Course Outline:
The course consists of the following sections and modules within. The approximate time allocated to each Section is shown in parentheses.
Section 1 - The Complexity of Information Management ( 2 - 3 hours )
Module 1.1 - Meeting Today’s Data Storage Needs
· Data creation and the amount of data being created
· Value of data to business
· Challenges in data storage and data management
· List the solutions available for data storage
Module 1.2 – Data Storage Solutions
· Different media and available solutions to address data storage.
· Describe the role of each solution relative to data storage needs.
· Advantages of disk arrays.
· Define a Direct Attached Storage ( DAS ) environment.
· Define a Storage Area Network ( SAN ) environment.
· Define a Network Attached Storage ( NAS ) environment.
Module 1.3 – Data Center Infrastructure
· List the core elements of a Data Center infrastructure.
· Describe the role of each element in support business activities.
· Requirements for storage systems to optimally support business.
· Describe the challenges and activities in managing storage systems in a data center.
Section 2 - Storage Systems Architecture ( 6- 8 hours )
Module 2.1 – The Host Environment
· List the hardware and software components of the host environment.
o Logical components, file systems, volume management, Host Bus Adapters
· Define the key protocols and concepts used by each component.
Module 2.2 – Connectivity
· Describe the physical components of a connectivity environment.
o Bus technologies, cables, ports
· Define the logical components of a connectivity environment.
Module 2.3 – Physical Disks
· Describe the major physical components of a disk drive and functionality.
· Define the logical constructs of a physical disk.
· Define the access characteristics for disk drives and performance implications.
· Define the logical partitioning of physical drives.
Module 2.4 – RAID Arrays
· Define the concept of RAID and components
· Review and understand the common RAID levels.
o RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 0+1, RAID 1+0
Module 2.5 – Disk Storage Systems
· List the benefits of and components of an intelligent storage system
· Compare and contrast integrated and modular storage systems.
· Define how a storage system handles data flow.
· Describe the logical elements of an intelligent storage system.
· Cache Structure and data flow through cache, cache alogrithms
Section 3 - Introduction to Networked Storage ( 10 - 12 hours )
Module 3.1 – Storage Networking Overview
· Describe the evolution of networked storage.
· Compare common storage networking options.
Module 3.2 – Direct Attached Storage
· Describe the benefits of a DAS based storage strategy.
· Provide an overview of the physical and logical elements of DAS.
· Define the connectivity options for DAS and distinguish between IDE, ATA and SCSI protocols.
· Describe the I/O flow in a DAS environment.
· List DAS management considerations given a particular environment.
· Describe a typical environment that would benefit from a DAS based solution.
Module 3.3 - Network Attached Storage
· Describe the benefits of a NAS based storage strategy.
· Provide an overview of the physical and logical elements of a NAS.
· Describe the connectivity options for NAS.
· List common NAS topologies.
· Compare and contrast connectivity devices.
· Describe the I/O flow in a NAS environment.
· List NAS management considerations given a particular environment.
· Describe a typical environment that would benefit from a NAS based solution
Module 3.4 – . – Storage Area Networks
· Describe the benefits of a SAN based storage strategy.
· Provide an overview of the physical and logical elements of a SAN.
· Describe the connectivity options for SAN.
· List common SAN topologies.
· Compare and contrast connectivity devices.
· Overview the Fibre Channel log-in process.
· Describe the I/O flow in a SAN environment.
· List SAN management considerations given a particular environment.
· Describe a typical environment that would benefit from a SAN based solution.
Module 3.5 – IP SAN
· Describe the benefits of an IP based storage strategy.
· Provide an overview of the physical and logical elements of an IP SAN.
· Describe the connectivity options for IP SAN.
· List common IP SAN topologies.
· Compare and contrast connectivity devices.
· Describe the I/O flow in an IP SAN environment.
· List IP SAN management considerations given a particular environment.
· Describe a typical environment that would benefit from an IP SAN based solution.
Module 3.6 – Content Addressable Storage (CAS)
· Describe the benefits of a CAS based storage strategy.
· Provide an overview of the physical and logical elements of CAS.
· Define the connectivity options for CAS.
· Define the I/O flow in a CAS environment.
· Describe a typical environment that would benefit from a CAS solution.
Section 4 – Information Availability ( 10 hours )
Module 4.1 – Business Continuity Overview
· List reasons for planned and unplanned outages
· Describe the impact of downtime
· Differentiate between Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR)
· Define Information Availability and its importance to the business
· Define RTO, RPO, and RGO
Module 4.2 – Back Up and Recovery
· Planning for Back Up and Recovery, Back Up and Recovery Strategies
· How a backup works, business and data decisions
· Database backup methods, Back Up Topologies for LAN and SAN based backups, .
Module 4.3 – Business Continuity Local
· Describe potential areas of information vulnerability within a data center.
· List the local information availability technologies within the data center.
· Identify the appropriate local information availability technology based on criteria
Module 4.4 – Business Continuity Remote
· Describe potential areas of information vulnerability between local and remote data centers.
· List the remote information availability technologies between local and remote data centers.
· Identify the appropriate remote information availability technology based on criteria.
Module 4.5 – Disaster Recovery
· Define a disaster.
· Define general planning considerations for DR.
· Define information availability planning considerations for DR.
· Identify the appropriate recovery strategy based on a given set of conditions.
Section 5 – Managing and Monitoring ( 4- 6 hours )
Module 5.1 – Monitoring In the Data Center
· Define areas to monitor.
· Define industry standards.
· List key metrics for systems and components within the data center.
Module 5.2 – Management in the Data Center
· Define key management tasks.
· Choose appropriate tool based on management activity.