Cisco ACI is a software-defined networking (SDN) solution for enterprise data centers that enables them to increase agility, improve efficiency, and simplify operations. It does this by decoupling the network control plane from the data plane, allowing it to be centrally managed via a unified policy model. This results in a more flexible and scalable network that can be quickly adapted to changing business needs.
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Cisco ACI consists of three main components: the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), the Fabric, and the Endpoints. The APIC is the central point of management and policy enforcement for the Cisco ACI Fabric. It provides a unified management interface for the Fabric and allows administrators to define and enforce application-specific network policies. The Fabric is the underlying network infrastructure that supports the Cisco ACI solution. It consists of a number of switches that are connected together to form a single, logical network. The Fabric is fully programmable and can be dynamically configured to meet the needs of any application. The Endpoints are the devices that connect to the Fabric and include servers, storage devices, and other networking devices. Cisco ACI supports a wide range of endpoints, including physical and virtual machines, containers, and bare-metal servers.Cisco ACI provides a number of benefits for data center operators, including increased agility, improved efficiency, and simplified operations. It is also easy to deploy and manage, making it an ideal solution for data centers of all sizes.
