Cisco ACI vs. Cisco DNA Center
Although there is no similarity between the two certifications, people still have questions about them. For example, Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure), and Cisco DNA (Digital Network Architecture). Below is a comparison of both exams to help you understand the differences.
What is Cisco ACI?
Since its inception in 2014, Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure has been the data center network workhorse. ACI was a significant success in terms of scalability and automation. It also provided a great user experience.
ACI granted admins the ability to fine-tune automation in large and small data centers. ACI simplified DC networking by removing the complexity of manually fixing up a network environment. Traditionally, Nexus switches in a similar environment had to be organized manually one by one. Administrators can configure and manage all devices organized by ACI at the same time through the APIC. It is a time- and money-saver.
ACI began to make a comeback from an automation perspective with its HTML5-based GUI. This simplified the setup process by removing administrators from the tedious task of configuring equipment via the CLI or REST API. ACI also brought integration to the table. ACI brought together technologies such as networking and virtualization, container, orchestration, and orchestration to simplify network configurations.
ACI provides this service through an application-oriented platform. ACI is not bound to routing, trunks and VLANs. Instead, it uses a leaf spine-leaf topology (CLOS). This makes it simple and scalable and allows for expansion when needed.
There is much more to this technology than these basics.
What is Cisco DNA?
Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA), is an intent-based network solution. Cisco DNA works in the same way as ACI, allowing network engineers to create policies for their network with just a few clicks. DNA takes this one step further. The DNA Center is the centralized management platform and automation platform that controls the entire network via APIC-EM, the enterprise version.
From a single point, it is possible to roll out new policies, deploy new networks, and support new applications that operate locally, within the cloud, or across the WAN. This creates a large organic network that is simpler for your support staff to manage and reduces the risk of human error.
Cisco DNA allows for easy application policy preparation and simplifies the ACI process. It also allows for automated IWAN deployments and management. Cisco DNA automates everything, so you don’t have to configure each piece of Cisco equipment.
Different
These changes significantly improve network administration. Data center teams spend less time on troubleshooting and testing than they do designing networks. Security is enhanced. Micro-segmentation helps to limit potential threats and ensures that sensitive data is protected with consistent security policies.
Compliance improves. Manual configurations can be prone to human error. SDNs and IBN automatically apply policies, decreasing human error as well as potential compliance lapses. Integral integrity verification verifies that policies are not contradictory.
Because the network is intelligent enough to understand the effects of network changes, companies return time and again. These sophisticated systems alert network operators to possible problems as they occur and take proactive steps to address them.
There are some differences between Cisco ACI & Cisco DNA
Feature SetCisco ACICisco GenomicISIS is pushed on all devices
