Course Description
The CompTIA® Storage+ exam associated with this course was retired January 2016, however If you are involved in storage or want to become a storage master, then this is a very valuable course for you to take. This course was certified by CompTIA® as CompTIA® Authorized Quality Curriculum (CAQC) and mapped to the Storage+ Exam (Code SG0-001).
CompTIA® Storage+ Part 2 explores Fibre Channel technologies and components, and delves into the network aspects of storage. Fibre Channel is the jump off point for this module as it has been the driving force for Storage Area Networks from the late 90’s and into the 21st century. You will begin by understanding the benefits of Fibre Channel separating myth from reality and then go into the details of how software, firmware and hardware play a role in FC solutions, looking at each layer of the architecture as well including FC-0, 1, 2, 3 and FC Level 4.
Topics include:
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Lower level electrical and optical signaling, connectors and cabling
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Operating system interfaces with the Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
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Converting SCSI information into signals that move across the infrastructure between a server and storage controller
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Work flow management constructs like Exchanges, Sequences and Frames
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Services offered and requested from adapter firmware and in a FC switched fabric
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How session relationships, logons, occur and why
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How error recovery takes place in the FC network
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FC switches and the fabric it provides
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Switch configuration and design
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Pathing, routing, load balancing, load sharing and trunking techniques used by FC fabric switches
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All aspects of security, access mechanisms, fabric routers and virtual fabrics
With the purchase of this course, you receive a bonus course on Networking Concepts! This course will round out your knowledge on basic networking fundamentals. You'll find the link in the Related Links section of the Downloads Tab. Please note that as of January 2016 Comptia retired this exam.
In This Course You Will Learn:
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Describe what FC benefits can be achieved in a storage network infrastructure as well as what isn’t achieved while Understanding the FC roadmap and the basic structure of FC technologies
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Explain the differences between a FC Node, Port, Transceiver and bit rate as well as the function of the FC WWNN, WWPN and FCID vs. the MAC ID
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Understand when to use FC Topologies including Point-to-Point, FC Arbitrated Loop and FC Fabric both inside and outside of a storage array
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Identify FC-0 functions such as media, connectors and data rate and distinguish between issues that are electrical vs. optical and the benefits of Single Mode vs. Multi-Mode fiber
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Understand the FC-1 functions of Ordered Sets, 8b-10b encode/decode and scrambling functions
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Examine FC-2 Exchange, Sequence and Frame processing including flow control and class of service
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Describe the different types of Basic, Extended and Switch Services offered to FC devices and understand the role of FLOGI, PLOGI, PRLI and RSCN and examine the function of the Host Bus and Storage Adapter
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Identify the function of FC Hubs, Loop Switches, Fabric Switches and Directors, Bridges, Routers or Gateways
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Be able to design a FC fabric considering design issues such as locality, Fan0in and Fan-out ratios and configuration of automatic failover, load sharing and trunking
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Configure Zoning and zoning enforcement requirements as well as implement FC Routers and Virtual Fabrics
Prerequisites
The exam is targeted toward IT storage professionals with at least twelve months of experience. Though it is not required, CompTIA® A+, CompTIA® Network+ or CompTIA® Security+ certification is recommended.
Outline
Module 00: CompTIA® Storage+ Part 2 - Course Introduction
Module 01: Fibre Channel (FC) Benefits
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What is Fibre Channel?
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FC Components
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FC Benefits
Module 02: FC Organization
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FC Origin
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FC Roadmap
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FC Structure
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FC Organization Quiz
Module 03: FC Components
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FC Nodes
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FC Ports
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FC World Wide Names (WWN)
Module 04: FC Topologies
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Point-to-Point (P-T-P)
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FC Arbitrated Loop (FCAL)
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FC Fabric
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FC Trace Analysis 1 Demo
Module 05: FC Names & Addresses
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FC World Wide Node Name (WWNN) and World Wide Port Name (WWPN)
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FC WWN Formats
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FC Addressing and Routing
Module 06: Storage: Names and Addresses
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P-SCSI
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SC and SCAL
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SAS
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iSCSI
Module 07: FC Node Port ID Virtualization (NPIV)
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NPIV Login
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NPIV Protocol
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NPIV Concentrator
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FC Trace Analysis 2 Demo
Module 08: FC Architecture Overview
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FC Levels
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Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) vs. FC
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FC System Architecture
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Internet Protocol (IP) Architecture
Module 08 Demo: SAN Lab Tour
Module 09: FC Level-0 Components
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Parallel vs. Serial
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Connecters
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Optical vs. Electrical
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FC SAN Host Demo
Module 10: FC Level-0 Links
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Single Mode vs. Multi-Mode Fiber
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Variants
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Speed Negotiation
Module 11: FC Level-1 Scrambling and 8b/10b Encode/Decode
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Ordered Sets
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Scrambling
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8b/10b Encode/Decode
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“The Chicken and the Egg”
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FC Level-1 Scrambling and 8b/10b Encode/Decode Quiz
Module 12: FC Level-1 Transmission Words
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Frame Delimiters
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Primitive Signals
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Primitive Sequences
Module 13: FC Level-1 Port State Machine (PSM) and Loop Port State Machine (LPSM)
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PSM
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LPSM
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FCAL
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FC Level-1 Port State Machine (PSM) and Loop Port State Machine (LPSM) Quiz
Module 14: FC Level-2 Data Structures and Session Management
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Exchanges
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Sequences
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Frames
Module 15: FC Level-2 Session Management Functions
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FC Level-2 SCSI Operations-Exchange
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FC Level-2 SCSI Operations-Sequence
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FC Level-2 SCSI Operations-Frames
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Trace Analysis 3 Demo
Module 16: FC Level-2 Class of Service and Flow Control
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Class of Service
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Flow Control
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Long Distance Flow Control
Module 17: FC Level-2 Error Recovery and Sequences
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Error Policies
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Error Timers
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Sequences
