How to connect Cisco ACI Simulator VM to Other devices?

[Va.8427]

Is it possible to connect Cisco ACI Simulator to thirt-party devices?? such as ESXi hosts, Bare-metals or Firewalls?

if yes, How?

[Sergiu.Daniluk]

Hi,

Yes, you can connect external management entities such as ESXi servers, vCenters, vShields, L4-L7 services, AAA systems, and other physical or virtual service appliances, BUT the ACI Simulator includes simulated switches, so you cannot validate a data path.

The idea of the ACI simulator is to understand features,configure and deploy policies, exercise APIs and initiate integration with third-party orchestration systems and applications.

Regards,
Sergiu

[moj_ccie]

Hello There,

Thanks, BUT how can we connect other Real N9K and ESXi to ACI-SIM ?

[RedNectar]

Hi @moj_ccie ,

Firstly, a tip:

• Don't ask questions on an old thread. Why?
  1. If you ask a new question your question will then be sent by email to all those who subscribe to NEW topics only and therefore reach more people are are possibly able to answer
  2. Even if your question is answered, you can't mark it as correct (which helps others find the answer if they have the same question later)

Now, to your question, let's begin clearing up the meaning of "connect" as it is used here.

1. You CAN NOT PHYSICALLY connect devices to the simulator leaves
2. You CAN deploy ESXi hosts and vCentre (and even simulated devices like vASAs and AVE on those ESXi hosts) and integrate them into ACI management

Integrating ESXi hosts and vCentre into ACI can be achieved by giving them IP addresses on the same OOB management network as the simulator, then adding them in ACI