Test 000-671: IBM Systems Networking Sales V1

Evaluate and Establish Customer Environment and Plans

1. Evaluate and understand current customer environment
   1. Hardware vendors and types of equipment
   2. High level understanding of protocol types, application types, software, staff skills, and satisfaction with current environment
   3. Need for change and growth
   4. Energy consumption
   5. Storage, SAN, back up, and rack space
   6. Ethernet, WAN, Fibre Channel, FCoE, Infiniband, business analytics, SAPHANA
2. Determine the customer selection process, key decision makers, reason for action, and budget availability.

Present IBM Networking Strategy

1. Discuss evolution and direction of networking
2. Explain switching technology and topology
3. Discuss IBM networking strategy (e.g. - SDA software directed networking)
4. Discuss IBM networking business value for other IBM products ( e.g. BladeCenter, Pure Systems, Storage, servers, and Systems Management)
5. Describe fulfillment model options and expectations for various products
6. Describe IBM software defined networking, 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.
7. Compare IBM products with competitive products new and typically existing previous models
8. Discuss the power consumption and identify the rack space within Data Center
9. Discuss basic switch security requirements (including: user access, ACL)

Apply Information / Installation Planning / Migration Considerations

1. Based upon customer input, create an over all solution plan and then sell parts of that solution
2. Create a high level solution including hardware (i.e. - switches, NIC cards), topology, software, and services based upon the needs and expectations of the customer.
3. Describe fulfillment model options and expectations for various products
4. Identify and discuss areas of risk.
5. Engage technical resources as needed
6. Advise customer on implementation and support plan.