Test 071: IBM Certified Specialist: IBM System x Technical Principles V8

Section 1 - Introduction to Servers (7%)

1. Given the breadth of the System x product line rank the servers in terms of scalability and performance
2. Given specific customer criteria and application requirements, identify the appropriate server role (e.g., file server, mail, database, network infrastructure, virtualization)

Section 2 - Server Architecture (13%)

1. Assess a customer's server environment and decide which RAID level(s) would be most appropriate.
2. Given the breadth of the System x product line distinguish the key architectural and component differences of the Storage subsystem models.
3. Given customer's requirements, select the product that best utilizes the advantages of IBM System x technology.
4. Compare and contrast RAID levels and determine selection of RAID levels for a given customer requirement.
5. Evaluate a customer's requirement for high availability and then select the appropriate high availability feature for a server.

Section 3 - Server Family (13%)

1. Given the breadth of the system x product line distinguish the key architectural and component differences of the server models.
2. Distinguish between a blade and standard server environment. (Test fundamental difference between blade and standard server are I/O power and cooling restraints, etc.).
3. Given a customer’s system requirements, choose the appropriate server to meet those requirements.

Section 4 - Server Options (4%)

1. Configure a Server to a customer's requirements. Understand the Server's specific standard features in order to determine what if any optional features are required.

Section 5 - Virtualization and Virtualization Technologies (5%)

1. Given a customer's consolidation needs, choose the appropriate technology that would be a key hardware component of the solution.
2. Given a deployed database environment, distinguish appropriate migration or consolidation opportunity.
3. Given a customer's virtualization needs, choose the appropriate technology that would be a key software component of the solution. (i.e. cpu consolidation; VMWare, ZEN, Microsoft's entry).

Section 6 - External Storage (9%)

1. Based on requirements. Given a customer's storage requirements, choose the approriate storage solution. (e.g., internal vs. external; fibre, SAS, Ethernet (iSCSI), also OS and applications.
2. Distinguish key differences of storage subsystems (e.g., capacity, relative performance, type (ie disk vs tape), disk types (SAS, SATA, FC), etc)
3. Given the System x storage technologies, select the correct storage solution based upon the customer's requirements.
4. Given a customer's existing environment, propose an appropriate shared storage solution.

Section 7 - Rack and Power (9%)

1. Design proper power layout to provide power redundancy.
2. Given customer physical requirements, choose the appropriate rack and power products.
3. Given KVM requirements, select the appropriate Console Manager and / or breakout cables. Interpret a customer's requriements for KVM and select the appriopriate KVM options to meet their needs.
4. Given a customer's requirements, select an appropriate rack.

Section 8 - Installation (11%)

1. Identify the proper tool for configuring an array on a ServeRAID, MegaRAID or DS3000/DS4000.
2. Select the appropriate installation method for a given server and customer environment and configure the server to meet or exceed the requriements. (use "customization?)
3. Locally update BIOS, firmware level, and diagnostic version level and hard drive firmware, etc.NEW: Research the available BIOS, firmware, and diagnostic levels for a given server and features and assess whether you need to update them for the install.
4. Implement system deployment tools used to install server OS and software updates.
5. Configure IBM’s hardware management solutions (RSAII, BMC). Given an IBM Systems management option, differentiate a particular component or feature. (Can be broken down into further objectives to support add'l test items spread among domains).

Section 9 - Systems Management (5%)

1. Describe IBM’s hardware management solutions (RSAII, BMC)
2. Examine the features, functions, and capabilities of IBM Director.

Section 10 - Maintainence and Troubleshooting (19%)

1. Use a centrally managed IBM System x tool to verify BIOS, firmware level, and diagnostic version level and update if necessary.
2. Perform troubleshooting on installation and configuration related problems.
3. Describe system deployment tools used to upgrade clients and servers (ex: RDM, SW distribution).
4. Identify the features and functions of UpdateXpress
5. Use UpdateExpress features and functions to update a System x server.
6. Identify some of the diagnostic features available on System x and Blade servers.
7. Configure ongoing updates for firmware and BIOS levels and diagnostic tests.
8. Identify available post sales resources and tools (if post sales equates to www.pc.ibm.com/support, etc.).
9. Given a set of symptoms, determine the appropriate IBM Director function to identify and resolve the problem.
10. Given a customer's availability requirements, recognize the IBM's predictive failure (PFA) technology.

Section 11 - Resources (3%)

1. Determine if a server option is supported on a given server. single/dual/quad CPU, maximum memory, memory interleaving, number of PCI-x slots, internal storage/integrated disk controllers, physical characteristics, redundancy/high availability features, competitive advantage
2. Know where to go for more information when the answer is not readily available.