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MP-BGP EVPN VXLAN for the beginner
The article below covers VXLAN encapsulation and how MP-BGP is used to learn and forward layer two and layer three traffic across the encapsulation. To better understand the content, we recommended that readers have prior knowledge of BGP and the MP-BGP routing protocol. For those unfamiliar with these concepts, we suggest reading our foundational learning path's "MP-BGP for the beginner" article beforehand. It's important to note that MP-BGP EVPN VXLAN may initially seem intimidating, but this beginner's guide will clearly understand how it works. It's a technology that has gained popularity over the last few years, with many companies adopting it.
Is Security Now a Prerequisite for AI Adoption? Inside Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA
As companies move from chatbots to agents, the hardest work isn't prompting — it's building an always-on, governable, cost-aware system that leaders can trust. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, Cisco's President and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel, NVIDIA's Vice President, Americas Partner Organization Craig Weinstein and WWT CTO Mike Taylor discuss how Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA is designed to close the gap between experimentation and execution by treating AI as infrastructure.
Why the AI Factory Is Becoming the Enterprise's Next Critical Infrastructure
As organizations struggle to move beyond AI pilots, a new architecture — Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA — is emerging as a missing link between experimentation and real business outcomes. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT's Neil Anderson, Cisco's Kevin Wollenweber and NVIDIA's Chris Marriott discuss how the Secure AI Factory represents a shift from bolt-on protection to security built into the architecture itself.
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.
6 Steps to Understanding Cisco ACI
When understood, these six concepts will help anyone new to ACI to understand a more detailed technical discussion.
What's new
Arista CloudVision Studios: VXLAN EVPN Fabric Deployment
This learning path introduces you to deploying and operating data center fabrics using Arista CloudVision Portal as your centralized orchestration and automation platform. You'll onboard Arista switches into CloudVision, reconcile their configuration with configlets, and build a VXLAN EVPN fabric using MLAG, VRFs, and Layer 2/Layer 3 networks for tenant segmentation. You'll then configure inter-VRF route leaking, and conclude by integrating multiple fabrics in a scalable, multi-domain architecture, all while leveraging CloudVision for centralized visibility and streamlined operations.
Quantum Systems: Quantum Networking for Classical Engineers (Part II)
Networking a qubit is in some ways similar to classical engineering, and in others vastly different. This second article in a series on quantum networking discusses the theoretical (but necessary) components of a next-generation, multi-QPU network.
Arista VXLAN EVPN Deployment with CloudVision Studios
Arista CloudVision provides a centralized, model-driven platform for deploying, managing, and extending VXLAN EVPN fabrics using Studios. In this hands-on lab, you will use CloudVision to build and operate a VXLAN EVPN leaf-spine fabric across multiple sites while maintaining consistent policies, visibility, and control.
The lab begins with onboarding, switches into CloudVision, and assigns roles using Studios. You will then configure MLAG for high availability, set up VXLAN EVPN underlay and overlay parameters, and map VLANs to VNIs to enable multi-tenant segmentation and workload connectivity. Next, you will implement inter-VRF routing and route leaking using EVPN and BGP constructs. Finally, the lab extends the design into a VXLAN EVPN Multi-Site architecture, integrating multiple fabrics under a unified control and policy framework.
This lab demonstrates how CloudVision and Studios simplify the deployment, operation, and lifecycle management of complex VXLAN EVPN fabrics, providing centralized visibility, consistent configuration, and scalable multi-site operations.
Cisco ACI Multisite Nexus Dashboard 3.2 Orchestrator (NDO)
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.
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.
Building Cisco ACI Multisite using NEXUS Dashboard 3.2 Orchestrator (NDO)
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. This approach allows us to decouple these elements from the chassis and place them anywhere in the data center. The leafs (blades) can be placed anywhere in the data center, so you are not limited to a chassis.
We can take this decoupling one step further and put a leaf in a remote data center (remote leaf), place a spine and leaf fabric extension into a second data center (multi-pod), or a new spine-leaf fabric in a data center (multi-site). Using the NEXUS Dashboard Orchestrator (NDO), we can treat multiple fabrics as one entity from a policy standpoint and manage and perform day two operations from a single pane of glass. The power of ACI allows us to stretch layer two and layer three across multiple fabrics and use a single policy for forwarding traffic in the data center.
This Learning Module will guide you through basics and implementation skills.
Exploring Cisco NEXUS Dashboard 3.2
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 new to networking or new to the NEXUS Dashboard product. Future learning paths will go into more detail about operating and implementing the NEXUS Dashboard platform.
Monitoring datacenter networks with Cisco NEXUS Dashboard 3.2 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.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard 4.1 Fundamentals Lab
The Cisco NEXUS Dashboard 4.1 Fundamentals lab is a virtual environment hosted inside WWT's ATC. To access the environment, launch the lab, and the virtual application and simulated hardware will be reserved for the duration. Once the lab is reserved, credentials and remote access information will be supplied to access a jump box into the lab environment. A lab guide explores everyday NEXUS Dashboard administrative tasks, including backup, remote storage, software upgrades, and managing the platform, which are all included in the lab.
