The complete course description is online for those that haven't seen it yet: http://www.NetApp.com/education/ (for all courses) http://www.NetApp.com/education/netapp202_new.html (for the new 202 course)

This is what the course description may not tell you:

The revamped NetApp 202 has some information that answers several questions that I see on this list frequently... for instance:

How many RAID groups or volumes should I set up? What is wrong with my backup performance? What type of filer setup is required for Oracle 8 (and some other databases, mail systems, etc)?

The class is NOT a "this is how you set up your X database on a filer" but it does give you some general ideas of things you will want to do to optimize and protect your databases. It also gives you pointers to other resources for database specific questions.

You get tips for performance tuning depending on environment and tools and utilities to determine where a performance problem may come from. There is a scenario based lab where you get to determine the optimum configuration for a specific environment.

The class goes into advanced concepts of the WAFL file system and NetApp architecture ... for instance, did you ever wonder why we have 20 snapshots? or how they work? Like to get a glimpse into our inode structure? You get that too. The better you understand the file system you are working with the more you are able to understand how it performs in specific situations.

It also provides some great troubleshooting tools and techniques. You get thrown into hands on labs where the filer is broken and you have to fix it. (Without the added pressure of managers breathing down your neck). You get to practice recovery techniques that you will hopefully never need in real life, but if a major problem happens you will be prepared to handle it.

There are many case studies where you get to review details of problems encountered by customers in the field (from easy to very hard), what NetApp and the customers did to resolve the problem and what thought process was required to do so. In addition there are labs built in to the case studies where you get to practice some of the more rarified commands in a safe environment.

The class will not give you direct answers for every aspect of your environment. But it will give you the tools and concepts to find your own answers.

I hope you all get a chance to attend. While some of the material is drawn from the old 202 course. Most of it is brand new, and, IMHO, worth attending.

PS. If you have any suggestions for new training you'd like to see or things you would like changed in any of NetApp's course material you can e-mail NetApp Educational Services at: dl-training-feedback@netapp.com

:-----Original Message----- :From: Derek Kelly [mailto:derek.kelly@genomecorp.com] :Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 6:40 AM :To: Douglas Ritschel :Cc: toasters@mathworks.com :Subject: Re: NetApp 202: Advanced System Admin : : :I took the 101 and 202 as a package deal as well. While I haven't taken :the 202 class since it was revamped, I found them both to be highly :useful (I suspect that it's even better now!). Just the books alone are :worth the price of the class since they document many of the features :and "hidden" commands most admins would never know about. That's also :where I found out about this talk list and made some friends in the :business who are local to me as well. : :In short, If you're working with Filers on a regular basis, I highly :recommend this class. : :BTW, these classes are the same exact ones NetApp employees (from tech :support to engineers) must attend. There were at least 4 employees in :the same class I took. : :If you have the opportunity, try to take it right in :Sunnyvale. The area :is beautiful and the training facilities are terrific. If you do decide :to go, send me an email if you're looking for travel recommendation :particulars. : :Derek Kelly :Gennomecorp : :On 5/8/00 at 5:21 PM, Douglas.Ritschel@fnc.fujitsu.com (Douglas :Ritschel) wrote: : :> Has anyone taken the "NetApp 202: Advanced System Administration and :> Troubleshooting for Network Appliance Filers class. And if so, was it :> useful?