Cisco ACI Fundamentals for Beginners

Packt via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

17 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Cisco ACI Courses

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera.

Unlock All Certificates

Dive into Cisco ACI with this beginner-friendly course that covers everything from basic setup to advanced configurations. Learn to deploy and manage the Nexus 9K, APIC, ACI fabric, and configure tenants, bridge domains, and VLAN pools. Step-by-step guidance ensures clear learning and hands-on practice. This course provides a comprehensive foundation in Cisco ACI, guiding learners through essential concepts and practical configurations. The journey starts with an introduction to ACI, APIC, and Nexus 9K, setting up the fabric for efficient management. Students will understand how to configure and monitor the system, exploring Nexus devices, fabric discovery, and initial setups. As the course progresses, learners will dive deeper into managing bridge domains, tenants, and VRFs. With a hands-on approach, the course includes lab sessions for configuring VLAN pools, domain settings, and policies. You’ll build a strong foundation in interface policies, IPGs, and Layer 2/3 connectivity within ACI. By the end, you’ll be able to manage a fully functional ACI fabric. This course prepares you to deploy and troubleshoot ACI networks confidently, covering the entire journey from setup to real-world application. This course is ideal for network engineers, IT professionals, and beginners interested in Cisco ACI. It is suitable for individuals who want to start working with Cisco's ACI technology. While prior networking knowledge is helpful, it is not a requirement. Those looking to build a career in network automation or ACI management will find this course especially valuable. The course follows a hands-on approach, starting with foundational concepts and building up to complex configurations. Learners will set up a functional ACI network, including VLANs, bridge domains, and Layer 3 connectivity. Real-world labs and exercises ensure learners gain practical skills that they can immediately apply in their professional environments. This course is based on Cisco ACI Fundamentals for Beginners, by Ashish Ashish. This Course is licensed and distributed by Packt. All rights reserved. Packt is one of the world's most prolific publishers of cutting-edge technical content. For over two decades we've made it our mission to curate and publish the knowledge of only the very best technical experts. We focus on real-world courses that help our customers get the job done, with coverage that extends across a wide range of established and cutting-edge technical topics. If you're an individual or an organisation that embraces learning by doing, Packt is the perfect fit for you.

Syllabus

Introduction
- This module introduces the core concepts of Cisco ACI, providing learners with a clear understanding of the course structure and key topics covered. It outlines the primary objectives and skills that will be developed throughout the course. Learners will gain foundational knowledge to build upon in subsequent modules.
Nexus 9K, ACI, and APIC Overview
- This module introduces the fundamentals of Cisco ACI, including its architecture, design, and core components. Learners will gain practical knowledge on configuring and discovering Nexus devices, as well as installing the APIC controller in a Cisco ACI environment. The content prepares learners to understand and apply ACI concepts in real-world network scenarios.
Fabric Discovery and Health Monitoring
- This module explores the key features of the HealthScore Dashboard and Device HealthScore in ACI, covering how to monitor fabric health, analyze interface statistics, and interpret topology visualizations to identify and resolve network issues.
Tenant, VRF, and Bridge Domains
- This module explores the fundamental concepts of tenants, contexts, and bridge domains in Cisco ACI, including their configuration, relationships, and roles in network segmentation. Learners will gain hands-on knowledge of creating and managing these components to design scalable and secure network architectures.
OOB and Forwarding in ACI
- This module covers the configuration of Out-of-Band (OOB) management IP addresses and the mechanics of packet forwarding in Cisco ACI. Learners will gain an understanding of how to manage network communication and optimize data flow within an ACI fabric. The content also includes key concepts such as station tables and protocol roles.
Interface Policy
- This module provides an in-depth understanding of Interface Policies (IP) and Interface Policy Groups (IPG) in Cisco ACI. Learners will explore how to configure and manage these policies to optimize network performance and ensure consistent interface behavior across the infrastructure.
Interface and Switch Profiles
- This module provides an in-depth look at configuring and managing Switch Profiles and Interface Profiles within the Cisco ACI framework. Learners will explore the purpose, creation, and best practices for these critical components in network automation. The content helps build foundational skills in ACI configuration and design.
IPG - Interface Policy Groups
- This module covers the fundamental concepts of Interface Policy Groups (IPGs) in Cisco ACI, including their purpose, configuration, and integration with interface selectors and profiles. Learners will gain hands-on understanding of how to manage network policies using IPGs. The content also includes a knowledge check to reinforce key concepts.
IPG - VLAN Pools, Domain, and AAEP
- This module provides an in-depth exploration of key Cisco ACI components, including VLAN Pools, Domains, and AAEP. Learners will gain practical knowledge on configuring network segmentation, understanding architectural elements, and performing hands-on labs to manage virtual and physical server connectivity.
EPG and Application Profile in Cisco ACI
- This module introduces key concepts in Cisco ACI, including how to define and manage endpoint groups (EPGs) and application profiles. Learners will gain a foundational understanding of how these components work together to implement network policies. The content prepares learners to configure and manage ACI environments effectively.
Contracts and Filters
- This module explores the configuration of communication within and between endpoint groups (EPGs) in a Cisco ACI fabric, covering security features like contracts, filters, and taboo contracts. Learners will gain hands-on experience in setting up intra and inter-EPG communication while reinforcing key concepts through knowledge checks.
Inter EPG L3 Connectivity
- This module covers the fundamentals of inter-EPG Layer 3 connectivity in Cisco ACI, including configuration, testing, and troubleshooting in multi-VLAN environments. Learners will gain practical insights into how EPGs communicate across different network segments and how to ensure reliable connectivity.
OOB Addressing and NTP Setup
- This module covers the configuration of out-of-band (OOB) addressing and NTP setup in Cisco ACI, focusing on managing network devices, ensuring time synchronization, and implementing security policies. Learners will gain hands-on experience with IP allocation, management EPGs, and NTP policies in a real-world networking environment.
vPC in ACI
- This module provides an in-depth exploration of Virtual Port Channels (vPC) in Cisco ACI, covering configuration scenarios, architectural differences, and troubleshooting techniques. Learners will gain hands-on experience with vPC implementation, focusing on practical deployment strategies and interface policies.
External Layer 2 Domain
- This module covers how to extend Layer 2 connectivity in Cisco ACI to integrate with external networks. Learners will explore the configuration of EPGs, bridge domains, and VPCs to support external Layer 2 domains. The content includes practical steps for connecting traditional networks to the ACI fabric.
External Layer 3 Domain
- This module covers the configuration and management of external Layer 3 domains in Cisco ACI, including BGP and OSPF protocols, EPGs, and routing policies. Learners will gain hands-on skills in setting up and validating external network connectivity within an ACI fabric.
Home ACI Labs
- This module covers the foundational aspects of configuring and managing a Cisco ACI fabric. Learners will gain hands-on experience with creating tenants, VRFs, BDs, and various policy profiles to build a scalable and secure network infrastructure.