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The Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller - Enterprise Module (APIC-EM) is Cisco's Software Defined Networking (SDN) Controller for Enterprise Networks (Access, Campus, WAN and Wireless).
The platform hosts multiple applications (SDN apps) that use open northbound REST APIs that drive core network automation solutions. The platform also supports a number of south-bound protocols that enable it to communicate with the breadth of network devices that customers already have in place, and extend SDN benefits to both greenfield and brownfield environments.
The Cisco APIC-EM platform supports both wired and wireless enterprise networks across the Campus, Branch and WAN infrastructures. It offers the following benefits:
Creates an intelligent, open, programmable network with open APIs
Saves time, resources, and costs through advanced automation
Transforms business intent policies into a dynamic network configuration
Provides a single point for network wide automation and control
The following table describes the features and benefits of the Cisco APIC-EM.
Feature |
Description |
---|---|
Network Information Database |
The Cisco APIC-EM periodically scans the network to create a “single source of truth” for IT. This inventory includes all network devices, along with an abstraction for the entire enterprise network. |
Network topology visualization |
The Cisco APIC-EM automatically discovers and maps network devices to a physical topology with detailed device-level data. The topology of devices and links can also be presented on a geographical map. You can use this interactive feature to troubleshoot your network. |
EasyQoS application |
The EasyQoS application abstracts away the complexity of deploying Quality of Service across a heterogeneous network. It presents users with a workflow that allows them to think of QoS in terms of business intent policies that are then translated by Cisco APIC-EM into a device centric configuration. |
Cisco Network Plug and Play (PnP) application |
The Cisco Network PnP application is one of the components in the Cisco Network PnP solution. The Cisco Network PnP solution extends across Cisco's enterprise portfolio. It provides a highly secure, scalable, seamless, and unified zero-touch deployment experience for customers across Cisco routers, switches and wireless access points. |
Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) application |
The separately licensed IWAN application for APIC-EM simplifies the provisioning of IWAN network profiles with simple business policies. The IWAN application defines business-level preferences by application or groups of applications in terms of the preferred path for hybrid WAN links. Doing so improves the application experience over any connection and saves telecom costs by leveraging cheaper WAN links. |
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) server |
The Cisco APIC-EM provides an integrated PKI service that acts as Certificate Authority (CA) or sub-CA to automate X.509 SSL certificate lifecycle management. Applications, such as IWAN and PnP, use the capabilities of the embedded PKI service for automatic SSL certificate management. |
Path Trace application |
The path trace application helps to solve network problems by automating the inspection and interrogation of the flow taken by a business application in the network. |
High Availability (HA) |
HA is provided in N+ 1 redundancy mode with full data persistence for HA and Scale. All the nodes work in Active-Active mode for optimal performance and load sharing. |
Back Up and Restore |
The Cisco APIC-EM supports complete back up and restore of the entire database from the controller GUI. |
Audit Logs |
The audit log captures user and network activity for the Cisco APIC-EM applications. |
You access the Cisco APIC-EM GUI by entering its network IP address in your browser. The IP address was configured for the Cisco APIC-EM network adapter during the initial setup using the configuration wizard. This IP address connects to the external network.
Click on each tab and review the data provided in the GUI.
When you log into the Cisco APIC-EM, the GUI appears. See the following tables for descriptions of the GUI elements.
Name |
Description |
---|---|
Navigation pane |
At the left side of the window, the Navigation pane provides access to the Cisco APIC-EM functions and additional applications, such as EasyQoS, Path Trace, IWAN, and Network Plug and Play. |
Global toolbar |
At the top of the window, the Global toolbar provides access to tools, such as API documentation, settings, and notifications. For a full explanation of the icons on the Global toolbar, see the Global Toolbar Options table below. |
Application or Function Pane |
In the main window area, the application or function pane displays the interface of the application or function. When you click an option in the Navigation pane or from the Global toolbar, the corresponding application or function opens in this pane. |
I wish this page would... feedback link |
At the bottom of the window, the I wish this page would... feedback link opens a preaddressed email in your email application, where you can provide input about your experience using the Cisco APIC-EM and suggestions for improvements. |
The Navigation pane provides options to access the major Cisco APIC-EM features and applications.
The Global toolbar provides access to API information, administrative functions, system notifications.