Test 000-670: IBM Systems Networking Technical Support V1

1. Evaluate and Establish Customer Environment and Plans

1. Evaluate and understand current customer environment (i.e. equipment including BladeCenter and top of rack switches, high level understanding of application types, software, staff usage, satisfaction, need for change and growth) including power, network, storage, SAN, back up, and rack space, familiar with Ethernet, WAN, Fibre Channel
2. Describe IBM System Networking family, features, architectural advantages relevant to customer environment and plans. Contrast with current customer environment and competitive offerings at a level consistent with the customer audience. These features include:
   1. Current and commonly occurring previous IBM Systems Networking and competitive network devices for potential replacement
   2. Describe the purpose and functions of various IBM Systems Networking and competitive network devices
   3. Select the components required to meet a network specification
   4. Describe and understand the OSI and TCP/IP models and their associated protocols to explain how data flows in a network
   5. Describe common networked applications including web applications
   6. Interpret network diagrams
   7. Identify and correct common network problems at layers 1, 2, 3 and 7 using a layered model approach
   8. Differentiate between LAN/WAN operation and features
   9. Discuss related software and middleware
   10. Storage products and storage management options including backup procedures
   11. I/O options
   12. Systems management
   13. Current customer network and storage switch infrastructure
3. Describe networking fundamentals as required for customer discussion and understanding including:
   1. Basic routing concepts (including: packet forwarding, router lookup process
   2. IPv6 addresses
   3. Describe the operation and benefits of using private and public IP addressing
   4. Explain the operation and benefits of using DHCP
   5. Describe enhanced switching technologies (including: VLAN, RSTP, PVSTP, MST, 802.1q, LACP)
   6. Describe high availability functions (Hot links, L2 failover, AMP)
   7. Describe how VLANs create logically separate networks and the need for routing between them
   8. Explain the technology and media access control method for Ethernet networks
   9. Explain network segmentation and basic traffic management concepts, basic switching concepts and the operation of IBM switches, connectivity and management of switch modules inside IBM BladeCenter
   10. Compare and contrast methods of routing and routing protocols
   11. Describe the technological requirements for running IPv6 in conjunction with IPv4 (including: protocols, dual stack, tunneling, etc).

2. Apply Information / Installation Planning / Migration Considerations

1. Create an accurate solution including hardware (i.e. - switches, NIC cards), topology, software, and services based upon the needs and expectations of the customer.
   1. Define a switching technology and topology including but not limited to:VLANs and interswitch communications, VLAN tagging on IBM switches, Trunk and link aggregation, InterVLAN routing, Loop prevention technology, and Virtualization (network, server, and storage)
   2. Identify the appropriate media, cables, ports, and connectors to connect switches to network devices and hosts
2. Address basic switch security requirements (including: user access, ACL)
3. Design an IP addressing scheme and IP Services to meet network requirements
4. Identify areas of risk, discuss with the customer, Business Partner, the IBM team, and other relevant parties.
5. Create an implementation plan with the customer considering:
   1. Operating system and NIC drivers
   2. AMM
   3. System management (i.e IBM System Networking Element Manager, Systems Director Network Control, Tivoli products, Vcenter etc.)
   4. Physical site requirements (i.e. space, power, air flow)
   5. Migration from current to planned infrastructure
   6. Skills assessment and education
6. Review and establish customer support plan

3. Installation and Post Install Support

1. Physical installation, powering up, connect laptop to switch.
2. Verifying Software levels, acquire latest version
3. Perform and verify initial switch configuration including remote access management (i.e. - serial, telnet, BBI, or AMM)
4. Connect switch to network (either existing or new build)
5. Verify network status and switch operation using basic utilities (including: ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH, BBI, arp, ipconfig), and SHOW commands
6. Identify, prescribe, and resolve common switched network media issues, IP addressing, configuration issues, auto negotiation, and switch hardware failures Interpret the output of various show (and debug) commands to verify the operational status of an IBM switched network.
7. Describe tuning options for best performance