, Cisco 9216 Fabric Switch, and Cisco MDS 9120 products to create a high availability storage network design.

The following information provides general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. In order to better reflect the contents of the exam and for clarity purposes the guidelines below may change at any time without notice.

Perform a needs analysis that identifies the appropriate Storage Networking topology, protocols, and transport to meet customer's requirements

• Describe the benefits of implementing a Cisco collapsed core SAN network design.
• Describe the evolution of SAN topology design.
• Evaluate over-subscription ratio for a given design.
• Determine if iSCSI is appropriate for design implementation.
• Determine SAN Extension requirements for customer solution.
• Evaluate deployment opportunities for MDS family.
• Evaluate the customer's applications requirements.
• Evaluate the customer's business continuance requirements.
• Evaluate the customer's backup/replication requirements.
• Evaluate the customer's high availability requirements.
• Evaluate the customer's SAN utilization and propose consolidation options.
• Evaluate the customer's Storage Virtualization implementation strategy.
• Evaluate the customer's Security requirements.

Identify the interoperability requirements of a customer's SAN

• Identify and document existing customer infrastructure.
• Identify considerations that should be addressed when designing a heterogeneous fabric.

Design a solution that addresses a customer's SAN requirements

• Describe value added MDS features that address identified customer needs and requirements.
• Determine the appropriate topology for a given implementation.
• Select the appropriate protocols for design implementation.
• Select appropriate collapsed core design given a set of customer requirements.
• Select the appropriate design option given a set of customer requirements including applications such as database, mail-server, backup and replication.
• Identify characteristics of customer's host operating systems that could impact their SAN design.
• Develop a capacity plan for implementing a Cisco SAN solution.
• Identify SAN Extension topology, devices, and features appropriate for a SAN solution.
• Propose alternative protocols, topologies, devices, and features that would improve customer solution (cost, performance, etc).
• Design an appropriate Cisco management infrastructure.
• Determine hardware configurations, power requirements, and environmental considerations to support SAN fabric design.
• Design a backup and recovery solution.

Design appropriate IP configurations for a SAN solution

• Describe the importance of using appropriate MTU size.
• Determine requirements for IP routing.
• Design appropriate VLANs for storage solutions.
• Determine ACL requirements for storage solutions.

Designing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions (DCSNS) is the recommended training for this exam.

Courses listed are offered by Cisco Learning Partners, the only authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. Check the List of Learning Partners for a Cisco Learning Partner near you.

A variety of Cisco Press Self-Study titles are available for this exam. These titles can be purchased at the Cisco Company Store, directly from Cisco Press, or wherever you purchase technical books.

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