NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching: Next-Generation Data Center Architectures (Networking Technology) [Paperback]

Kevin Corbin (Author), Ron Fuller (Author), David Jansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2010 | ISBN-10: 1587058928 | ISBN-13: 978-1587058929 | Edition: 1

NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching

Next-Generation Data Center Architectures

The complete guide to planning, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting NX-OS in enterprise environments

Kevin Corbin, CCIE^® No. 11577

Ron Fuller, CCIE No. 5851

David Jansen, CCIE No. 5952

 

Cisco^® Nexus switches and the new NX-OS operating system are rapidly becoming the new de facto standards for data center distribution/aggregation layer networking. NX-OS builds on Cisco IOS to provide advanced features that will be increasingly crucial to efficient data center operations. NX-OS and Cisco Nexus Switching is the definitive guide to utilizing these powerful new capabilities in enterprise environments.

 

In this book, three Cisco consultants cover every facet of deploying, configuring, operating, and troubleshooting NX-OS in the data center. They review the key NX-OS enhancements for high availability, virtualization, In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU), and security. In this book, you will discover support and configuration best practices for working with Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols and networks, implementing multicasting, maximizing serviceability, providing consistent network and storage services, and much more.

 

The authors present multiple command-line interface (CLI) commands, screen captures, realistic configurations, and troubleshooting tips—all based on their extensive experience working with customers who have successfully deployed Nexus switches in their data centers.

 

Kevin Corbin, CCIE^® No. 11577, is a Technical Solutions Architect for Cisco, specializing in data center technologies. Kevin works with enterprise customers to help them develop their next-generation data center architectures. Kevin has more than 14 years of server and networking experiencing including routing, switching, security, and content networking.

Ron Fuller, CCIE No. 5851 (Routing and Switching/Storage Networking), is a Technical Solution Architect for Cisco with 19 years of experience in the industry. His focus is working with enterprise customers to address their challenges with comprehensive end-to-end data center architectures.

David Jansen, CCIE No. 5952, is a Technical Solutions Architect for Cisco’s U.S. Enterprise Segment, where he works with enterprise customers to address end-to-end data center architectures. David has more than 20 years experience in the information technology industry.

 

• Learn how Cisco NX-OS builds on and differs from IOS
• Work with NX-OS user modes, management interfaces, and system files
• Configure Layer 2 networking: VLANs/private VLANs, STP, virtual port channels, and unidirectional link detection
• Configure Layer 3 EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, and First Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRPs)
• Set up IP multicasting with PIM, IGMP, and MSDP
• Secure NX-OS with SSH, Cisco TrustSec, ACLs, port security, DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP inspection, IP Source Guard, keychains, Traffic Storm Control, and more
• Build high availability networks using process modularity and restart, stateful switchover, nonstop forwarding, and in-service software upgrades
• Utilize NX-OS embedded serviceability, including Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN), Smart Call Home, Configuration Checkpoint/Rollback, and NetFlow
• Use the NX-OS Unified Fabric to simplify infrastructure and provide ubiquitous network and storage services
• Run NX-OS on Nexus 1000V server-based software switches

This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press®, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin Corbin, CCIE No. 11577, is a technology solutions architect with Cisco. In this role

for three years, Kevin works with Enterprise customers to help them develop their next-generation

data center architectures. Kevin has more than 14 years of server and networking experiencing

including routing, switching, security, and content networking. Kevin has also held

multiple certifications from Microsoft, Citrix, HP, Novell, and VMWare. Prior to joining

Cisco, Kevin worked for many large enterprises and most recently in a consulting capacity for

large enterprise customers.

 

Ron Fuller, CCIE No. 5851 (Routing and Switching/Storage Networking), is a technical solutions

architect for Cisco specializing in data center architectures. He has 19 years of experience

in the industry and has held certifications from Novell, HP, Microsoft, ISC2, SNIA, and

Cisco. His focus is working with Enterprise customers to address their challenges with comprehensive

end-to-end data center architectures. He lives in Ohio with his wife and three wonderful

children and enjoys travel and auto racing.

 

David Jansen, CCIE No. 5952, is a technical solutions architect for Data Center for Central

Area. David has more than 20 years experience in the information technology industry. He

has held multiple certifications from Microsoft, Novell, Checkpoint, and Cisco. His focus is

to work with Enterprise customers to address end-to-end data center Enterprise architectures.

David has been with Cisco for 12 years and working as a Technical Solutions Architect for 4

years and has provided unique experiences helping customers build architectures for

Enterprise data centers. David has also been instrumental in developing data center interconnect

solutions to address L2 requirements between multiple data centers to meet application

clusters and virtualization requirements. David has been presenting data center interconnect at

Cisco Live for 3 years. David holds a B.S.E. degree in computer science from the University of

Michigan (Go Blue!) and an M.A. degree in adult education from Central Michigan University.

 

About the Technical Reviewers

 

Phil Davis, CCIE No. 2021, is a technical solutions architect with Cisco, specializing in routing

and switching and data center technologies. Phil has been with Cisco for more than 10 years and

has more than 17 years of experience in the industry. Phil currently uses his expertise with

Enterprise customers designing their data center and multiprotocol network architectures. Phil

holds multiple certifications, including VMware’s VCP, and is often presenting on many of

today’s top technologies. Phil lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and two children.

 

Eric Murray is a network engineer for a large healthcare company. He has more than 15 years

experience with designing, implementing, and maintaining Cisco Enterprise networks in the

fast-paced healthcare and manufacturing industries. Eric has implemented several Nexus data

center network designs and migrations and is a subject matter expert in utilizing Nexus 7000,

5000, and 2000 series switches. Eric is currently involved with designing, testing, implementing,

and providing technical support for a Cisco Unified Communications solution. Eric also

has extensive experience in multiprotocol WAN and data center LAN environments utilizing

Cisco switching and routing platforms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Cisco Press; 1 edition (June 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587058928
• ISBN-13: 978-1587058929
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not good enough November 20, 2010

By Eng Wee

Format:Paperback

Covers some of the basic stuff. But these stuff can also be easily obtained from CCO.
Very lacking from design aspect. Does not tell you Nexus design related consideration. I learnt more by looking at
Networkers presentation slides than this book.
Doesn't cover OTV, Fabric path.

Hope to see more improvement in the next version.
In short, don't waste your $$, it's not worth to buy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Sales or Marketing not for Techs October 29, 2010

By Phillip Moulay

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was disappointed by the technical content. The authors do not go too much in details from the cabling needed to connect the different Nexus switches to actually configure from ground up a Cisco Nexus 5000 series to a 2200 series. I guess you have to go to the official Cisco training to get the real scoop. You will also find the design documents on Cisco web site.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth buying it August 27, 2010

By Naveen

Format:Paperback

There is nothing about end-to-end Data Center Architectures, Design, Deployment or Case studies. This is just a configuration book. Except for some topics on High Availability and Unified Fabric, the rest of the chapters discusses about Layer-2 and Layer-3 switching and routing protocols.

For this book to be useful, the authors have to include:

1) Few Network Design examples (end-to-end including IP/MPLS clouds)
2) VoD server farms (what role Nexus plays for Video over IP scenario)
3) Server Load Balancing scenarios
4) How Nexus fits in Virtualization and Cloud computing scenario.

Without these, the reader just would know what Nexus does and NOT how it fits/contributes in overall Network architectures. I'll wait for 2nd Edition.