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6 Steps to Understanding Cisco ACI
When understood, these six concepts will help anyone new to ACI to understand a more detailed technical discussion.
Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1
This lab is the Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1, and after completion, the student can launch Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 2 to complete the entire lab. The lab uses the ACI virtual simulator based on ACI Version 6, emulating an APIC, 2 leafs, and a spine. Part 2 uses a shared physical ACI fabric to complete the policy and verify data plane connectivity.
The ACI Virtual Simulator was needed to demo the building of the ACI fabric from scratch, bootstrapping the APIC, adding the spine and leafs, fabric discovery, and completing VMM integration. Since the Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab, Part 2 is a shared on-demand environment, to decouple the APIC build process from the APIC policy creation. Due to limitations, the virtual ACI fabric is a control plane-only simulator, and no data plane testing (Ping, SSH) can get done for validation. Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 2 uses a Tenant inside of a physical ACI, and data plane functionality can get tested ( Ping, SSH)
High-Performance Architecture: An Engine to Drive Your AI Strategy Forward | Experts
Generative AI initiatives are taking flight across the world as organizations of all kinds explore new and innovative ways to put the disruptive technology to use. But has anyone stopped to think if their IT infrastructure is ready to meet the intense data demands required of advanced AI solutions?
Join Derrick Monahan, WWT's data strategy and high-performance architecture practice manager, as he talks about the vital nature of high-performance architecture — the merger of high-performance computing (HPC) and AI and machine learning (ML) workstreams into one architectural framework with the core IT infrastructure components needed to unlock the seemingly unlimited world of possibilities made possible by AI. Derrick also talks about the role of data and data governance, real world use cases being used in today's business landscape and ways you can put all of it into action.
Network Engineering Foundations
This Learning Series covers the fundamentals of network engineering. Through hands-on labs and real-world examples, you will develop the practical skills necessary to build and maintain robust networks. It is perfect for aspiring network engineers, IT professionals, or anyone interested in understanding the backbone of today's interconnected world.
Cisco ACI Multisite Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator.
Cisco's Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator (NDO) allows an ACI policy to be managed with a single pane of glass to for the whole environment. The key to NDO, the administrator is able to create consistent security and connectivity policies across multiple physical, and virtual sites.
This lab will go through all the steps necessary to bring up an ACI Multi-Site environment from two existing ACI fabrics.
What's new
Modern Data Center Solutions Briefing
Modern Data Center solutions solve business problems by improving efficiency, reliability, scalability, security and innovation. Robust network, storage and server infrastructure, along with cloud-ready application platforms, enable data-driven decision making, performance optimization, cost control and the creation of new business opportunities. By realizing Modern Data Center solutions, businesses can solve current and future challenges, gain a competitive edge and achieve their goals.
Operating the Cisco NEXUS Dashboard Platform
Cisco has been at the forefront of developing a suite of standalone tools for data center networking, collectively known as the Day 2 Operations Suite. Recently, Cisco has initiated the integration of these tools into a unified interface called NEXUS Dashboard, providing a consolidated view and shared data repositories for enhanced application correlation. This Learning path is designed specifically for those administrators that need to perform and manage the day to day upkeep of the NEXUS Dashboard product. The learning path will include videos, article and a hands on lab going over what a typical admin would need to setup on NEXUS Dashboard. We will cover whats new with NEXUS Dashboard 3.2, creating routes for the management and data networks, creating syslog server, remote NFS and SFTP storage, creating backups, and upgrading the version. We will also go through remote authentication with radius, creating users and roles, and Intersight configuration. Finally we will bring up 2 ACI simulators and onboard the ACI fabrics to the NEXUS Dashboard platform.
Avoiding an AI Nightmare: Strategies for Scalable IT Infrastructure
AI strategy without execution is just a dream — but execution without strategy is a nightmare. In this episode of The AI Proving Ground Podcast, we dive into the critical components of AI-ready infrastructure with Jeff Fonke and Matt Halcomb, two experts in data center and high-performance architecture.
Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 2
This lab is a continuation of the Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1 to allow students to explore the basics of ACI Constructs, building an Application Profile, EPGs and Bridge domains, Policy Filters, and Contracts. The students then connect the ACI fabric to external layers 2 and 3 devices. The lab then finishes with ACI micro-segmentation inside an EPG to show a zero-trust model.