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Switch HBA Server Lab
Module 18: FC Architecture Services
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Basic Link Services
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Extended Link Services
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Session Services Introduction
Module 19: FC Session Services
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Fabric Login (FLOGI)
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Node Port Login (PLOGI)
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Process Login (PRLOGI)
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Registered State Change Notification (RSCN)
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Trace Analysis 04
Module 20: FC Level-3 Common Services
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Common Services
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Security
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Registered State Change Notification (RSCN)
Module 21: FC Level-4 SCSI over Fibre Channel Function
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IP Upper Level Protocols
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SCSI Architecture
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SCSI FC Protocol (FCP) Basics
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FC Storage Array Lab Exercise
Module 22: FC Level-4 SCSI over Fibre Channel Recovery
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Information Units (IUs)
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Information Sets
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Error Recovery Examples
Module 23: FC Level-4 IP over Fibre Channel (IPFC)
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IPFC Protocol
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IPFC Routing
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IPFC Services
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FC Level-4 IP over Fibre Channel (IPFC) Quiz
Module 24: Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) and Converged Network Adapters (CNAs)
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Vendors
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HBA Function
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CAN Function
Module 25: FC Hubs & Loop Switches
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Hubs
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Loop Switches
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FC Hubs & Loop Switches Quiz
Module 26: FC Bridges, Routers & Gateways
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Vendors
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Bridges and Switches
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Gateways
Module 27: Switches Overview
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Vendors
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Capabilities
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Services
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Directors vs. Switches
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Switches Overview Quiz
Module 28: Fabric Switches Design
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Mesh
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Fabric Configurations
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Core-Edge
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Fan In, Fan Out
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Locality
Module 29: Fabric Switches Pathing
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Automatic Failover
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Path Methodologies
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Load Sharing
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Trunking
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Fabric Switches Pathing Quiz
Module 30: Fabric Switches Zoning Configuration
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LUN Masking
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Zoning Configuration Elements
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WWNN, WWPN, Port ID, and Mixed
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Zoning Terminology
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Zoning Best Practices
Module 31: Fabric Switches Zoning Enforcement
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Hard Zoning
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Soft Zoning
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Zoning Confusion
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FC Switch Lab
Module 32: FC Fabric Routers
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Fabric Expansion
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Single Fabric
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Multiple Fabrics
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Network Address Translation (NAT)
Module 33: FC Virtual Fabrics
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Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)
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Virtual Fabrics (VFs)
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Shared Inter-switch Links (S-ISLs)
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Demo: Zoning Lab
Bonus Course! Networking Concepts - to access this course, click on the link available in Related Links
Module 01: Introduction to Networking
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Terminology
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Protocols and Standards
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Networking Advantages and Disadvantages
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Networking Requirements
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Anys
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Architecture
Module 02: What is a Layered Stack?
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Layers
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OSI
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World Wide Web (www)
Module 03: Data Structures
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Protocol Data Units (PDU)
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Headers and Trailers
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IP Storage PDU
Module 04: Physical Transport Networks
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Topologies
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LAN
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Backbone Networks
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Interconnection Devices
Module 05: Duplex, Switching and Connections
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Duplex
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Network Models
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Circuit and Packet Switching
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Connection-Oriented vs. Connectionless
Module 06: Bit Rate, Bandwidth, Latency and Throughput
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Parallel vs. Serial
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What about Speed?
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Protocol Performance Data
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Throughput-Bandwidth
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Back to the Future
Module 07: Ports and Phys
Module 08: Names vs. Addresses
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Ethernet
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Name, Address and Route
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Mailing, Pickup and Delivery
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WWN Formats
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Routing
Module 09: Flow Control: SAS and Fibre Channel
Module 10: Flow Control: TCP/IP and Ethernet
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TCP Sliding Windows
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Ethernet Pause
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Shortest Path First
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Priority Flow Control
Module 11: Segmentation and Offload
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Traditional FC SAN
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Traditional NAS
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iSCSI Full Offload
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Not All TOEs are Created Equal
Module 12: Bus, Loop, and Expanse
Certification
This course has been certified by CompTIA as CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum (CAQC). It is the only authorized SNIA-sponsored course. This course maps to Storage+ Exam, Code SGO-001.
Exam vouchers can be purchased from the CompTIA Marketplace for the exam. Vouchers are only available for purchase and use at a Pearson VUE test center in North America. Once you place your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from CompTIA. This e-mail includes your exam voucher number -- you need this number to register for your exam. It is important that you provide a valid e-mail address and that your system does not block messages from CompTIA.
For all other countries, follow the steps below, making payment as indicated in step 3.
Once you have purchased your voucher, you may register for the exam through Pearson VUE Testing Centers.
1. Visit their site to find the closest testing center to you.
2. Create an online account with Pearson VUE to register for the exam and store your information with the testing center.
3. Schedule the exam online with the testing center of your choice. You can also register by phone or by contacting the testing center directly. You will be required to enter your voucher number or provide payment information at registration.
4. You will receive e-mail confirmation of your registration including any additional details you may need from the testing center.