Cisco 300-625 DCSAN study plan
Cisco 300-625 DCSAN · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Implementing and Managing Cisco MDS Switches
Map the MDS product family (9124, 9148, 9220i, 93180YC-FX, 9500 series) to port counts, line card types, and supervisor roles
Diagram a single-switch SAN boot topology including ISLs, host HBAs, and target storage ports, and label each interface type
Install and license Cisco NX-OS in a lab (virtual or hardware) and verify image, kickstart, and feature-set compatibility
Configure basic switch parameters: hostname, mgmt0 addressing, NTP, syslog, AAA with TACACS+, and role-based users
Practice navigating NX-OS CLI modes and capture the show commands used to verify each configuration step
Your checkpoint
A one-page switch-build checklist with the exact CLI sequence to bring a fresh MDS from factory default to management-reachable, AAA-secured, NTP-synced state, validated in lab
Implementing and Managing Cisco MDS Switches
Configure VSANs, assign ports to VSANs, and verify isolation between two VSANs on the same physical switch
Configure trunking between switches and confirm allowed VSAN lists with show commands
Create device aliases and zone sets, then activate and verify zoning from both CLI and a fabric-wide view
Configure port channels (ISLs) and verify load balancing and member link status
Set up basic SAN analytics or port monitoring counters to baseline traffic
Your checkpoint
A lab report showing two isolated VSANs trunked across two switches, with zoning active, port-channel ISL up, and show output proving isolation
Configuring and Managing Fibre Channel Fabrics
Explain and configure principal switch election, priority, and fabric reconfiguration behavior
Configure and verify FSPF, including cost and link-state database checks
Configure distributed device aliases and verify propagation across a three-switch fabric
Configure RSCN and SCR suppression and observe the effect on host behavior
Troubleshoot a deliberately broken ISL and document the isolation and recovery steps
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting write-up of an intentionally failed fabric (broken ISL or wrong VSAN trunk) with the show commands and resolution sequence used to restore a merged, stable fabric
Configuring and Managing Fibre Channel Fabrics
Configure IVR between two VSANs, including IVR zone sets and IVR NAT, and verify end-to-end connectivity
Configure inter-VSAN routing with a transit VSAN and validate path selection
Configure and verify SAN port channels with multiple members and test failover by disabling a link
Explain and configure fabric binding and verify it blocks an unauthorized switch
Review SAN design considerations for oversubscription and ISL sizing
Your checkpoint
A working IVR lab between two VSANs with a documented zone-set design, plus a failover test log showing traffic continuing after a member link is shut down
Configuring and Managing FCoE and NPV/NPIV
Explain FCoE encapsulation, FIP, and the role of the FCF and ENode, and map them to Cisco MDS/Nexus features
Configure an FCoE VLAN, vFC interface, and FCoE-enabled port on a supported platform, then verify FLOGI and fabric login
Configure QoS and priority flow control for FCoE traffic and explain why lossless behavior is required
Compare NPV and NPIV, and identify when each is appropriate in a design
Configure NPV on an edge switch and verify NPIV-based login through the core
Your checkpoint
A lab-verified FCoE or NPV configuration diagram with show command output proving an ENode or host logged in through the FCF or NPV edge
Configuring and Managing FCoE and NPV/NPIV & Configuring and Managing Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Features
Troubleshoot a failed FCoE login by inspecting VLAN, vFC, and FIP snooping configuration
Configure NPV traffic maps and verify load balancing across uplinks
Configure and verify SAN device authentication using DH-CHAP between a switch and a host
Configure port security and verify it blocks an unknown device WWN
Configure and validate a port-channel between an NPV edge and core switch
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting matrix covering FCoE login failure, NPV uplink imbalance, and port-security rejection, each with root cause and fix
Configuring and Managing Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Features
Configure and verify SAN analytics on a supported platform and interpret the resulting flow and SCSI metrics
Configure Slow Drain Analysis and identify a slow-draining device from counters and reports
Configure and verify Call Home, including alert groups and destination profiles
Configure and verify Smart Zoning and explain how it reduces TCAM usage
Configure and verify fabric performance monitoring or port monitoring policies
Your checkpoint
A monitoring runbook with the CLI to enable analytics, slow drain detection, and Call Home, plus a sample alert and the interpretation of one slow-drain report
Implementing and Managing Cisco MDS Switches & Configuring and Managing Fibre Channel Fabrics & Configuring and Managing FCoE and NPV/NPIV & Configuring and Managing Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Features
Re-run a full timed practice set across all four domains and score each domain separately
Reconfigure a three-switch fabric from scratch without notes to test retention
Review every missed question and write the underlying concept in your own words
Verify readiness by listing the show and debug commands you can recall for each domain
Finalize a one-page command cheat sheet covering all four domains
Your checkpoint
A timed practice exam scorecard by domain with a remediation list, plus a completed one-page command cheat sheet that you can reproduce from memory
Milestones
Week 2: Can build a two-VSAN trunked fabric with active zoning and ISL port channel in under 45 minutes without notes
Week 4: Can explain and configure IVR, FSPF, and principal switch election, and can diagnose a failed ISL from show output alone
Week 6: Can describe the FCoE and NPV/NPIV login path end to end and configure either in lab with verified FLOGI output
Week 8: Scores at least 80 percent overall and at least 75 percent in every domain on a timed practice set, with the cheat sheet reproduced from memory