Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) - Data Center
1 Data Center Technologies
1-1 Data Center Fundamentals
1-1 1 Data Center Infrastructure
1-1 2 Data Center Design Principles
1-1 3 Data Center Power and Cooling
1-1 4 Data Center Physical Security
1-2 Data Center Networking
1-2 1 Network Design and Architecture
1-2 2 Network Devices and Protocols
1-2 3 Virtual Networking
1-2 4 Network Security
1-3 Data Center Storage
1-3 1 Storage Technologies
1-3 2 Storage Area Networks (SAN)
1-3 3 Network Attached Storage (NAS)
1-3 4 Storage Virtualization
1-4 Data Center Compute
1-4 1 Server Technologies
1-4 2 Virtualization Technologies
1-4 3 High-Performance Computing (HPC)
1-4 4 Cloud Computing
2 Data Center Operations
2-1 Data Center Maintenance
2-1 1 Preventive Maintenance
2-1 2 Troubleshooting Techniques
2-1 3 Equipment Replacement and Upgrades
2-1 4 Documentation and Reporting
2-2 Data Center Monitoring
2-2 1 Monitoring Tools and Systems
2-2 2 Performance Metrics
2-2 3 Alerting and Notifications
2-2 4 Capacity Planning
2-3 Data Center Security
2-3 1 Physical Security Measures
2-3 2 Network Security Measures
2-3 3 Data Protection and Encryption
2-3 4 Incident Response and Management
2-4 Data Center Compliance
2-4 1 Regulatory Requirements
2-4 2 Industry Standards
2-4 3 Audit and Compliance Checks
2-4 4 Risk Management
3 Troubleshooting and Support
3-1 Troubleshooting Methodologies
3-1 1 Problem Identification
3-1 2 Root Cause Analysis
3-1 3 Resolution Strategies
3-1 4 Post-Incident Review
3-2 Support Tools and Techniques
3-2 1 Diagnostic Tools
3-2 2 Remote Support Techniques
3-2 3 Collaboration Tools
3-2 4 Knowledge Management
3-3 Customer Interaction
3-3 1 Communication Skills
3-3 2 Customer Service Techniques
3-3 3 Escalation Procedures
3-3 4 Feedback and Improvement
3-4 Continuous Learning and Improvement
3-4 1 Training and Development
3-4 2 Industry Trends and Updates
3-4 3 Certification Maintenance
3-4 4 Professional Development
1-2 3 Virtual Networking Explained

1-2 3 Virtual Networking Explained

Key Concepts

Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)

A VLAN is a logical subdivision of a physical network. It allows devices to be grouped together even if they are not physically located on the same network segment. VLANs improve security and performance by isolating traffic and reducing broadcast domains. For example, a company might use VLANs to separate its HR department from the IT department, ensuring that sensitive HR data is not accessible to IT personnel.

Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)

VXLAN is a network virtualization technology that addresses the scalability issues associated with large cloud computing deployments. It encapsulates Layer 2 Ethernet frames within Layer 3 UDP packets, allowing for the creation of large numbers of virtual networks over a shared physical infrastructure. Think of VXLAN as a way to create multiple virtual floors in a building, each with its own set of rooms (VLANs), but all sharing the same physical structure.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

SDN is an approach to networking that separates the control plane from the data plane, allowing network administrators to manage network services through software. This separation enables centralized management and automation, making it easier to deploy and manage complex network configurations. An analogy for SDN is a smart home system where a central hub controls all the devices, allowing for easy adjustments and monitoring of the entire network.

Conclusion

Understanding VLANs, VXLANs, and SDN is crucial for anyone pursuing the Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) - Data Center certification. These technologies enable efficient and scalable network management, providing the flexibility and performance needed in modern data centers.