ACI Data Sheet
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure data sheet. Architecture overview, features, specifications, and ordering information.
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Cisco ACI
Application Centric Infrastructure
A comprehensive SDN networking solution for data centers that enables businesses to innovate faster and minimize downtime. Policy-based, intent-based networking powered by the APIC controller and Nexus 9000 spine-leaf switches.
Software-defined networking built for the modern data center
Cisco ACI transforms data center operations with a policy-driven framework that automates provisioning, enforces security, and extends seamlessly to multi-cloud environments. Over 65 ecosystem partner integrations.
Core Capabilities
ACI delivers the automation, security, and scalability that modern data centers demand.
Policy-Based Automation
Define application requirements as policies and let ACI automatically configure the network. Eliminate manual provisioning and reduce errors with an intent-based approach.
Multi-Cloud Ready
Extend consistent networking and security policies across data centers and public clouds including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with a single policy model.
Zero-Trust Security
Implement micro-segmentation with an allow-list model to protect workloads. Endpoint security groups provide VRF-level segmentation across the fabric.
Unified Operations
Centralized management and monitoring through APIC and Nexus Dashboard. Full visibility into network health, performance, and compliance from a single pane of glass.
Scalable Architecture
Spine-leaf topology with Nexus 9000 switches delivers non-blocking, high-performance fabric supporting 40G, 100G, and 400G connectivity.
65+ Integrations
Broad ecosystem with over 65 technology partners. Native integrations with VMware, OpenStack, Kubernetes, AppDynamics, and more.
Features and Benefits
Cisco ACI transforms data center operations with a policy-driven framework that automates provisioning and enforces security.
Intent-Based Networking
A declarative policy model that translates business intent into network configuration automatically, removing complexity from day-to-day operations.
Multi-Site Orchestration
Configure once and deploy anywhere. Stretch policies and workloads across multiple data centers and cloud environments with unified orchestration.
Micro-Segmentation
Zero-trust allow-list model isolates workloads and limits lateral movement. Endpoint security groups enforce granular policies at scale.
Cloud Integration
Native integration with VMware, OpenStack, Kubernetes, Microsoft Azure, and AWS for consistent policy enforcement across hybrid environments.
Real-Time Analytics
Nexus Dashboard Insights delivers proactive monitoring, anomaly detection, and capacity planning with real-time and historical analytics.
Automated Compliance
Continuous compliance monitoring and verification ensures the network matches intended policy, reducing audit effort and configuration drift.
Architecture Details
A closer look at the components and capabilities that power Cisco ACI.
APIC Controller
Single point of automation, management, and policy enforcement for the entire ACI fabric.
Spine-Leaf Architecture
Non-blocking fabric built on Nexus 9000 switches delivers predictable latency and high throughput.
Policy Model
Application-centric approach abstracts network complexity and aligns infrastructure to business requirements.
Multi-Site
Stretched fabrics across data centers enable workload mobility and disaster recovery with consistent policy.
Endpoint Security Groups
VRF-level segmentation enforces zero-trust policies and limits lateral threat movement across the fabric.
Nexus Dashboard
Unified operations view for monitoring, insights, and orchestration across all ACI sites and cloud environments.
AppDynamics Integration
End-to-end application monitoring correlates network and application performance for faster troubleshooting.
Tiered Licensing
Essentials, Advantage, and Premier tiers let you scale features to match your deployment requirements.
Specifications
Controller
APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller). Physical appliance, VM, or AWS ECS. 3-controller cluster recommended. GUI, CLI, REST API.
Fabric
Nexus 9000 spine-leaf topology. 40G/100G/400G connectivity. VXLAN hardware-based forwarding. Stretched fabric across data centers.
Supported Switches
Nexus 9500 Series spine. Nexus 9300 Series leaf. Dual-role Nexus 9300. ACI-mode NX-OS operating system.
Licensing
Essentials: single-site. Advantage: multi-site orchestration. Premier: full insights and compliance. Per Nexus 9000 device.
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