Cisco APIC Getting Started Guide, Release 6.2(x)

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Add a standby APIC

Updated: January 12, 2026

Overview

Learn how to add a standby APIC to your cluster, ensuring continuous management of your fabric by following these steps: confirm network policies, gather credentials, and configure connectivity and network details to seamlessly integrate the standby APIC as a backup controller.

Before you begin

  • Make sure you have administrator access to the APIC system.

  • Gather CIMC or management credentials and network information for the APIC to be added.

  • Confirm your network policies allow communication between controllers.

Adding a standby APIC allows your Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) cluster to remain operational if a primary controller fails, ensuring continuous management of your fabric.

Follow these steps to add a standby APIC:

Procedure

1.

On the menu bar, choose System > Controllers .

2.

In the Navigation pane, expand Controllers > apic_name > Cluster as Seen by Node .

The Cluster as Seen by Node window appears in the Work pane.

3.

In the Work pane, click Actions > Add Standby Node .

4.

In the Controller Type field, either Physical or Virtual is pre-selected as the same type as the active controllers in the cluster.

5.

In the Connectivity Type field, select CMIC or OOB For virtual APICs, OOB is pre-selected as the only option.

6.

In the CMIC Details pane or the Management IP pane, enter the following details:

  1. IP Address : Enter the CIMC IP address.

  2. Username : The username to access the CIMC

  3. Password : Enter the password to access CIMC.

7.

In the General pane, enter the following details:

  1. Name : Enter a name for the controller.

  2. Controller ID :Enter a value for the Controller ID. We recommend that you add a value in the range of 21 to 29 for this ID.

  3. Pod ID : Enter the pod ID for APIC. The range is from 1 to 128.

  4. Serial Number : The serial number is auto-populated (for APICs 1 to N, where N is the cluster size) after CIMC validation.

    APIC 1 verifies the reachability of the CIMC IP address and also captures the serial number of the new APIC.
8.

In the Out of Band Network pane, enter the following details:

  1. IPv4 Address : Enter the IPv4 address.

  2. IPv4 Gateway : Enter the IPv4 gateway address.

If you have enabled IPv6 addresses for OOB management, enter the IPv6 address and gateway.

  1. IPv6 Address : Enter the IPv6 address.

  2. IPv6 Gateway : Enter the IPv6 gateway address.

9.

Click Apply .

The standby APIC is added to the cluster and is ready to serve as a backup controller if needed.

What to do next

  • Verify the new standby APIC appears in the cluster and monitor its health status.

  • Perform any additional configuration as required by your environment.