Cisco APIC Installation and ACI Upgrade and Downgrade Guide

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Cisco APIC Installation and ACI Upgrade and Downgrade Guide

Install the Cisco APIC software on an APIC server M4/L4 using a PXE server

Updated: July 12, 2026

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Learn how to install the Cisco APIC software on an APIC server M4/L4 using a PXE server. This procedure guides you through preparing the PXE environment, mounting the ISO, copying EFI files, configuring DNSMasq, and rebooting for network boot.

This procedure installs the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller ( APIC ) software on an APIC server M4/L4 using a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) server.

Procedure

1.

Install the DNSMasq package and an HTTP server package in the PXE server.
2.

Download the ISO you wish to install into a path where your PXE server will host the file, such as /var/www/html .

3.

Unpack or mount the ISO as appropriate.

Example:


                        $ 
                        sudo mkdir /mnt/iso /mnt/efi
                        $ 
                        sudo mount -oloop /var/www/html/aci-apic-dk9.6.0.2b.iso /mnt/iso
                        $ 
                        sudo mount -t vfat /mnt/iso/images/efiboot.img /mnt/efi
4.

Copy the installer EFI files to the PXE server TFTP path, such as /srv/tftp .

Example:


                        $ 
                        cp -av /mnt/efi/EFI/BOOT/*.EFI /srv/tftp/
5.

Unmount the ISO.

Example:


                        $ 
                        sudo umount /mnt/efi
                        $ 
                        sudo umount /mnt/iso
6.

Configure DNSMasq.

Example:

The following text is an example configuration; modify as necessary for your setup. Save this in the /etc/dnsmasq.conf configuration file, overwriting the default configuration. 

interface=*
                        bind-interfaces
                        enable-tftp
                        tftp-root=/srv/tftp
                        port=0
                        log-dhcp
                        dhcp-no-override
                        # UEFI PXE clients only.
                        dhcp-vendorclass=BIOS,PXEClient:Arch:00000
                        # Boot directly into shim.
                        dhcp-boot="BOOTX64.EFI"
                        # Use this option to pass parameters to the installer. Currently only
                        # atxi.wipe= and atomix.isourl are supported.
                        dhcp-option-force=129,"atomix.isourl=http://<ipaddress-of-PXE-server>/path/to/install/iso"
                        # Create a DHCP range and set the gateway.
                        dhcp-range=rack-rack1-data0,192.168.41.0,static,255.255.255.0,infinite
                        dhcp-option=rack-rack1-data0,3,192.168.41.1
                        # Static mapping for clients.
                        dhcp-host=52:54:00:a2:34:c0,,192.168.41.2,brick2-data2,infinite
                        dhcp-host=52:54:00:a2:34:02,,192.168.41.3,brick2-data3,infinite
                        dhcp-host=52:54:00:a2:34:03,,192.168.41.4,brick2-data4,infinite
7.

Restart the PXE servers.
8.

Reboot the Cisco APIC and press F12 for network boot.