Cisco ACI

Revolutionizing Data Center Networking

Duration

4.5 months

Language

Hindi/English

Study Material Access

Lifetime

Batch Shift

Weekdays/Weekend

Batch Size

Maximum 25

Lab

EveNG / GNS3

Course Curriculum

Upcoming Batch...

10th September 2026

Course Overview

The Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) course provides comprehensive knowledge of software-defined networking and data center infrastructure using the Cisco ACI architecture. This course helps learners understand how to design, configure, manage, monitor, and troubleshoot modern data center networks through policy-based automation and centralized management.

Participants will gain practical knowledge of Cisco APIC, ACI fabric architecture, tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, EPGs, contracts, VLAN/VXLAN integration, Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity, security policies, external connectivity, and ACI troubleshooting. The course emphasizes hands-on lab practice to help students develop the skills required to work with enterprise and data center environments.

  • External Connectivity: Configure L3Out, OSPF, BGP, static routing, and connectivity to external networks.

  • ACI Security & Micro-Segmentation: Implement policy-based segmentation and secure application communication.

  • Fault & Health Monitoring: Monitor fabric health, identify faults, and troubleshoot common ACI issues.

  • ACI Troubleshooting: Develop practical skills for diagnosing connectivity, policy, and fabric-related problems.

  • Virtualization Integration: Understand ACI integration with VMware and other virtualization environments.

  • Automation & REST API: Introduction to ACI automation, REST APIs, and policy-based network management.

  • Hands-on Lab Training: Practice ACI configuration and troubleshooting in a real-world lab environment.

  • Real-World Network Scenarios: Work with enterprise data-center networking and application deployment scenarios.

  • Career-Oriented Training: Build skills relevant to Network Engineer, Data Center Engineer, Cisco ACI Engineer, Network Administrator, and Network Security Engineer roles.

Course Highlights

  • Cisco ACI Fundamentals: Understand the architecture, components, and core concepts of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure.

  • ACI Architecture & Components: Learn about APIC, leaf switches, spine switches, and the ACI fabric.

  • Application-Centric Networking: Understand how application requirements are translated into network policies.

  • APIC Administration: Configure and manage Cisco APIC for centralized ACI fabric management.

  • Tenant & VRF Configuration: Create and manage tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, and application profiles.

  • EPG Configuration: Configure Endpoint Groups and understand their role in application segmentation.

  • Contracts & Policies: Implement communication policies between EPGs using contracts, filters, and subjects.

  • ACI Fabric Discovery: Perform initial fabric setup, node discovery, and fabric configuration.

  • Layer 2 & Layer 3 Networking: Configure VLANs, VXLAN, BD gateways, and external Layer 3 connectivity.

Who Should Attend?

Prerequisite

The following knowledge is recommended before attending the Cisco ACI course:

✔️ Basic understanding of computer networking.

✔️ Knowledge of TCP/IP, Ethernet, VLANs, and subnetting.

✔️ Basic understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking.

✔️ Familiarity with routing and switching concepts.

✔️ Basic knowledge of VLAN, trunking, and routing protocols is beneficial.

✔️ CCNA-level networking knowledge is recommended.

✔️ Previous experience with Cisco networking devices is helpful but not mandatory.

After completing the Cisco ACI course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand Cisco ACI Architecture: Explain ACI concepts, architecture, components, and the Application Centric Infrastructure model.

  • Understand ACI Fabric: Describe the role of Spine, Leaf, APIC, VXLAN, and fabric policies.

  • Configure APIC: Perform initial APIC setup, fabric configuration, node discovery, and basic administration.

  • Create Tenants: Configure tenants and understand their role in multi-tenant data-center environments.

  • Configure VRFs & Bridge Domains: Create and manage VRFs, Bridge Domains, subnets, and gateway configurations.

  • Configure Application Profiles: Design application profiles based on different application requirements.

  • Configure EPGs: Create and manage Endpoint Groups and associate endpoints with appropriate policies.

  • Implement Contracts: Configure contracts, subjects, filters, and rules to control communication between EPGs.

  • Configure External Connectivity: Implement L3Out, OSPF, BGP, static routing, and external network connectivity.

  • Understand VXLAN & Overlay Networking: Explain how VXLAN is used within the ACI fabric for scalable data-center networking.

  • Implement Network Segmentation: Apply ACI policies for application isolation, segmentation, and micro-segmentation.

  • Configure VLAN & Physical Connectivity: Understand interfaces, VLAN pools, domains, AEPs, and physical interface policies.

  • Integrate Virtual Environments: Understand Cisco ACI integration with virtualization platforms such as VMware.

