INTUCSX - Administering Cisco UCS X-Series Solutions with Intersight

Cisco UCS X-Series represents the latest generation of converged computing solutions optimized for hybrid and cloud-native workloads critical for modern enterprises focusing on agility, workload portability, automation, and resource optimization. By attending this intensive 5-day course, participants will acquire comprehensive knowledge and practical skills required to successfully deploy, configure, optimize, operate, and troubleshoot Cisco UCS X-Series platforms integrated through Cisco Intersight.

This course is crucial for Infrastructure teams, Data Center professionals, Systems Engineers, Solutions Architects, AI/ML Infrastructure Designers, and technical leads responsible for implementing and managing hybrid datacentre/computing environments leveraging Cisco UCS-X technology, Intersight management, container platforms (Red Hat OpenShift), and GPU-enhanced AI infrastructure.

This course is worth 40 CE credits towards recertification.

Day 1: Cisco UCS X-Series Solution Architecture & Key Components

Module 1: Cisco UCS X-Series and Intersight Solution Architecture

• Cisco UCS-X 5th Generation overview and architecture details
• Cisco Intersight SaaS and on-prem management overview
• UCS-X chassis (X9508), compute nodes (X210c M6/M7, X410c M7)
• Fabric Interconnects (6400, 6500 models Gen 4, Gen 5)
• Networking and storage infrastructure options

Module 2: Cisco Intersight Foundation

• Introduction to Cisco Intersight (cloud and on-prem architecture, SaaS model) vs legacy UCSM
• Intersight foundational elements: GUI navigation, inventories, profiles, policies, firmware baselines
• Core features: IMM-mode principles, pools, policies, templates
• Intersight Licensing

Module 3: Cisco UCS X-Series Management with Intersight Managed Mode (IMM)

• Configuring Pools, Policies (Firmware, Server, Network, Storage)
• Service profiles and templates management with Intersight
• Intersight Infrastructure Services & troubleshooting overview

Day 2: Installation, Migration, and Advanced Operations

Module 4: UCS X-Series Installation Considerations

• Detailed IMM deployment procedures, prerequisites, planning
• Migration strategies from classic UCS Manager to IMM/Intersight
• Cisco Intersight IMM Transition Tool deployment and operations

Module 5: Advanced Day-2 Operations in Intersight

• Firmware lifecycle management & best practices
• Advanced resource optimization: Server, storage, network
• Monitoring, logging, alerts, and automated remediation

Module 6: UCS-X Power & Cooling Management

• Airflow optimization, thermal policy management
• Advanced power policies and future-proof cooling best practices

Module 7: Structured Troubleshooting Approach with Intersight and CLI

• Troubleshooting fabric connectivity, IOM, vNIC/vHBA, and bandwidth issues
• Firmware and configuration issues; logs and CLI analysis techniques
• VLAN, VSAN, QoS, and CRC error troubleshooting

Day 3: Red Hat OpenShift Integration with Cisco UCS-X and Intersight

Module 8: Deployment Considerations for Managing Container Platforms with Red Hat OpenShift Clusters

• UCS-X Hardware requirements for OpenShift deployment (compute, storage, network)
• Designing robust network fabric and storage for container platforms
• Provisioning OpenShift clusters through Cisco Intersight

Module 9: Operational Management of Red Hat OpenShift on UCS-X

• Managing OpenShift lifecycle (upgrade, updates, node scaling) via Intersight
• Cross-platform observability, integra6on, and resource optimization

Day 4: AI Infrastructure Design, GPU Deployment & Optimization

Module 10: AI/ML Infrastructure Planning & GPU Integration with Cisco UCS-X

• GPU technology overview (Nvidia Ampere/Hopper architectures, CUDA cores, VRAM types)
• Selecting the right GPUs: performance, required quantities per workload, supported UCS-X GPUs/adapters
• Optimizing GPU-to-server ratios for typical AI model/training scenarios

Module 11: GPU Optimization and Best Practices

• GPU virtualization and orchestration via VMware/Nutanix/OpenShift/Kubernetes
• GPU tuning parameters for AI workloads (multi-instance GPU, vGPU modes)
• Troubleshooting GPU resource allocation and infrastructure bottlenecks

Day 5: Advanced Cisco Intersight Topics & API Automation

Module 12: Intersight API Integration and Automation Overview

• Cisco Intersight REST API fundamentals, architecture, authentication and endpoint exploration
• Automating Intersight operations via REST API, Ansible Modules, Terraform Providers
• Developing customized automation scripts and workflows with Cisco-provided SDKs (Python, PowerShell)
• Practical automation: typical workflows and SDK use-case demonstrations

Module 13: Advanced Cisco UCS-X and Intersight Topics

• Automated workload optimization and resource recommendations
  
  • Partner Solution: IBM Turbonomic
• Hybrid Kubernetes cluster orchestration and container workload management
  
  • Cisco Intersight Kubernetes Service (IKS)
• Infrastructure automation via Infrastructure-as-Code methodologies
  
  • Cisco Intersight Service for Terraform (IST)
• Workflow and orchestration automation
  
  • Intersight and ACI Application Profiles
  • Design and operaton of automated workflows
  • Cisco Intersight Cloud Orchestrator (ICO)
• Advanced Forecasting and Optimization Tools in Cisco Intersight
  
  • Resource usage prediction, infrastructure health analytics and recommendations
• Unified Observability with AppDynamics, ThousandEyes & Splunk
  
  • Real-time insights and predictive analytics for seamless digital performance
• Other Third-Party Integrations

Participants should possess basic-to-intermediate knowledge of Cisco UCS platforms, data center technologies, server infrastructure, networking concepts, virtualization fundamentals, and basic container management proficiency.

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• Data Center Systems Engineers and Administrators
• Infrastructure Automation Engineers
• Cloud Architects and Solutions Architects
• Technical personnel involved in AI architecture and workload planning
• IT support technicians, consultants, and Cisco partners implementing UCS-X technology