Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure), was introduced in 2013. It proved to be a solution for introduce SDN (Software Defined Networking). There was a need for a simple and efficient way to configure networking devices in order to support the growth of networking companies over the years. This was due to the fact that it was difficult for enterprises to agree to a simpler method of assembling the network system. It eliminated the need to manually configure each switch and router. The way data centers were assembled before Cisco ACI was released has been completely redesigned and is now more efficient, reliable, and seamless. They are primarily focused on complex networking modules and lack the greatest ease of use.
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure is a market leader in Software Defined Networking. It’s a multiple occupancy; intent-driven solution that provides several developed networking and security capabilities in data centers. Because the name suggests, ACI focuses on the implementation of the business rather than the network outcomes. It offers a central platform for managing application policies across all physical and virtual capabilities of working. A key advantage for organizations that move to a virtualized, computer-defined environment such as ACI is the support of micro-segmentation. Segmentation makes it much easier to protect applications and information, as hackers cannot move laterally across networks.
ACI’s micro-segmentation capabilities are enhanced by the ability to isolate individual servers into secure zones within a data center. Virtualization has made this possible.
How does Cisco ACI work?
ACI, a policy-based networking solution, combines the best of both software and hardware capabilities. ACI’s hardware is built up by The Nexus 9000 switches. Other parts such as data center policy engine, additional data center pod and additional data center pod contribute to its software surroundings.. Cisco AVS (Application Virtual Switch) allows network administrators and policymakers to modify ACI’s policy to work with virtual switches.
Cisco ACI’s is very similar to other solutions used by enterprises over the past few years. Its policy and management infrastructure are what makes it stand out from other solution providers. Enterprise data centers can now make full use of their data fabric because the infrastructure integrates into the networking protocols.
VLAN and VXLAN support makes it easy for networking engineers to host a specific network or domain according to their needs. The NV-GRE (network Virtualization Routing Encapsulation) further simplifies the process.
ACI’s central SDN, which is also known as APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller), can be used by Networking Managers to organize and set up the network policy for every switch within the ACI Components. ACI eliminates the need to manually compose the hardware. After ACI, the networking engineers don’t have to manually configure the device. The APIC acts as a hub for all policies and offers the ability to position and reposition the hardware components.
Cisco ACI can be integrated with different cloud-environments by enterprises, making it more powerful and functional. It has been made easier to manage data security, balance the workloads, and monitor the progress.
Cisco ACI: The Benefits
Easy to configure and highly responsive
Interoperability between virtual and physical workloads
Integration of virtual machine monitor configuration (without having