  • Monitor ACI Fabric Health: Use APIC monitoring tools, dashboards, faults, events, and health scores.

  • Troubleshoot ACI Networks: Diagnose common connectivity, policy, endpoint, routing, and fabric issues.

  • Work with ACI Automation: Understand REST APIs and basic automation concepts for policy-based network management.

  • Design ACI Solutions: Develop ACI configurations suitable for enterprise and data-center environments.

  • Apply Practical Skills: Perform real-world ACI configuration, administration, monitoring, and troubleshooting through hands-on labs.

Career-Focused Outcome

By the end of the course, learners will have practical knowledge to work with Cisco ACI-based data-center networks and pursue roles such as Cisco ACI Engineer, Data Center Network Engineer, Network Engineer, Network Administrator, and Infrastructure Engineer.

Learning Outcomes

Training Features

  • Network Automation Engineer: ACI introduces professionals to policy-driven infrastructure and automation concepts. Combined with Python, APIs, Ansible, and network programmability, ACI knowledge can support a career in network automation.

  • Cloud Network Engineer: Modern cloud and hybrid-cloud environments require professionals who understand networking, segmentation, routing, security, and automation. Cisco ACI experience can be particularly useful in organizations connecting enterprise data centers with cloud environments.

  • Network Security Engineer: ACI provides exposure to contracts, application segmentation, policy enforcement, and controlled communication between workloads. These skills can complement network security expertise.

  • Infrastructure Solutions Engineer: Solutions Engineers help organizations design and implement infrastructure according to business and technical requirements. Cisco ACI knowledge can be valuable when developing solutions involving data center networking, virtualization, automation, and application connectivity.

  • Network Operations Engineer: Network Operations Engineers monitor and troubleshoot network infrastructure, investigate faults, analyze connectivity issues, and maintain network availability. ACI operational and troubleshooting skills can provide an advantage in data center NOC environments.

  • Technical Support Engineer: Professionals with ACI knowledge can work in technical support roles assisting customers and organizations with ACI fabric configuration, connectivity, routing, policies, and troubleshooting.

  • Data Center Solutions Architect: With strong networking experience and advanced ACI knowledge, professionals can progress toward architecture roles. Data Center Solutions Architects design scalable infrastructure solutions and help organizations plan data center transformation projects.

  • Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Engineer: Organizations increasingly operate across on-premises data centers and cloud platforms. Professionals who understand ACI, networking, virtualization, automation, and cloud connectivity can contribute to hybrid infrastructure projects.

Career Opportunities

Cisco ACI is a valuable specialization for networking professionals who want to build careers in data center networking, software-defined networking, automation, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise infrastructure. With practical Cisco ACI skills, professionals can move from traditional networking roles into specialized data center and infrastructure positions.

Career Growth Path

A possible career progression after developing Cisco ACI expertise can look like:

Network Engineer → Senior Network Engineer → Cisco ACI Engineer → Data Center Network Engineer → Data Center Architect / Solutions Architect Alternatively:

Network Engineer → Network Automation Engineer → SDN Engineer → Cloud/Hybrid Cloud Network Engineer → Infrastructure Architect

  • Cisco ACI Engineer: Cisco ACI Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting ACI-based data center environments. They work with APIC, Leaf-Spine architecture, EPGs, contracts, VRFs, bridge domains, and external connectivity.

  • Data Center Network Engineer: Data Center Network Engineers manage high-performance networking infrastructure within enterprise and service-provider data centers. Cisco ACI knowledge helps professionals work with modern policy-driven and software-defined data center networks.

  • Senior Network Engineer: Experienced network professionals can use ACI expertise to expand their responsibilities into complex enterprise and data center environments. They may be involved in network architecture, migration, troubleshooting, optimization, and infrastructure planning.

  • Cisco Data Center Engineer: This role focuses on Cisco data center technologies, including networking, connectivity, virtualization, infrastructure integration, and operational management. ACI knowledge can complement broader Cisco Data Center skills.

  • Network Infrastructure Engineer: Infrastructure Engineers design and maintain enterprise network infrastructure across data centers, corporate networks, and hybrid environments. ACI skills are useful when organizations adopt centralized policy and automation.

  • SDN Network Engineer: Cisco ACI provides practical exposure to Software-Defined Networking concepts. Professionals can pursue SDN-focused positions involving centralized management, automation, policy-based networking, and network programmability.

  • Data Center Administrator: Data Center Administrators manage day-to-day infrastructure operations, including network connectivity, monitoring, incident management, configuration changes, and troubleshooting. ACI knowledge can strengthen their ability to manage modern data center environments.

Build your own dreams

Or someone else will hire you to build theirs. Here is how you can take action – starting today.