Cisco Data Center ACI 300-620 DCACI Training Course

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI), one of the most significant advancements in modern data center networking. Cisco ACI represents a paradigm shift in how networks are designed, deployed, and managed, moving away from traditional manual configuration toward a policy-driven, software-defined approach. Through this course, students will gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical, hands-on experience that is critical for managing complex enterprise networks efficiently.

The course emphasizes the deployment, configuration, and management of Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches in ACI mode. These switches serve as the foundation of the ACI fabric, enabling high-performance, low-latency connectivity across data center environments. Students will learn to understand the underlying hardware, its capabilities, and how it interacts with the software-defined control plane. By configuring Nexus switches in ACI mode, learners will experience firsthand how to build scalable and resilient network architectures, which are capable of supporting modern applications with high availability and robust performance.

Students will also explore the role of the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), which serves as the central management point for the ACI fabric. The APIC allows administrators to define and enforce application-centric policies, manage tenants, configure virtual routing and forwarding instances (VRFs), and control endpoint groups (EPGs) across the fabric. By mastering the APIC interface and its configuration options, students will understand how to automate network tasks, reduce manual configuration errors, and ensure consistency throughout the network. The course also covers APIC monitoring capabilities, including event logs, fault detection, and health scores, enabling students to proactively maintain the health and performance of the ACI fabric.

Another key component of the course is learning how to define and implement ACI policies effectively. Policies form the core of ACI’s automation and application-centric approach. Students will understand how to configure interface policies, interface profiles, and policy groups, which allow for consistent network behavior across multiple switches and endpoints. Additionally, VLAN pools, domains, and attachable access entity profiles (AAEPs) will be covered, helping learners manage large-scale networks with minimal manual intervention. By mastering these concepts, students will be able to streamline deployment, ensure consistent policy application, and optimize network performance across the data center.

The course also provides comprehensive coverage of tenants, bridge domains, and endpoint groups. Students will learn how to segment the network to isolate applications, enhance security, and manage traffic flows efficiently. Configuring intra-EPG and inter-EPG Layer 3 connectivity will allow learners to understand how communication is controlled within and between application segments. In addition, the course addresses integration with external Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks, including vPC configurations and connectivity to external routers, ensuring that students understand how to extend the ACI fabric beyond the immediate data center environment.

Hands-on labs are a core part of the course, providing students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in practical scenarios. These labs include initial fabric setup, policy configuration, application profile creation, and troubleshooting exercises. By engaging in practical exercises, learners develop the skills necessary to deploy ACI solutions in real-world environments, troubleshoot issues effectively, and ensure the reliability and scalability of enterprise networks.

Course Overview

Cisco ACI represents Cisco’s approach to software-defined networking (SDN), providing policy-driven automation and centralized management of data center networks. In this course, students will learn to design and deploy ACI fabrics, connect them to external networks, and configure critical components such as tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, and endpoint groups. This course emphasizes real-world implementation practices, giving learners practical insights into the configuration and management of ACI infrastructures.

By the end of the course, students will have a thorough understanding of ACI architecture, its components, and its operational capabilities. They will also be able to navigate the APIC GUI, implement policies, and troubleshoot common issues, making them well-prepared for the DCACI certification exam and real-world networking scenarios.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

• Understand Cisco ACI fundamentals and architecture
  
  

• Deploy and configure Cisco Nexus 9000 switches in ACI mode.
  
  

• Connect ACI fabrics to external networks and services.s
  
  

• Implement policies, tenants, VRFs, and bridgdomainsai.ns
  
  

• Configure interface policies, profiles, and VLAN pools
  
  

• Apply endpoint groups, contracts, and filters for application segmentation.
  
  

• Configure Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity within and between endpoint groups
  
  

• Integrate ACI with virtualization management platforms.
  
  

• Troubleshoot ACI fabric issues using logs, health scores, and monitoring tools
  
  

Prerequisites

Students enrolling in this course should have a solid foundation in networking concepts to fully benefit from the advanced content related to Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). A strong understanding of Layer 2 switching is essential because ACI builds upon fundamental switching concepts to implement complex policies and segmentation within the data center. Learners should be familiar with VLANs, spanning tree protocols, EtherChannels, and trunking. This foundational knowledge ensures that students can understand how ACI leverages these traditional concepts in a software-defined networking environment to provide scalable and efficient network communication.

