Learning path
Cisco ACI
Skill Level
Fundamentals
Duration 12 hours 10 minutes
Updated Jun 13, 2023
About this learning path
Cisco ACI is a policy-driven CLOS or Spine/Leaf based switching fabric utilizing layer 3 ECMP routing in the underlay and VXLAN encapsulation in the overlay to transport layer two and layer three traffic East/West across the fabric and North/South in and out of the fabric. ACI consists of the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), a centralized controller that manages all aspects of the ACI fabric. The leaf switches are ToR switches that provide connectivity between servers and external networks, and the spine switches are Layer 3 switches that provide ECMP high-bandwidth connectivity between leaf switches. An ACI fabric can be expanded East/West by adding leafs, cabling to the spines, and registering them. ACI was designed to operate as "One Big Switch" (like a chassis-based NEXUS 7K) with the controllers acting like the Supervisors, the spines as fabric modules, and leafs acting as blades. We can decouple these elements from the chassis and place them anywhere in the data center by taking this approach. The leafs (blades) can be placed anywhere in the data center, so you are not limited to a chassis.
Your instructors
Michael WitteWorld Wide TechnologyPrincipal Solutions Architect
Craig KemmererWorld Wide TechnologyTechnical Solutions Architect
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Prerequisites
- Basic networking concepts including VLANs, IP address, and discovery protocols
- Basic understanding of navigation through VMware vSphere
- Use of SFTP for backup and restore
What you'll learn
- Tutorial on VXLAN 101 and ACI 101 basics
- ACI fundamentals
- Initial configuration of the APIC 6.0 controller via APIC console using the APIC simulator
- APIC 6.0 switch Fabric Discovery via the registration process
- APIC 6.0 GUI Discovery self-discovery of the APIC sections
- Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) Networking to connect a Vsphere 7 vcenter to ACI and create a new ACI 6.0 created DVS in vCenter
- ACI Contracts
- Policy Filter and Contracts
- Deploying a 3-Tier App Profile
- L2/L3 and micro-segmentation