Messages

Not a problem, keep us updated and I can help out where I can to keep you in the right direction (and if you have to engage your vendor I'm very good at poking the right places to make vendors dance for SAN connectivity )

The UCS item may not actually present with noticeable errors in the UCS logs so if all else fails make sure the UCS firmware is on a good code revision and beat up Cisco to make sure you can't be impacted by any of the like 6-7 bugs that can cause that type of issue.

Get MPIO going too as soon as you can, thats where you can really take advantage of the SAN fabric for proper speeds and IO control using block storage

Thinking I should write up a nice long thread for SAN connectivity on FC and iScsi. Maybe even dive into NFS and File based storage

NIC driver most likely the full cause from what you've been able to test out. Few other thoughts below since I do a lot with SAN fabrics now.

Did you check for any iScsi login/logouts on the SAN and Host? Any multipathing issues (or is there even MPIO in use?)

Any ODX support on the storage? Is your Windows host trying to use ODX at all?

For the iscsi setup, are you fully following your storage vendors best practices? Some require tcp offload disabled, others a proper segmentation of iScsi initiators/adapters so theres multiple vlans/subnets for the paths across the SAN. Flow control enabled/disabled on the switches/host/storage?

Remember SAN is storage area network which includes everything not just the storage array. The storage array also has its own drivers it has to utilize on the NICs which could be a problem too. I've seen some storage arrays panic due to bad drivers

If using UCS or Nexus equipment, make sure you're not hitting any odd bugs that can cause dropped frames leading to scsi aborts from the host losing access. There were a few bugs from Cisco that you could hit by reseating an SFP/cable or even rebooting an FI or Nexus switch

It's true... the DC acronyms change faster than the tests and cert guides can be written. Cisco still spells firewall "ASA" and wireless "Aironet" (maybe also "Meraki", though I haven't heard that one in a while), but their DC stuff has changed over the last 3 years I've been overhearing their sales guys.

Yeah I have to redo my CCNA R+S now since I didn't pass this DC test. I had a few other certs from other vendors I had to get done and figured I'd pass this test in two attempts at most. Joke was on me. At least its a learning experience that will better prepare me in the future. And with the CCNA R+S being revamped some more maybe It'll be better. Put my gns lab to work at home (and the pile of routers/switches I pilfered from decoming a call center)

My road map was the following for the next 5-10 years.

CCNADC-->CCNP R+S--> VCP 6 --> CCNP DC or start working towards CCIE written.

Just going to do R+S track for now until I decide to hop back over more into the network world and less storage. My passion lies in networking, its way more fun to work with and design out.

And I'm one of those guys not using Cisco per-say all the time in the datacenter . I will install brocade or mds/nexus depending on my customers needs or environment. I'm just not a good test taker, I can ace any simlet you throw at me (which I did for these tests) but when you start giving two answers that are both right and say pick one... then I start to do poorly.

Maybe since I'll have to do the NA R+S again I can drag my wife into getting hers done finally.

Thanks again all

Only reason I was doing DC is because I work in the storage world right now . I do more with FC and iScsi nowadays but I miss the networking world. And really now I wish I went the CCNP route for R+S because I probably would of had a pass for at least one test.

I'm sorry you got burned, and yeah that exam is notorious for its poor quality / not-in-the-blueprint curveballs / WTF are you asking questions re: 10baseT and hubs for a DC exam in 201x.

Don't get discouraged! I'm sure you'll nail it next time. Don't be surprised if the exams change shortly, the CCIE DC has already gone v2 so the CCNP DC must be soon.

You can get DC kit rack time off INE, though you have to reserve it quite long in advance from all accounts esp after IPxpert folded.

Fun part is I got a 94% on the section in regards to switching and nexus items . I can configure and work on the boxes all day. It was the Cisco questions of crap and out of blueprint curveballs that got me. Thanks for the words of encouragement and heads up for the INE labs. Ill have to see about getting into those, I am buying a VIRL subscription since I can write it off for education expense.

Its so frustrating when you prepare and study and think you know things really well only to fail. I can't even fathom what some of y'all went through with CCIE or CCNP related items if any of y'all had a fail on those tests. I'm taking a break for a bit and then I'll get back to studying and pass this test. Need to take some time to recoup mentally and give some attention to my family.