Similarly, a thorough knowledge of Layer 3 routing is critical for students to grasp the routing concepts within ACI fabrics. Understanding routing protocols such as OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP, as well as concepts like route summarization, redistribution, and static versus dynamic routing, provides students with the necessary background to configure VRFs, bridge domains, and inter-EPG communication. Layer 3 knowledge is particularly important when dealing with external connectivity, whether it is through L3Out configurations, integration with external routers, or establishing connectivity to other data center networks. Students who are comfortable with routing fundamentals will find it easier to understand ACI’s policy-driven approach and its impact on traffic flows.

Hands-on experience with Cisco Nexus switches, particularly the 2K, 5K, and 7K series, is highly recommended for students enrolling in this course. Practical experience with these switches ensures that learners are familiar with switch configuration, interface management, and troubleshooting commands, all of which are relevant when working in ACI mode. Knowledge of Nexus switch CLI commands, firmware upgrades, vPC configurations, and spanning tree configurations allows students to quickly adapt to the ACI environment. Moreover, understanding the hardware capabilities and limitations of these switches provides learners with context for designing and deploying ACI fabrics effectively. This experience also enhances troubleshooting skills, enabling students to identify and resolve potential issues within the fabric efficiently.

Familiarity with data center network topologies and protocols is another important prerequisite for this course. Students should have an understanding of spine-leaf architectures, redundancy models, and high availability designs. Knowledge of protocols such as VXLAN, Ethernet, and overlay networks is beneficial, as ACI leverages these technologies to create scalable and flexible data center networks. Awareness of how data center traffic flows, including north-south and east-west traffic patterns, helps learners understand the operational aspects of ACI, including policy enforcement, endpoint learning, and segmentation. By understanding the topology and protocols, students can better appreciate ACI’s automated fabric management and how it simplifies network design while maintaining high performance and reliability.

Introduction to Cisco ACI

Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure is a software-defined networking solution designed to simplify data center operations. Unlike traditional networks, ACI uses a policy-driven approach, allowing administrators to define application requirements and network behavior centrally. This reduces manual configuration tasks and enhances scalability, automation, and security.

In this course, students will learn about:

• ACI architecture and components
  
  

• ACI fabrics and spine-leaf topology
  
  

• Role of APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller) in centralized management
  
  

• Policies and their implementation in ACI
  
  

• Interaction between tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, and endpoint groups
  
  

Cisco ACI Hardware and Protocols

Understanding the hardware and protocols used in ACI is essential for effective deployment. This section covers:

• Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches in ACI mode
  
  

• Spine and leaf switch architecture
  
  

• Overlay and underlay network protocols, including VXLAN and BGP EVPN
  
  

• Fabric discovery and initialization process
  
  

• Communication between APIC controllers and fabric switches
  
  

APIC GUI and Switch Walkthrough

Students will learn to navigate the APIC GUI for configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Key topics include:

• Accessing and configuring APIC
  
  

• Understanding APIC dashboards, health scores, events, and faults
  
  

• Exploring switch configurations through GUI and CLI
  
  

• Performing fabric discovery and initial setup
  
  

Cisco ACI Fabric and Access Policies

ACI fabric is the foundation of the network, enabling seamless communication between applications. Students will gain practical knowledge on:

• Fabric discovery and node registration
  
  

• Access and global policies
  
  

• Interface policies, profiles, and policy groups
  
  

• Switch profiles and VLAN pools..
  
