Stop Guessing How The Protocols Work. Start Engineering Them.


A complete CCIE-level Guide to NX-OS Routing & Switching.

Master DC L2 & L3 Technologies
 

A deep-dive into the routing and switching technologies that power every Cisco Nexus fabric. From OSPF LSA types to vPC Failure Scenarios; master the core technologies found in the modern Data Centers and the CCIE DC Lab.

Are you trying to run a Data Center with "Campus" knowledge?

 

Data center networks reward correctness and punish assumptions. At Layer-2 and Layer-3, “almost right” is not a stable design. A missing route-map detail, a misunderstood OSPF LSA, a mis-tuned FHRP timer, or a vPC inconsistency can quietly sit in production until the worst possible moment.

Most of us are not lacking intelligence. We are lacking a single, structured, Nexus-focused system that connects protocol theory to real NX-OS configuration and verification.

Feature Anxiety

You configure vPC, but do you truly understand the failure scenarios? If the Peer-Link breaks, do you know exactly which ports will shut down and why?

The "IOS" Trap

You are used to Cisco IOS, but NX-OS behaves differently. Protocols and features behave differently on Nexus switches, which can lead to config errors!

Protocol Tuning

You know OSPF and IS-IS, but can you tune the LSA types, Area nuances, and Path Selection rules to optimize a large-scale Data Center underlay?

. . . . .

Advanced Data Center fabrics, such as VXLAN EVPN, require a stable underlay. If you don't master these fundamental L2/L3 technologies first, everything you build on top is at risk.

Master DC L2 & L3 Tech

We translate "General Networking" into "Data Center Expertise".

This course is not a "quick overview." It is a technical deep-dive into the Layer-2 & Layer-3 features of Cisco Nexus switches.

We strip away the abstraction and look at the raw protocols. We examine OSPF Packet Types, IS-IS Adjacencies, FHRP States, and Virtual Port Channel (VPC) details. We explore the unique hardware architecture of Nexus, including Virtual Device Contexts (VDC) and Fabric Extenders (FEX).

By the end of this course, you won't just be typing commands! You will be able to visualize the encapsulation and decapsulation of traffic across the Nexus fabric.
 

Nexus Focused (NX-OS)

Learn to configure L2 & L3 features on Cisco Nexus switches, the Data Center industry hardware.

CCIE & CCNP Aligned

This curriculum covers the deep-dive L2 & L3 features found in the Lab and Core exams.

From Theory to Production

Learn real-world design variations, best practices, and live environment deployment .

Master DC L2 & L3 Tech

Tune, Scale, and Troubleshoot the Core Protocols of the Data Center.

  1. [1] Layer-3 Features

    7 lessons
    1. (01) IP Routing & Forwarding Overview
    2. (02) Static Routing
    3. (03) Prefix-lists
    4. (04) Route-maps
    5. (05) VRF-lite
    6. (06) BFD
    7. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #1

  2. [2] Policy-Based Routing (PBR)

    3 lessons
    1. (07) PBR Overview
    2. (08) PBR LAB Demo
    3. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #2

  3. [3] OSPF Fundamentals

    7 lessons
    1. (09) OSPF Overview
    2. (10) OSPF Packet Types
    3. (11) OSPF States
    4. (12) OSPF Adjacency
    5. (13) OSPF Configuration in NX-OS (Part 1)
    6. (14) OSPF Configuration in NX-OS (Part 2)
    7. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #3

  4. [4] OSPF Areas & LSA Types

    8 lessons
    1. (15) OSPF Areas & LSAs Overview
    2. (16) OSPF Router LSA (Type-1)
    3. (17) OSPF Network LSA (Type-2)
    4. (18) OSPF Summary LSA (Type-3)
    5. (19) OSPF ASBR Summary LSA (Type-4)
    6. (20) OSPF External LSA (Type-5)
    7. (21) OSPF NSSA LSA (Type-7)
    8. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #4

  5. [5] OSPF Route Policies

    12 lessons
    1. (22) OSPF Scalability & Summarization (Part 1)
    2. (23) OSPF Scalability & Summarization (Part 2)
    3. (24) OSPF Default Routes
    4. (25) OSPF Stub Areas (Part 1)
    5. (26) OSPF Stub Areas (Part 2)
    6. (27) OSPF Path Selection (Part 1)
    7. (28) OSPF Path Selection (Part 2)
    8. (29) OSPF Routes Filtering
    9. (30) OSPF Authentication
    10. (31) OSPF Route Redistribution (Part 1)
    11. (32) OSPF Route Redistribution (Part 2)
    12. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #5

  6. [6] IS-IS Fundamentals

    9 lessons
    1. (33) IS-IS Overview
    2. (34) IS-IS Packet Types
    3. (35) IS-IS Addressing
    4. (36) IS-IS Network Types
    5. (37) IS-IS Adjacency
    6. (38) IS-IS Configuration in NX-OS (Part 1)
    7. (39) IS-IS Configuration in NX-OS (Part 2)
    8. (40) IS-IS Configuration in NX-OS (Part 3)
    9. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #6