AKA Here Pay us oodles of money for this class so we can give you the test answers directly .

Company I work for right now does the same thing but their tests are just super poorly written in general (and you can't go really indepth on the topics so they do tests off the individual products)

Took the test twice since last I posted. Failed with an 800 the second time.

This is the first time I've gone to open a case to contest the results with Cisco. Multiple items on the test that are not in the blueprint, official study guide books, Lammles book or even mentioned in the videos on the Cisco learning center. The test itself is disappointing as a test. A test should not be written for an individual to fail when they've done more than their due diligence in researching off the blueprint and official study material. Quiz me on the material and I can tell you what you need to know.

Seriously this 640-911 was so poorly outlined, written and study materials created that I'm tempted to not take any further Cisco exams. If paying $250 per test to be setup for a fail is the new norm, then they can die in a fire. /rant off

CCENT and CCNA R+S were great tests to study for and learn the material. And surprise the material in the test was properly outlined and put in the study guides!

Can't win them all, thank goodness I can write these test fees off on my taxes.

Test scheduled next week Tuesday. Glad I started studying the hardware and licensing items because I probably would fail if I didn't see that addition to the blueprint.

Quizlet has been fantastic to make my own flash cards and tests to study. I'll update on how I do!

I'm just doing the CCNA DC to recert my R+S since I don't have time to study for a CCNP test. I'm actually going to start on the CCNP DC next.

I've done a bit on nexus but its been a few years since I did it daily, just rusty and gotta shake off those cobwebs.

I'll let you guys know how 640-911 goes! Hopefully I don't get too tripped up, I'm not a very good test taker but I feel I know the material OK. Should be testing in the next week

I'd love to lab on my employers equipment . But yeah we all know thats a no go. I'm checking if some of my partners may have a lab I can use for free.

I did find some good information. Apparently Lammle and Odom's books miss some key portions of the test and even fails to mention them completely depending on the book. Theres a blog post that has a really good study guide and links to the Cisco learning network forums for this test. Always check the test blueprint out to make sure you know the topics .


http://jensd.be/665/network/how-to-prepare-for-cicso-ccna-data-center-640-911-dcicn

Finally getting back into networking world again after playing get tons of storage certs for my current gig. I'm in a position I'll be doing a ton more VMware and Cisco work again which I'm excited about.

Sitting the 640-911 CCNA DC next week. I have my CCNA R+S but  it expires in Sept and I've been in the storage world since.

Just finished Odom and Hintz's book. I'm going to be labbing out at home and cramming the different syntax and features differences from NXOS and IOS. I'm also going to be practicing fast subnetting again as well as keep reviewing my IPV6 Local, Global items.

I also have the Bosom practice test that came with the books I'll be going through.

Anyone have any helpful pointers of something I should go study harder? Any places you've purchased lab time through to practice on a Nexus box? I don't have any access to a Nexus box or MDS to play with right now, just have my pile of IOS routers and switches.

As always (and I wish this could go unstated but I've had people PM me to try to sell me that crap), no brain dumps please. Point of certs is to show what you know and to help you learn and grow in your career. Cheaters ruin the value of certs for the rest of us that take the time to learn and grow. Been studying off and on for 6 months

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_buzzwords

Oh lord that list... I just realized how GUILTY I am of using certain buzzwords in common everyday speech. Time to reevaluate my speech patterns

I hate the buzzword "cloud". Its all over the place and obnoxious. Sales guys pitching THE CLOUD makes me want to cry.

Had to install the Cloud to Butt plugin in Chrome to save my sanity

https://github.com/panicsteve/cloud-to-butt or just google cloud to butt for the chrome or firefox extensions for this glorious glorious fix.


Anyone else have any buzzwords you hate or hated in the past you need to vent about? Lets share em!

Bah to this and making people take the class for the cert. Don't have time to hammer this out before end of feb but I'll definitely get this cert done sometime. Vmware tests are normally crappy though "where do you go in this portion of the GUI to do XYZ" and you have to give their book example. Any other method isn't the best way to do it and you miss the question

I'm rooting for Dallas to lose because they already got a game handed to them.

Working on a migration right now and then taking it easy until Tuesday