  

Tenant, VRF, and Bridge Domain Configuration

ACI allows segmentation of applications and services through tenants and VRFs. This section covers:

• Creating and configuring tenants
  
  

• Implementing VRFs for routing isolation
  
  

• Defining bridge domains and adding subnets
  
  

• Understanding EPGs (Endpoint Groups) and their association with bridge domains
  
  

Interface Policies, Profiles, and Groups

Interface policies allow administrators to define behavior for multiple interfaces consistently. Students will learn:

• Creating interface policies for speed, MTU, and CDP/LLDP settings
  
  

• Configuring interface policy groups and profiles
  
  

• Associating policy groups with switch profiles for fabric-wide consistency
  
  

VLAN Pools, Domains, and AAEP

This section explains how to manage VLANs and attach them to domains:

• Defining VLAN pools and associating them with physical and virtual domains
  
  

• Configuring domains and their relationship with tenants and VRFs
  
  

• Implementing attachable access entity profiles (AAEP) for consistent policy application
  
  

Application Profiles and Endpoint Groups

ACI application profiles define the application topology, while endpoint groups define sets of endpoints:

• Creating application profiles and associating them with EPGs
  
  

• Defining contracts, subjects, and filters for traffic control
  
  

• Configuring intra-EPG and inter-EPG Layer 3 connectivity
  
  

• Understanding endpoint learning and dynamic policy application
  
  

Out-of-Band Addressing and NTP Setup

Proper addressing and time synchronization are crucial for fabric operation:

• Configuring out-of-band management IP addresses for switches
  
  

• Setting up NTP servers and ensuring fabric-wide time synchronization
  
  

vPC and External Connectivity

Students will learn to implement advanced connectivity features:

• Configuring virtual port channels (vPC) in ACI
  
  

• Setting up external Layer 2 and Layer 3 domains
  
  

• Connecting ACI fabrics to external routers, firewalls, and services
  
  

Integration with Virtualization Management

ACI supports integration with virtualization platforms for automated network provisioning:

• Understanding integration with VMware vCenter, Hyper-V, and OpenStack
  
  

• Automating network provisioning for virtual machines
  
  

• Managing dynamic endpoint assignments and policies
  
  

Event, Fault, and Audit Logs

Monitoring the fabric is critical for troubleshooting and maintenance:

• Understanding APIC events, faults, and audit logs
  
  

• Using health scores to assess fabric status
  
  

• Troubleshooting common configuration issues
  
  

Real-World Implementation Scenarios

This course emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world application:

• Configuring multi-tenant fabrics for enterprise environments
  
  

• Implementing secure application segmentation
  
  

• Integrating ACI with existing data center infrastructure
  
  

• Preparing for interview questions and practical assessments
  
  

Course Benefits

By completing this course, students will:

• Gain expertise in Cisco ACI deployment and management
  
  

• Be prepared for the DCACI 300-620 certification exam.
  
  

• Acquire skills to implement ACI in production data centers.s
  
  

• Develop confidence in troubleshooting and fabric optimization.
  
  

• Understand advanced network automation concepts.
  
  

Who Should Enroll

This course is ideal for a wide range of learners who wish to deepen their understanding of modern data center networking and develop expertise in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). Network engineers and administrators working in data centers will find this course particularly valuable. These professionals are often responsible for designing, configuring, and maintaining complex network infrastructures, and Cisco ACI offers a modern approach to simplify and automate many of these tasks. By learning ACI, network engineers gain the ability to manage application-centric policies, automate network provisioning, and implement scalable solutions efficiently. This knowledge enhances their daily operations, allowing them to optimize performance, reduce configuration errors, and improve overall network reliability.

Professionals seeking to specialize in Cisco ACI and software-defined networking (SDN) will benefit greatly from this course. SDN is becoming a cornerstone technology in modern enterprise networks, providing flexibility, automation, and centralized control. Cisco ACI represents one of the most widely adopted SDN solutions in the industry. By understanding ACI architecture, policy models, and operational workflows, professionals can position themselves as specialists in data center automation and network virtualization. The course covers both fundamental concepts and advanced configuration scenarios, enabling learners to develop practical skills that are directly applicable to enterprise deployments.

Individuals preparing for the DCACI 300-620 certification exam will find this course to be a comprehensive study resource. The curriculum is aligned with the exam objectives, providing detailed coverage of topics such as ACI fabric components, tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, endpoint groups, contracts, interface policies, and external connectivity. The course also includes practical demonstrations, lab exercises, and real-world implementation scenarios that help reinforce theoretical knowledge. By completing this course, learners not only prepare for the certification exam but also gain the confidence and competence to apply these concepts in professional environments. The structured lessons, hands-on practice, and instructor guidance ensure that students are well-equipped to achieve certification success.

