Introduction to “acisim-6.0-5h.ova” Software
This OVA package delivers Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Simulator 6.0(5h), designed for testing and validating ACI fabric configurations in non-production environments. Released in Q4 2024 as a maintenance update, it replicates full APIC controller functionality with scaled-down resource requirements, supporting up to 50 virtual endpoints for lab deployments.
The simulation environment supports:
- Cisco Nexus 9300/9500 virtual switch instances
- VMware ESXi 8.0U3+ hypervisors
- Multi-site ACI fabric topologies with stretched clusters
Key Features and Improvements
-
Fabric Health Monitoring
Implements enhanced telemetry compression reducing diagnostic data storage requirements by 40% compared to 6.0(4g). -
Policy Simulation
Adds contract-based microsegmentation validation tools with real-time traffic flow visualization. -
Hardware Compatibility
Introduces virtualized support for N9K-C9336D-H3R line card configurations and QSFP-DD 400G interfaces. -
Security Enhancements
Integrates TLS 1.3 enforcement for all controller-node communications and automated certificate rotation. -
Upgrade Validation
Includes dry-run mode for testing firmware upgrade sequences from 5.2(x) to 6.0(x) ACI versions.
Compatibility and Requirements
| Component | Minimum Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VMware vSphere | 8.0 Update 3 | Requires 24GB RAM allocation |
| Cisco APIC Controller | 6.0(5) | For configuration synchronization |
| UCS C-Series Servers | CIMC 5.2(1b) | Physical host requirements |
Operational Notes:
- Requires 600GB thin-provisioned storage for baseline operations
- Incompatible with Kubernetes-based cloud ACI implementations
Authenticated downloads available at https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-acisim-downloads after platform verification. Lab license holders should contact Cisco TAC for extended evaluation terms.
apic-vrealize-5.1.2e.tgz Cisco APIC vRealize Integration Package 5.1(2e) for ACI Management Download Link
Introduction to “apic-vrealize-5.1.2e.tgz” Software
This integration package enables bidirectional communication between Cisco APIC 5.2(x) controllers and VMware vRealize Suite 8.6+, released in March 2025 to enhance multi-vendor data center automation capabilities. It provides unified visibility into ACI fabric health metrics and VMware workload performance.
The solution supports:
- Cisco APIC 5.2(4)+ clusters
- VMware vRealize Operations 8.6+
- NSX-T 3.2+ network virtualization platforms
Key Features and Improvements
-
Cross-Platform Topology Mapping
Automatically correlates ACI EPGs with VMware security groups for microsegmentation auditing. -
Capacity Planning
Introduces predictive analytics for leaf/spine utilization thresholds with 30-day projection models. -
Incident Correlation
Reduces false positives by 60% through machine learning-based event pattern recognition across ACI/vSphere layers. -
Compliance Monitoring
Adds pre-built templates for HIPAA and GDPR policy enforcement across virtual/physical infrastructure. -
API Enhancements
Implements RESTCONF support for bidirectional configuration synchronization between APIC and vRealize.
Compatibility and Requirements
| Component | Minimum Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco APIC | 5.2(4) | Requires cluster mode enabled |
| VMware vCenter | 8.0 U4 | Enhanced metrics collection |
| vRealize Log Insight | 8.6 | For cross-domain log analysis |
| NSX-T Data Center | 3.2.1 | Microsegmentation integration |
Deployment Constraints:
- Requires 8 vCPUs dedicated for service VM operations
- Incompatible with legacy vRealize 7.x environments
The certified software bundle is accessible via https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-vmware-integrations after platform validation. Enterprise customers with active Cisco Smart Accounts may request bulk deployment templates through authorized partners.
