ACI Question

[DamianRC]

Hello.

We are upgrading a 7k environment to 9K -  9504 spines and 93180 leafs, to be exact.

The original plan was to use NXOS, which is what the gear was purchased with. It was later decided to go with ACI, so two APICs were purchased.

The project has been on the shelf for a little while. The APICs are running version 1.4.

1) Is the ACI image needed for the spines and leaves on the APICs, or is that a separate purchase?

2) The current 7k environment also leverages FEXs, which will be used in the new ACI environment. I've read that a license is required to use a FEX with the leaves. Is this true?

Thank you

[David Castro F.]

Hello Damian,

1) Is the ACI image needed for the spines and leaves on the APICs, or is that a separate purchase?

The leaves should be fine since those are dedicated for ACI and already come with their ASICs (ALE Application Leaf Engine), you just need to connect the VIC card whether VIC1225 or VIC1225T from the APIC and connect them to the leafs for the proper discovery process.

Now also the Spine should have its on ASICs (ASE Application Spine Engine) though anyways check the image and if needed proceed the conversion process from NXOS to ACI mode:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/sw/7-x/upgrade/guide/b_Cisco_Nexus_9000_Series_NX-OS_Software_Upgrade_and_Downgrade_Guide_Release_7x/Converting_from_Cisco_NX_OS_to_ACI_Boot_Mode.pdf

2) The current 7k environment also leverages FEXs, which will be used in the new ACI environment. I've read that a license is required to use a FEX with the leaves. Is this true?

You dont need a license for FEX, ACI is honour based (Not a license mode), below you will see a link with  the N2K FEX model supported and other link with the configs per leaf:

- https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/hw/interoperability/fexmatrix/fextables.html#9300ACI

- https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/cloud-systems-management/application-policy-infrastructure-controller-apic/200529-Configure-a-Fabric-Extender-with-Applica.html

Be aware that there is ACI 3.2 and ACI 4.0 is coming up as well for your APIC and many other features.

Let me know if you need more help,

Please qualify all the helpful answers!

David Castro,

[DamianRC]

Thanks for the information!

[David Castro F.]

My pleasure Damian, If you think the info was useful and answered your questions could you please Mark it as the answer and rate it as well. Thanks and keep me posted if you have any other doubts.

David Castro,