Cisco APIC Layer 3 Networking Configuration Guide, Release 6.2(x)

Support for Multiple Encapsulations for L3Outs with SVIs

Updated: April 17, 2026

Want to summarize with AI?

Explains how L3Out SVIs on different leaf switches can use different VLAN encapsulations while remaining in the same external bridge domain.

Multiple encapsulation support for L3Out SVIs enables a single external bridge domain to use different VLAN encapsulations on different leaf switches.

Floating L3Outs use floating SVI objects.
Regular L3Outs use external bridge domain profiles.
Beginning with Cisco ACI release 6.0(1), physical-domain L3Outs support this feature.

Evolution of L3Out encapsulation support

Before Cisco ACI release 5.2(3), SVI interfaces on different leaf switches mapped to the same VNID only when the interfaces used the same VLAN encapsulation. Interfaces that used different VLAN encapsulations belonged to separate external bridge domains.

Beginning with Cisco ACI release 5.2(3), SVI interfaces that use different VLAN encapsulations can map to one VNID and operate in the same external bridge domain.

The following figures compare the VNID associations before and beginning with Cisco ACI release 5.2(3).

Separate VNIDs for SVI interfaces before Cisco ACI release 5.2(3) — Figure 1. Separate VNIDs before Cisco ACI release 5.2(3)

Single VNID for SVI interfaces beginning with Cisco ACI release 5.2(3) — Figure 2. Single VNID beginning with Cisco ACI release 5.2(3)

Note

Beginning with Cisco ACI release 6.0(1), this feature supports physical-domain L3Outs but does not support virtual machine manager (VMM) domain L3Outs.

Group multiple SVIs with different access encapsulations
Explains how a bridge domain profile groups SVIs that use different access VLAN encapsulations into a single Layer 2 broadcast domain.
External bridge domain profile guidelines and limitations
Lists the operational constraints, compatibility requirements, and downgrade behavior for external bridge domain profiles that group SVIs with different access encapsulations.
Configure multiple encapsulations for L3Outs with SVIs using the GUI
Configures an external bridge group profile and associates regular SVIs with the profile so that the SVIs can use different access encapsulations.
Configure multiple encapsulations for L3Outs with SVIs using the CLI
Configures an external bridge profile and associates a regular SVI with the profile so that grouped SVIs can use different access encapsulations.
Configure multiple encapsulations for L3Outs with SVIs using the REST API
Configures an external bridge profile and associates an SVI with the profile by sending XML payloads through the Cisco APIC REST API.

Need help?

Open a support case

(Requires a Cisco Service Contract)

The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.