Students and IT professionals looking to enhance their knowledge of modern networking technologies will find this course invaluable. Cisco ACI represents a shift from traditional network management to a policy-driven, automated approach that aligns with the demands of modern data centers. Understanding ACI equips learners with the skills needed to implement network automation, optimize traffic flows, and ensure secure and reliable connectivity. This knowledge is applicable not only in enterprise data centers but also in cloud and hybrid network environments, where automation and centralized control are critical for efficiency and scalability.

The course is also suitable for individuals who wish to transition from traditional network administration roles to more advanced positions in network design, architecture, and automation. As enterprises increasingly adopt ACI and SDN technologies, there is a growing demand for professionals who can design, deploy, and manage these environments. This course provides the foundation and practical experience necessary to bridge the gap between conventional network management and modern, software-defined approaches.

Additionally, IT consultants, solutions architects, and technical support engineers can benefit from this course. The practical knowledge of ACI fabric design, policy implementation, and troubleshooting enables these professionals to advise clients, implement solutions efficiently, and resolve complex networking issues. The course’s emphasis on real-world scenarios ensures that learners understand not only the theory but also the practical applications of ACI in diverse environments.

Even students who are new to ACI but have foundational knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, along with experience in Cisco Nexus platforms, can benefit. The course gradually builds from basic concepts to advanced configurations, allowing learners to develop a clear understanding of how ACI operates and how to implement it effectively.

Additional Information

Students enrolled in this course have multiple avenues to seek guidance and clarification, ensuring they gain the maximum benefit from the learning experience. The course includes an interactive Q&A section where students can post questions related to course content, configuration steps, or conceptual doubts. The instructor actively monitors this section and provides detailed responses to all queries. This approach allows students not only to get answers to their questions but also to engage in discussions with peers, sharing insights, challenges, and solutions. Such interactions help reinforce learning and promote a deeper understanding of complex concepts.

In addition to the Q&A section, students can contact the instructor directly via text or message for more personalized guidance. This direct communication channel ensures that any unique challenges or scenarios that may not be covered in the course materials are addressed promptly. The instructor provides explanations, demonstrates configuration steps where necessary, and guides students through troubleshooting techniques that can be applied in real-world scenarios. This level of support significantly enhances students’ confidence in applying their knowledge to practical tasks.

The course also offers a 30-day refund policy for students who feel the content does not meet their requirements or expectations. This policy reflects the confidence in the quality and relevance of the material while providing students with a risk-free opportunity to evaluate whether the course aligns with their professional or educational goals. Students can enroll without hesitation, knowing that their investment is protected, allowing them to focus entirely on learning without concerns about potential dissatisfaction.

Each lesson within the course is designed to balance conceptual understanding with hands-on practice. Conceptual lessons provide a solid theoretical foundation, explaining the principles of Cisco ACI, its architecture, components, and operational mechanisms. Students will explore critical concepts such as tenants, VRFs, bridge domains, application profiles, and endpoint groups. Lessons also include practical demonstrations of configuration procedures, ensuring that students can translate theory into practice. Step-by-step lab exercises guide learners through real-world scenarios, from initial fabric setup and interface configuration to advanced tasks such as vPC implementation, external connectivity, and integration with virtualization platforms.

The structured approach of combining theory and practical exercises ensures that students develop both the knowledge and skills required to manage Cisco ACI environments effectively. By completing the course, students will be able to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot ACI fabrics confidently, making them well-prepared for the DCACI 300-620 certification exam and real-world data center implementations. The practical exercises also emphasize best practices in network design, policy configuration, and automation, helping students adopt efficient workflows and reduce the likelihood of errors in production environments.

Additionally, the course provides supplementary resources, including reference materials, configuration templates, and example scenarios, allowing students to explore further and reinforce their learning independently. These resources serve as valuable tools for revision, self-study, and preparation for both exams and practical deployments.