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ACI Software Simulator

bvemula
Cisco Employee
Cisco Employee

The Cisco ACI is the unifying point for automation, management, monitoring, and programmability for the Cisco ACI fabric. The Cisco ACI Simulator is a virtual appliance that provides a simulated Cisco ACI environment. Cisco ACI Simulator provides centralized access to all fabric information, optimizes the application lifecycle for scale and performance, and supports flexible application provisioning across physical and virtual resources. The Cisco ACI Simulator provides full-featured Cisco APIC controller software along with a simulated fabric infrastructure of leaf switches and spine switches in one physical server. Because the Cisco ACI Simulator includes Cisco APIC instances with real production software, you can use it to understand features, exercise APIs, and initiate integration with third-party orchestration systems and applications. The Cisco ACI Simulator includes simulated switches, so you cannot validate a data path. The native GUI and command-line interface (CLI) of Cisco APIC use the same APIs that are published for third parties.

Download the software here

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286283149/type/286283168/release/4.2(1i)

Please note .ova files are for the software simulator

 

Data Sheet

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/cloud-systems-management/application-centric-infrastructure-simulator/datasheet-c78-733252.html

 

Installation guide 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/aci/apic/sw/3-x/simulator/install_vm/b_Cisco_ACI_Simulator_VM_Install_Guide.html?referring_site=RE&pos=2&page=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/aci/apic/sw/1-x/simulato...

12 Replies 12

RedNectar
VIP
VIP

Great information, but pretty useless without links to download the simulator, memeory CPU requirements and tips to get it working

RedNectar aka Chris Welsh.
Forum Tips: 1. Paste images inline - don't attach. 2. Always mark helpful and correct answers, it helps others find what they need.

Hi,

Great but old...

Simulator is End of Life.

Search for "APIC-SIM-S2" here:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/cloud-systems-management/application-policy-infrastructure-controller-apic/eos-eol-notice-c51-742143.html

 

EDIT: Forget what I wrote, I was referring to the physical appliance simulator.

 

Remi Astruc

 

Hi Chris, 

 

We are launching the ACI software simulator in about a week with 4.2 release. We will update the links and the data sheet. Image will be posted here 

 

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286283149/type/286283168/release

 

Thanks,

Bhanu

 

Bhanu,

 

Do you have any details on the simulator you can share?

4.2i still locks up the VM with 100% CPU at random. Any ideas?

mr.richardb
Level 1
Level 1

Hi the software simulator is great, but quite limited.

Is there a successor HW for APIC-SIM-S2 HW simalator?

What simulator possibilities are there to lab, learn, test certain scenarios (build and destroy style) that don't wan't to do in the real environment? something with physical external connectivity?

Or the solution is to work on a real boxes? Is ther a  physical ACI LAB kit?

 

Regards,

 

Richard

Hi @mr.richardb,

 

My understanding is that the hardware simulator is no more :(.  So you can use the VM but at the end of the day the simulator has no data plane.  Great for testing scripts and moving around in the interface, doing training and familiarization, but not so good for testing connectivity etc.   The always on Devnet Sandbox gives you this if you don't need a dedicated resource.  Handy for a quick test or to check on something if you don't have your own fabric.

 

I keep a list of lab rentals when I need more than a simulator but there is a cost associated with this option.
https://gratuitous-arp.net/the-hunt-for-a-cisco-aci-lab/

 

If you have an ACI fabric, I always recommend building out a "Sandbox" Tenant and attaching it to an existing lab or to some older equipment for testing and training but even that has its limitations.

 

I looked at getting an ACI mini kit but that was a bit too much for my budget.

 

You may be able to test some functionality in the DCloud labs...I'd see how far you can take those.  They usually don't provide a complete solution (for me) but its something.

Had issues with seeting up the simulator Apic Web console. Ensure that the settings on the vSwitch are as below in the screenshot. The installation guide doesn't tell you to change the default settings in the MAC address changes and the forged Transits. Was able to log into the APIC via the web console as soon as I accepted these.

 

vswitch.PNG

Charlizh
Cisco Employee
Cisco Employee

Hi Team,

We are looking for a OVA file for Danube release 2.2.3j. May I know where I could find it? Seems only ISO file for HW simulator?

Hi @Charlizh 

You should open a new thread since your question is not related to the current question.

 

Stay safe,

Sergiu

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