Unlike Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1, which uses a simulator due to resource sharing with other students, this lab uses the latest ACI hardware and allows the student to test real-world data plane connectivity inside and outside the fabric.
Arista With Cloud Vision Portal Sandbox Lab
This lab provides exposure to the new technology and capabilities of the Arista products used. This lab introduces the Arista Cloud Vision Portal(CVP) and includes 3 VXLAN EVPN scenarios based on best practices from the Arista design guides, ACE3 course material and Arista TAC support the Arista EOS forum posts. There are many different ways to create an Arista-based VXLAN EVPN fabric; these 3 lab scenarios presents 1) a migration phase from a standard 3 tier VLAN and SVI-based network to a VXLAN fabric, 2) using Asymmetrical IRB and 3)Symmetrical IRB. BGP routing is the underlay, overlay, and connectivity to the remote data center under migration. This sandbox and configs can be further used to explore other configurations and functionality of Arista CVP.
Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1
This lab is the Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 1, and after completion, the student can launch Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 2 to complete the entire lab. The lab uses the ACI virtual simulator based on ACI Version 6, emulating an APIC, 2 leafs, and a spine. Part 2 uses a shared physical ACI fabric to complete the policy and verify data plane connectivity.
The ACI Virtual Simulator was needed to demo the building of the ACI fabric from scratch, bootstrapping the APIC, adding the spine and leafs, fabric discovery, and completing VMM integration. Since the Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab, Part 2 is a shared on-demand environment, to decouple the APIC build process from the APIC policy creation. Due to limitations, the virtual ACI fabric is a control plane-only simulator, and no data plane testing (Ping, SSH) can get done for validation. Cisco ACI Fundamentals Lab Part 2 uses a Tenant inside of a physical ACI, and data plane functionality can get tested ( Ping, SSH)
Cisco ACI Multisite Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator.
Cisco's Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator (NDO) allows an ACI policy to be managed with a single pane of glass to for the whole environment. The key to NDO, the administrator is able to create consistent security and connectivity policies across multiple physical, and virtual sites.
This lab will go through all the steps necessary to bring up an ACI Multi-Site environment from two existing ACI fabrics.
What's next for data centers in 2025
As data centers undergo rapid transformation, IT professionals must prioritize a strategic approach to AI, adapt to shifts in virtualization and adopt a holistic view of computing to support workloads.
Arista Ansible Automation Lab
This lab is designed to expose network engineers to Arista-oriented automation techniques. The focus is mid-level programmability leveraging CloudVision Portal, Ansible, Jinja2,and Python.
Multi-Site DCNM Lab
This lab will enable a student to build a basic Multi-Site fabric using Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) for complete end-to-end connectivity.
Partner POV | Automate AI training and inference data centers with Juniper Apstra
Apstra capabilities are designed to streamline the process and reduce errors, making it easier for organizations to implement and manage AI workloads.
How You Can Power the AI Revolution with Next-Gen Data Centers
As enterprises race to harness the transformative power of AI, the data centers that power these mission-critical workloads are facing unprecedented demands. From increasing power and cooling requirements to the need for lightning-fast deployment and optimization, the traditional approaches to data center design and management are no longer sufficient.
In this exclusive Partner Spotlight, WWT Senior Director of AI Mike Trojecki talks with Head of Business Development, NVIDIA Energy, Ahsan Yousufzai, and Schneider Electric's Vice President of Solution Architects, Joe Reele, about how you can position your data center as a key enabler of AI.
Hands-On Lab Workshop: Exploring Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights
Join us for the Virtual Lab Workshop! During this exclusive session, the host will explore Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights.
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Foundations
This learning path on foundational Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) provides a comprehensive introduction and deep dive into the core aspects of BGP, the backbone of the internet's routing architecture. It starts by explaining the basics of BGP, including its purpose, operation, and fundamental concepts such as Autonomous Systems (AS), BGP sessions, and the BGP routing table. The series progresses to cover more advanced topics, such as BGP path selection, route advertisement, and the implementation of various BGP attributes like Local Preference, AS Path, and MED. Through practical examples, configurations, and troubleshooting scenarios, viewers gain a thorough understanding of how BGP facilitates global data exchange and the techniques network engineers use to optimize and secure BGP networks. The series aims to equip network professionals with the knowledge needed to manage and optimize BGP in real-world environments, emphasizing best practices and common pitfalls.
