Cisco APIC Getting Started Guide, Release 6.2(x)

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Contract the APIC Cluster using the GUI

Updated: January 12, 2026

Overview

Use this procedure to ensure the cluster health state is Fully Fit and identify which controllers should remain in the cluster for releases prior to Cisco APIC release 6.0(2). Follow the steps to contract the Fabric Controller cluster, verify the health state, and decommission controllers in the correct order.

Before you begin

Ensure the cluster health state is Fully Fit .

Identify which controllers should remain in the cluster.

Perform this task for releases prior to Cisco APIC release 6.0(2). For release 6.0(2) and later, use the Delete Node option described in the subsequent procedure.

Follow these steps to contract the Fabric Controller cluster:

Procedure

1.

On the menu bar, choose System > Controllers . In the Navigation pane, expand Controllers > apic_controller_name > Cluster as Seen by Node .

You must choose an apic_name that is within the cluster and not the controller that is being decommissioned.

The Cluster as Seen by Node window appears in the Work pane with the APIC Cluster and Standby APIC tabs. In the APIC Cluster tab, the controller details appear. This includes the current cluster target and current sizes, the administrative, operational, and health states of each controller in the cluster.
2.

Verify that the health state of the cluster is Fully Fit before you proceed with contracting the cluster.

3.

In the Work pane, click Actions > Change Cluster Size .

4.

In the Change Cluster Size dialog box, in the Target Cluster Administrative Size field, choose the target number to which you want to contract the cluster. Click Submit .

Note

It is not acceptable to have a cluster size of two APIC s. A cluster of one, three, or more APIC s is acceptable.

5.

From the Active Controllers area of the Work pane, choose the APIC that is last in the cluster.

Example:

In a cluster of three, the last in the cluster is three as identified by the controller ID.
6.

Right-click on the controller you want to decommission and choose Decommission . When the Confirmation dialog box displays, click Yes .

The decommissioned controller displays Unregistered in the Operational State column. The controller is then taken out of service and not visible in the Work pane any longer.
7.

Repeat the earlier step to decommission the controllers one by one for all the APIC s in the cluster in the appropriate order of highest controller ID number to the lowest.

Note

The operation cluster size shrinks only after the last appliance is decommissioned, and not after the administrative size is changed. Verify after each controller is decommissioned that the operational state of the controller is unregistered, and the controller is no longer in service in the cluster.

You should be left with the remaining controllers in the APIC cluster that you desire.

What to do next

  • After deleting an APIC from the cluster, power the controller down and disconnect it from the fabric.

  • Wait for a few minutes, and confirm that the Health State of the remaining nodes of the cluster is displayed as Fully fit before further action.