Describes the enhanced ACI multi-pod architecture that connects spine switches in two pods with back-to-back links, removing the IPN requirement for small deployments.
Multi-pod spines back-to-back is an ACI multi-pod architecture enhancement that provides direct connectivity between the spines of two pods.
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Connects the spines of two pods directly with back-to-back links.
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Removes the IPN requirement for small ACI multi-pod deployments.
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Simplifies operations and provides end-to-end fabric visibility without external devices to configure.
Multi-pod spines back-to-back implementation details
In the multi-pod spines back-to-back, the back-to-back spine link interfaces are implemented as L3Outs in the infrastructure tenant. The links are typically carried over direct cable or dark-fiber connections between the pods. The multi-pod spines back-to-back architecture supports only Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) connectivity between spine switches in different pods.
The following figures show two possible multi-pod spines back-to-back topologies with back-to-back spine connections between Pod 1 and Pod 2. The first figure shows the recommended full-mesh topology. The second figure shows a simpler supported interconnection.
For detailed information about Multi-Pod Spines Back-to-Back, see the Cisco knowledge base article Cisco ACI Multi-Pod Spines Back-to-Back.