ACI for lab - we have 3 x N9K-C9372PX

[gavin han]

we are trying to setup ACI lab. we have 3 x N9K-C9372PX. which APIC should we buy for lab? can we install APIC on VM or do we need saperate APIC controller server?

[gkumark]

Hi Gavin,

Seems like you N9K-C9372PX switches which can be the leaf switches in your ACI fabric. You still need at least 1 spine switch for the ACI fabric to work. 

About the controller, you cannot run the APIC controller on a VM. You would need the APIC hardware purchased. For lab you can run with 1 APIC, 1 Spine and 1 Leaf switch. If you need to test further, then you could go with 2 leaf nodes. You can refer to APIC data sheet https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/cloud-systems-management/application-policy-infrastructure-controller-apic/datasheet-c78-739715.html and decide which APIC to go for. 

Hope this helps.

Cheers

GK