Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX

Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX

It’s difficult to determine who the leader is, so which do you prefer: Cisco ACI or VMware NSX? However, we can compare them in a real network environment and list their primary differences, which will help you learn more about them.

NSX is a network overlay, while Cisco ACI is a programmable Ethernet Fabric that integrates hardware and software. As a result, ACI and NSX offer very different approaches to solving networking problems.

Cisco ACI

Providing total command over the data center network is Cisco ACI, an enterprise-class software-defined networking (SDN) solution. With a policy-based methodology, the licensed Cisco ACI provides security, performance, and scalability for today’s demanding applications.

The Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) controllers and Nexus switches are also a part of the larger Cisco SDN portfolio. Cisco ACI could be the solution if you’re trying to optimize your data center network. Learn more about Cisco ACI in this article, including how it functions, what it offers, and how it is put to use.

Software-defined networking (SDN) technology from Cisco called Cisco ACI enables centralized application policy enforcement throughout a data center network. It is intended to make the process of developing, managing, and enforcing network security policies simpler and more automated.

The licensed Cisco ACI offers consistent policy definition and application across physical and virtual resources, as well as bare-metal server deployments. An intuitive graphical user interface or programmatically using APIs can be used to accomplish this. With the latter choice, ACI can be integrated with your current DevOps procedures.

Apply uniform security policies

Regardless of the underlying infrastructure, you can apply uniform security policies throughout your data center with the licensed Cisco ACI. As a result, operational expenses are decreased and agility is increased. Additionally, ACI has built-in micro-segmentation capabilities that can help you strengthen the security of your data center.

An application profile is the foundation of Cisco ACI. A set of network and security policies that need to be used with a specific application or workload are defined by an application profile. Using the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), application profiles are created.

You have visibility into and control over the network resources in your data center thanks to the APIC, a centralized management system. Additionally, it offers capabilities for orchestration and policy enforcement. An out-of-band management network connects the APIC to the network devices in your data center for communication.

Using a leaf-spine architecture is Cisco ACI. In order to connect to server endpoints, the leaf nodes are Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches. The core switches that link the leaf nodes to one another are the spine nodes.

Both physical and virtualized leaf nodes are supported by Cisco ACI. Switches from the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series or Cisco ASA 1000V Cloud Firewalls can be used as physical leaves. The Cisco Avi Vantage platform offers virtualized leaves for users.

VMware NSX

The intellectual property of VMware’s vCloud Networking and Security (vCNS) and Nicira’s Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) was combined to create the virtual networking and security software product family known as VMware NSX.

The software-defined data center (SDDC) concept from VMware, which offers cloud computing based on VMware virtualization technologies, includes NSX software-defined networking, or SDN. With the licensed VMware NSX, the company intends to provision virtual networking environments devoid of the need for a command-line interface (CLI) or other types of direct administrator involvement.

Similar to how server virtualization abstracts processing power and operating systems (OSes) from the underlying hardware, network virtualization does the same for network operations. Open Systems Interconnection Layers 4 through 7 are virtualized by the licensed VMware vCNS.

Cisco ACI and VMware NSX

Significant input from more than just the network team should be considered when making the decision. A longer time horizon than the typical data center network upgrade is justified due to the size of the operational changes that will be brought about by the deployment of either VMware NSX or Cisco ACI.

Additionally, since the licensed VMware NSX can operate on any hardware, it is technically possible to combine it with Cisco ACI. This is a topic that clients are becoming more interested in. But for most businesses, implementing both solutions at once will be unaffordable. Businesses will use duplicate functionality, such as security policies, and will use nested VXLAN tunnels, further complicating the architecture, as long as the NSX and APIC controllers do not communicate.

Businesses are comparing VMware NSX and Cisco ACI to improve network agility in their data centers and strengthen security postures. These solutions provide various methods for addressing a related set of problems.

Differences between these two licensed solutions

There have been numerous comparisons made between ACI and NSX, but in reality, the two products are quite similar. The key difference is that Cisco ACI can connect physical networks as well, whereas VMware NSX only connects virtualized networks. Therefore, Cisco is better for solutions that need to integrate physical hardware.

In fact, you don’t need to use only one of them. If it is found that one solution has utilities that a business needs but the other does not have, both solutions can be used. Cisco ACI and VMware NSX can be configured to operate together.

Cost may also be another consideration. Organizations can spend less money with NSX and Cisco ACI than with less reliable, consolidated solutions. The acquisition of these services and operating costs, however, will vary. These solutions don’t have a fixed cost; it all depends on how the organization’s present and future infrastructure will be set up.

The licensed Cisco ACI will prove to be the most effective and reliable solution for many organizations. Cisco ACI can manage physical networks, which explains why. The choice between VMware NSX and Cisco ACI may also be a concern for those whose networks are entirely virtualized. What matters most in the end depends on the functions and amenities they require as well as the adoption costs for the finished product.

It’s not an easy choice if your company is trying to decide between VMware and Cisco. Which product is “superior” has divided the industry for more than a year. Depending on your company and its applications, you might require either one, or you might even require both.

R2 can support. Although R2 Unified Technologies is an expert in the capabilities and features of VMware NSX and Cisco ACI, data centers are understandably experts in their own technologies.

Other differences

• The operating costs of Cisco are frequently lower.
• Unlike VMware NSX, Cisco ACI can automate physical networks.
• Both solutions offer load balancing, automation, and redundancy.
• Virtualized networks can be automated using Cisco ACI or VMware NSX.
• VMWare NSX needs L2-based software gateways, whereas Cisco ACI supports legacy networks.