Cisco ACI

Cisco ACI –

Chapter 1:  Introduction: Datacenter Network Evolution

Chapter Goal: To put Cisco ACI as a next gen modern datacenter network in the context of network evolution. Why it even exists in the first place, what it can bring for companies, etc.

No of pages 12

Sub -Topics

1.       Datacenter Evolution – From traditional 3 tier network architecture through network virtualization (vPC) to Leaf-Spine routed architectures.

2.       Explained need for new protocol – VXLAN

3.       Explained need for network automation – centrally managed software defined networking

4.       Explained need for datacenter network visibility

Chapter 2:  ACI Fundamentals – Underlay Infrastructure

Chapter Goal: Introduce readers to Cisco ACI, its components and basic concepts. It’s very important to establish strong fundamental knowledge of the technology to later build on. This chapter will focus on Underlay Infrastructure – Nexus 9000 and APICs. It explains all the architectural options when building ACI with design considerations for physical cabling and tips for High-Level Design project phases.

No of pages: 46

Sub – Topics   

1.       Underlay Networking – Nexus 9000 Family Overview. To make sure readers understand advantages of HW based underlay network, its components and to explain main features of N9K CloudScale ASICs.

2.       APIC controllers. Connecting APICs to fabric, database sharding, Advantages/disadvantages of various cluster options (3, 5, 7 nodes)

3.      Introduction to ACI Control-plane and Data-plane concepts used in the underlay networking

4.       ACI Architectures – Introduction to ACI design options – Multi-Tier Fabric, Stretched Fabric, Multi-Pod, Multi-site, Remote Leaf, and Cloud deployments with Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator.

Chapter 3: ACI Fabric Initialization & Management

Chapter Goal: Show readers how to properly configure all the necessary features of Cisco ACI at the beginning of the fabric deployment (including Multi-POD architecture) together with recommended best-practice global configuration and troubleshooting tips for failures in automatic switch discovery

No of pages : 72

Sub – Topics:  

1.    Converting standard NX-OS Leaf switch to ACI mode

2.   APIC Cluster Initialization and Leaf-Spine Fabric Discovery with troubleshooting

3.  Out-of-band and In-Band connectivity

4.  Global Best practice configuration and Fabric Policies (Management Access, DNS, NTP, SNMP, Syslog, MP-BGP, ACI Backup)  

5.   Multi-POD deployment with IPN configuration and troubleshooting.

Chapter 4: ACI Fundamentals – Access Policies

Chapter Goal: Introduce readers to the global Access Policies responsible for encapsulation resources management and Leaf access interface configuration. Proper understanding of Access Policies is key for using them later in Logical Tenant Application Models.

No of pages : 24

Sub – Topics:  

1.    ACI Access Policies – VLAN Pools, Physical domains, AAEP, Interface Policy Group and Profiles, Switch Policy Group and Profiles. All with verification options.

Chapter 5:  ACI Fundamentals – Application Policy Model

Chapter Goal: It’s crucial to properly understand main Application Policy Model, all its components