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CBT Nuggets

ACI Fundamentals Online Training

This entry-level Cisco ACI training course introduces IT professionals to the fundamentals of Application Centric Infrastructure, equipping network administrators and engineers with hands-on skills in ACI fabric configuration, policy management, and automation. You’ll learn to build and manage scalable ACI environments, automate tasks using Python and REST API, and implement micro-segmentation and robust security policies. The course also covers integration with cloud services and third-party platforms, plus training on APIC management, Nexus 9000 spine-leaf architecture, VXLAN forwarding, and intent-based SDN design. Whether you're starting your journey with ACI fundamentals or looking to enhance your software-defined networking expertise, this course provides the practical knowledge needed to optimize modern data center performance and automation.

Updated September 2024

24Skills
130Videos
19h 22mTotal
130 videos19h 22m

Who This Course Is For

This ACI Fundamentals training is considered foundational-level Cisco training, which means it was designed for network admins. This Cisco skills course is valuable for new IT professionals with at least a year of experience with networking and experienced network admins looking to validate their Cisco skills.

Course Curriculum

  • Premium skill.Describe ACI Concepts46m
  • Premium skill.Describe ACI Fabric Management45m
  • Premium skill.Explain the ACI Spine-Leaf Architecture50m
  • Premium skill.Explain ACI VXLAN Forwarding47m
  • Premium skill.Explain ACI Fabric Forwarding47m
  • Premium skill.Explore the Nexus 9K Family52m
  • Premium skill.Configure a Basic ACI Fabric44m
  • Premium skill.Explain the APIC49m
  • Premium skill.Manage ACI and the APIC50m
  • Premium skill.Describe the ACI Physical Model47m
  • Premium skill.Describe the ACI Logical Model51m
  • Configure ACI Endpoint GroupsFree46m
  • Premium skill.Explain and Diagram the ACI Architecture48m
  • Premium skill.Explain and Configure ACI Traffic Flow46m
  • Premium skill.Configure ACI Contracts48m
  • Premium skill.Connect ACI to L3 External Networks46m
  • Premium skill.Connect ACI to L2 External Networks53m
  • Premium skill.Diagram ACI Traffic Flows52m
  • Premium skill.Configure ACI External Networks47m
  • Premium skill.Describe ACI Architectures51m
  • Premium skill.Describe API Usage in ACI50m
  • Premium skill.Describe the ACI Object Model46m
  • Premium skill.Review ACI Foundations50m
  • Premium skill.ACI Foundations Configuration Challenge49m

For IT leaders

What IT leaders need to know before assigning this course

When IT teams adopt Cisco ACI, the challenge is rarely just learning new terminology — it’s building a shared foundation for operating a policy-driven data center fabric without creating configuration drift, inconsistent traffic handling, or delays in onboarding new services. This training gives network teams a structured introduction to ACI concepts, fabric management, spine-leaf architecture, forwarding behavior, the APIC, and the physical and logical models that underpin day-to-day administration.

IT Directors and Training Managers should use this course to align network admins around the core building blocks of an ACI environment before assigning production responsibilities. The playlist moves from architecture and fabric fundamentals into practical tasks like configuring a basic ACI fabric, endpoint groups, contracts, traffic flow, and external network connectivity, then closes with a foundations review and configuration challenge. For teams rolling out ACI or standardizing operations, CBT Nuggets Playlist enrollment and Team Reporting can help track progress across the full fundamentals path.

Team Impact

How this training helps your team succeed

For organizations moving toward automated data center operations, foundational ACI knowledge helps teams make consistent decisions about segmentation, connectivity, and policy management. This training is built around the operational areas network teams need before they touch production fabrics: architecture, forwarding, APIC management, endpoint groups, contracts, and external connectivity.

  • Establish a common operating model across the team by standardizing how admins describe ACI concepts, spine-leaf design, and the physical and logical models.
  • Reduce provisioning mistakes by preparing staff to configure a basic ACI fabric and apply core constructs such as endpoint groups and contracts consistently.
  • Improve change readiness when connecting ACI to L2 and L3 external networks by grounding teams in traffic flow and external network configuration fundamentals.
  • Support faster onboarding for new network admins by giving them one structured path through ACI architecture, management, API usage, and a final configuration challenge.

After completion

Knowledge & ability your team will gain

Knowledge

  • Core Cisco ACI concepts and how ACI differs from traditional network operating models
  • ACI fabric management fundamentals, including the role of the APIC in administration and control
  • Spine-leaf architecture principles and how they relate to ACI fabric design
  • ACI VXLAN and fabric forwarding concepts, including how traffic moves through the fabric
  • The ACI physical model, logical model, and object model used to represent policy and infrastructure
  • How external L2 and L3 networks relate to ACI architectures and traffic flow design

Ability

  • Explain and diagram an ACI architecture for internal team discussions and planning sessions
  • Configure a basic ACI fabric using foundational platform constructs
  • Manage ACI through the APIC and perform core administrative tasks
  • Configure endpoint groups, contracts, and traffic-flow-related policy elements
  • Connect an ACI environment to external Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks
  • Describe API usage in ACI and apply foundational knowledge in a configuration challenge scenario

This course is included with every subscription

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