Network Media
This learning path will walk through many different types of physical media from coaxial cable to fiber. It will also contain a brief history of Ethernet and the OSI Model.
Cisco LAN Switching Configuration Lab
This configuration workbook lab aims to equip learners with a solid understanding of Cisco Layer Two switching technologies. Participants will learn to configure and manage VLANs, trunk links, port channels, and Spanning Tree Protocol, while also exploring additional features like DTP and Port Security. By the end, learners will be able to validate their configurations, ensuring effective implementation of these technologies in real-world networking environments.
Monitoring datacenter networks with Cisco NEXUS Dashboard and Insights
Cisco Nexus Dashboard provides a unified and seamless experience for common data center services (Figure 2) on your networks, whether Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI), Cisco NX-OS (through its Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller service and/or running in standalone mode), or even some third-party switches. The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Admin Console (Figure 4) informs the operator of the health of the various clusters, fabrics, and infrastructure services to quickly detect issues and their root cause, allowing users to toggle between the different Cisco Nexus Dashboard services as needed. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator, and Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights services are being integrated as part of simplifying the overall consumption experience for our customers. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) consolidates management for multiple NX-OS‒based switches, bringing automation and monitoring for LAN, EVPN VXLAN, and SAN fabrics.
Building VXLAN Fabrics using Cisco DCNM and NEXUS Dashboard Fabric Controller
Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), now superseded by Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC), is Cisco's version of an EVPN fabric controller. DCNM, or NDFC, has three essential primary components. Spines that act like physical aggregation points for all of the leaves. Leaves provide endpoint aggregation and link to the spine. The last essential component is the controller, which in the case of DCNM is a single device or HA pair, and for NDFC, it is a Nexus Dashboard cluster with a loaded NDFC application.
In most cases, DCNM or NDFC will utilize OSPF for the underlay and VXLAN EVPN with MP-BGP as the overlay on Nexus 9000 switches. These fabric controllers are easier to use than similar fabric technologies on smaller to medium size networks, as most variables work out of the box without needing to change them. To what is known in the industry as a point and click your way to happiness.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) and Nexus Dashboard Insights Workshop (NDI)
The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) is a centralized solution designed to simplify the management of modern data center fabrics. NDFC streamlines the deployment, monitoring, and management of complex networking environments, making it an essential tool for organizations adopting advanced network architectures such as VXLAN EVPN, or traditional IP fabrics. With its intuitive interface and robust automation capabilities, NDFC allows administrators to define and enforce consistent policies, configure devices with ease, and ensure seamless fabric connectivity, significantly reducing the complexity associated with large-scale fabric management.
An essential complement to NDFC is Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights (NDI), which provides in-depth analytics and operational intelligence for data center fabrics. While NDFC excels at fabric provisioning and policy enforcement, NDI enhances visibility into the operational state of the network. It identifies potential issues, enables predictive analysis, and offers actionable recommendations for troubleshooting and optimization. Together, NDFC and NDI create a unified solution that not only simplifies fabric management but also ensures the ongoing health and performance of the network, providing closed-loop assurance that aligns with business needs.
The combination of NDFC and NDI delivers powerful benefits for data center operations, including enhanced efficiency, improved reliability, and reduced downtime. NDFC automates routine tasks, enabling IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives, while NDI proactively monitors the fabric for anomalies, helping to resolve issues before they impact services. This synergy between NDFC's fabric management and NDI's operational intelligence empowers organizations to maintain secure, scalable, and high-performing data center networks, meeting the demands of modern workloads and applications. Together, they ensure a comprehensive and resilient network management experience.
Cisco ACI and Nexus Dashboard Insights (NDI) Workshop
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) is a software-defined networking (SDN) solution designed to simplify, optimize, and automate data center networks by unifying physical and virtual environments under a centralized, policy-driven framework. It enables dynamic application provisioning, centralized policy management, and real-time network visibility, making it ideal for modern IT environments. Complementing ACI, Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights provides advanced analytics, health monitoring, and predictive insights to enhance network performance and reliability. By detecting anomalies, identifying root causes, and anticipating potential disruptions, Nexus Dashboard Insights minimizes downtime and ensures smooth operations. Seamlessly integrating with ACI, it offers actionable intelligence to maintain compliance, optimize application delivery, and secure network operations. Together, ACI and Nexus Dashboard Insights create a powerful ecosystem for managing and optimizing complex data center networks, driving operational efficiency and resilience.