Trademarks
What's Changed in this guide
Cisco ACI Forwarding
Provides a foundational overview of how the Cisco ACI fabric handles Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic. It explains how the fabric optimizes modern data center traffic flows (East-West) by decoupling endpoint identity from physical location using VXLAN encapsulation.
Prerequisites for Configuring Layer 2 Networks
Outlines the essential foundational steps and environmental requirements that must be met before implementing Layer 2 networking within the Cisco ACI fabric. It ensures that the physical and logical infrastructure is properly prepared to support bridging and switching configurations.
Networking Domains
Explains how the Cisco ACI fabric uses domains to link the logical configuration (such as EPGs) to the physical infrastructure. It details how fabric administrators create domain policies to manage ports, protocols, VLAN pools, and encapsulation types, which can then be used by tenant administrators to define where and how traffic enters the fabric.
Bridging
Explains how to configure bridge domains and tenant connectivity, including creation methods through GUI and CLI, and advanced bridging features like flooding and proxy ARP.
EPGs
Introduces Endpoint Groups configuration and deployment methods, including port-specific and multi-interface deployment options, isolation settings, and troubleshooting techniques.
Access Interfaces
Outlines the configuration and management of physical and virtual access interfaces, including port channels, virtual port channels, and connections to Fabric Extender devices.
FCoE Connections
Outlines the configuration and deployment of Fibre Channel over Ethernet on Application Centric Infrastructure fabric, including hardware requirements, setup procedures, and SAN boot implementation.
Fibre Channel NPV
Outlines Fibre Channel connectivity in N-Port Virtualization (NPV) mode, covering traffic management, SAN configurations, requirements, supported hardware, interoperability, and comprehensive configuration procedures via GUI and CLI for efficient SAN deployment and management.
802.1Q Tunnels
Explains how to implement 802.1Q tunneling in Application Centric Infrastructure environments and provides configuration guidance using both graphical and command-line interfaces.
Q-in-Q Encapsulation Mapping for EPGs
Explains Q-in-Q encapsulation mapping for Endpoint Groups and provides configuration procedures using both graphical interface and NX-OS style command line interface.
Breakout Ports
Explains how to configure Q-in-Q encapsulation mapping for Endpoint Groups and provides configuration procedures using both graphical interface and command-line methods.
Proxy ARP
Describes how the Cisco ACI fabric enables endpoints within a network or subnet to communicate with each other without needing to know the actual MAC address of the destination endpoint. In this implementation, the fabric acts as a proxy by providing its own Bridge Domain (BD) MAC address as the destination
Traffic Storm Control
Explains traffic storm control mechanisms and guides through configuring storm control policies to prevent network congestion from broadcast, multicast, and unicast traffic flooding.
MACsec
Introduces MACsec encryption technology and guides through configuration procedures for securing both fabric and access links using graphical and command-line interfaces.
Fabric Port Tracking
Introduces fabric port tracking capabilities and guides users through the configuration process using the graphical user interface.