The base lab is designed to introduce students to the Nexus Dashboard, explicitly focusing on the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the latest 4.1 release. This lab is ideal for individuals new to the Nexus Dashboard or who have not yet explored the latest features. The lab environment includes a 3-node Nexus Dashboard cluster with pre-installed NEXUS Insights (NI). The Nexus Dashboard has been prepopulated with online data, and snapshot sites are preconfigured to facilitate using NEXUS Insights in subsequent exercises. The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Nexus Dashboard GUI, helping students become familiar with its functionalities and features. The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Nexus Dashboard GUI, assisting students to become familiar with its functionalities and features.
Operating Cisco NEXUS Dashboard 3.2 Insights
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights (NDI) delivers a data-driven architecture for continuous network assurance, leveraging advanced analytics and AI to correlate telemetry from ACI and NX-OS fabrics into actionable intelligence. Rather than relying on reactive troubleshooting, NDI enables predictive operations by detecting anomalies, isolating root causes, and identifying performance risks before they impact production.
Nexus Dashboard 4.x Learning Series
This learning series begins with the fundamental concepts of Cisco Nexus Dashboard 4.1, giving you a strong foundation in platform architecture, device management, and network visibility. You'll then move into Day 0, 1, and 2 operations, covering switch onboarding, initial configuration, ongoing management, and operational workflows to maintain a healthy network. The series culminates with building VXLAN EVPN fabrics, including advanced tasks like external route advertisement, route leaking, and Multi-Site Domain integration, giving hands-on experience with scalable, distributed data center architectures, all managed through the unified Nexus Dashboard interface.
Why Observability Has Become the Control Plane for Enterprise AI
As enterprises rush to deploy AI, observability is emerging as the discipline that determines whether those investments create durable value—or quietly erode it. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT's Ivan Wintersteiger, Cisco Splunk's Tapan Shah and NVIDIA's Shashank Sabhlok discuss why observability, when treated as foundational, becomes the connective tissue between infrastructure, applications, security and user experience.
The Shift from AI Pilots to AI Infrastructure
As organizations move beyond experimentation, compute has become a deciding factor in whether AI delivers real value or stalls before production. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT VP Neil Anderson, NVIDIA VP Chris Marriott and Cisco VP Daniel McGinniss talk about how organizations are rethinking where AI runs, how it's secured and how value is measured.
The Network Is Becoming the Real Unit of AI Performance
As AI systems grow larger and more distributed, enterprises are discovering that performance, security and time-to-value depend less on individual components and more on how well the system moves, synchronizes and protects data at scale. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT's Justin van Schaik, Cisco's Dave Jansen and NVIDIA's Taylor Allison talk about how a well-designed network fabric extends time to value and decreases risk for AI initiatives.
Cisco Networking: Configuring OSPF
This configuration workbook lab is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) routing in Cisco networks. Participants will learn to configure OSPF across multiple areas, implement OSPF neighbor relationships, and manage route summarization and redistribution. The lab will also explore advanced OSPF concepts such as stub areas, NSSA, and virtual links. By the end of the lab, learners will be able to validate OSPF operations using show commands and debug tools, ensuring proper route propagation and stable network convergence in real-world routing environments.
Why Production AI Exposes Security Gaps Organizations Can't Ignore
As enterprises move AI from experimentation to production, security failures are no longer isolated incidents—they are systemic risks embedded deep in infrastructure, data flows, and decision-making systems. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT's Istvan Berko, Cisco's DJ Sampath and NVIDIA's Ofir Arkin discuss why as AI becomes core infrastructure, security becomes the mechanism that determines whether that infrastructure scales or undermines itself.
Why the AI Factory Is Becoming the Enterprise's Next Critical Infrastructure
As organizations struggle to move beyond AI pilots, a new architecture — Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA — is emerging as a missing link between experimentation and real business outcomes. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, WWT's Neil Anderson, Cisco's Kevin Wollenweber and NVIDIA's Chris Marriott discuss how the Secure AI Factory represents a shift from bolt-on protection to security built into the architecture itself.
Is Security Now a Prerequisite for AI Adoption? Inside Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA
As companies move from chatbots to agents, the hardest work isn't prompting — it's building an always-on, governable, cost-aware system that leaders can trust. In this episode of the AI Proving Ground Podcast, Cisco's President and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel, NVIDIA's Vice President, Americas Partner Organization Craig Weinstein and WWT CTO Mike Taylor discuss how Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA is designed to close the gap between experimentation and execution by treating AI as infrastructure.
Cisco Networking: Configuring EIGRP
This configuration workbook lab is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) routing in Cisco networks. The lab explores EIGRP in Classic mode from a design and operations perspective. You will configure secure adjacencies, tune metrics, implement stubs and summarization, use BFD for fast convergence, and control routing with tags and redistribution. The focus is on building scalable, predictable, and production-ready EIGRP networks using Cisco best practices.