  7. [7] FHRP Protocols

    8 lessons
    1. (41) FHRP Overview
    2. (42) HSRP
    3. (43) HSRP LAB Demo
    4. (44) VRRP
    5. (45) VRRP LAB Demo
    6. (46) GLBP
    7. (47) GLBP LAB Demo
    8. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #7

  8. [8] Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP)

    5 lessons
    1. (48) STP Overview
    2. (49) Rapid-PVST & MST
    3. (50) Rapid-PVST Configuration
    4. (51) MST Configuration
    5. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #8

  9. [9] Port Channels (PC)

    3 lessons
    1. (52) Port-Channels Overview
    2. (53) PC LAB Demo
    3. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #9

  10. [10] Fabric Extender (FEX)

    3 lessons
    1. (54) FEX Overview
    2. (55) FEX Configutation
    3. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #10

  11. [11] Virtual Device Context (VDC)

    3 lessons
    1. (56) VDC Overview
    2. (57) VDC Configuration LAB
    3. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #11

  12. [12] Virtual Port-channel (VPC)

    9 lessons
    1. (58) VPC Overview (Part 1)
    2. (59) VPC Overview (Part 2)
    3. (60) VPC Configuration Steps
    4. (61) VPC Configuration LAB Demo
    5. (62) VPC & STP
    6. (63) VPC & FHRP
    7. (64) Layer 3 Routing over VPC
    8. (65) VPC Failure Scenarios
    9. L2 & L3 Tech Quiz #12

  13. [13] Additional Learning

    1 lesson
    1. (66) Miscellaneous Topics

  14. Final Certification Exam

    1 lesson
    1. L2 & L3 Technologies Final Exam

Who Should Enroll in this Course?



This training is designed specifically for: 

  • Enterprise Network Engineers moving into the Data Center space who need to translate into Cisco NX-OS mastery.
  • CCIE & CCNP Data Center Candidates who need to master the routing and switching topics of their exams.
  • Network Administrators responsible for maintaining stability in existing Nexus environments.
  • Consultants & Architects who need to design high-availability and fast convergence modern Data Centers.

⚠️ Important Note: This is a professional-level Data Center course. You do not need prior experience with Cisco Nexus switches. However, you must have a solid understanding of general networking fundamentals (IP addressing, Subnetting, and basic CLI navigation) equivalent to a CCNA level.

Master DC L2 & L3 Tech

Learn from a Production Expert. Trusted by Engineers Worldwide.

 

Salman Alhiary 2x CCIE #56363 (DC & ENT) Founder, LearnWithSalman

I am a Cisco Data Center specialist with over a decade of experience. My career began in the trenches of Cisco TAC, troubleshooting critical outages, and evolved into an Expert Professional Services Consultant role, leading high-stakes deployments for global enterprises. My teaching philosophy is simple: Learn Easily. Learn Deeply.  Learn Quickly.

See what other engineers are saying:

William Slade

"Great information provided. Great examples given regarding initial Layer 2 and Layer 3 packet movement and request."

James Ferguson

"Excellent explanation of ARP, the flow of packets and what is verified when a packet arrives."

Lim Cw

"Awesome explanation and presentation slides that shared the show output result to analyze the OSPF LSA type header."

Have Questions? We have Answers.

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Standard Plan

$69.99

Course & Community Access

  • Complete Course: L2 & L3 Technologies (13 hrs).
  • Community Access: Private "DCExperts Hub" for L2/L3 Tech Q&A.
  • Resources: Downloadable Configs, Topologies & Packets Format.
  • Gamification: Earn Badges & Future Discounts.
  • Validation: Quizzes & Exams.
  • Certificate of completion.
  • Lifetime Access & Updates. 

 

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Mentorship Plan

$249.99

Course + 1:1 Coaching Session

  • Save $45 (~15% discount $294.99).
  • Everything in the Standard Plan.
  • Single 1:1 Coaching Session: 1-Hour private video call with Salman.
  • Flexible Scheduling: Book a time that works for you.
  • Consulting Topics: Technical Deep Dive, Resume Review, or Career Strategy.


 

 

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DC Experts Plan

$439.99

Best Value: All 6 Courses + 1:1 Session

  • Save $185 (~30% discount $624.99).
  • Single 1:1 Coaching Session: 1-Hour private video call with Salman.
  • Access to ALL 6 Cisco Data Centers Courses and their Communities:
    • ACI Automation With Ansible
    • ACI Core
    • VXLAN EVPN
    • MP-BGP
    • Multicast
    • L2 & L3 Technologies
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I am confident this course will transform how you work. If you don't find the material valuable, simply email me for a full refund within the first 30 days.