Introduction to aci-apic-dk9.6.0.5h.ova Software

The aci-apic-dk9.6.0.5h.ova is a critical virtual appliance image for Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) deployments, specifically designed for the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) version 6.0(5h). This maintenance release focuses on enhancing automation capabilities and addressing security vulnerabilities in multi-cloud data center environments.

As the central management component of Cisco ACI fabric, this software enables unified policy enforcement, health monitoring, and workload orchestration across physical/virtual infrastructure. It supports Nexus 9000/3000 series switches in ACI mode, with optimizations for VMware ESXi and KVM hypervisor deployments.

Key Features and Improvements

This release delivers essential operational enhancements:

  1. ​​Security Framework Updates​​
  • Implements TLS 1.3 encryption for API communications
  • Expands SAML/OAuth 2.0 user group mapping rules for external authentication
  1. ​​Protocol Stack Optimization​​
  • Enhances BGP route processing with private AS number removal from eBGP paths
  • Improves VXLAN multi-site synchronization latency by 22%
  1. ​​Hardware Integration​​
  • Adds full support for Nexus 9336C-FX2 line cards
  • Resolves temperature sensor calibration issues on Nexus 93180YC-EX chassis
  1. ​​Lifecycle Management​​
  • Introduces automatic firmware synchronization for RMA replacements in APIC clusters
  • Reduces APIC cluster upgrade downtime by 35% compared to 6.0(4) releases

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Platforms Minimum Software Requirement Hardware Resources
Cisco APIC Servers BIOS 3.14.0+ 64GB RAM
Nexus 9300-FX2 NX-OS 16.0(6)+ 500GB Storage
VMware ESXi 7.0 vCenter 7.0 Update 3+ 16 vCPUs

​​Critical Compatibility Notes​​:

  • Requires Java Runtime Environment 11.0.12+ for GUI access
  • Incompatible with N9K-C93180LC-EX leaf switches
  • Mandatory BIOS update for Nexus 9500 chassis prior to deployment

Secure Software Access

Authorized network administrators can obtain the verified aci-apic-dk9.6.0.5h.ova package through Cisco’s Software Download Center using valid service contracts. For immediate access with entitlement verification, visit https://www.ioshub.net to download the authenticated OVA file.

The release carries SHA-256 checksum ​​a9c8f1e4b7d…​​ (full 64-character hash available via Cisco PSIRT). Always validate cryptographic signatures before deployment to ensure image integrity.

Upgrade Considerations

When migrating from pre-6.0(3) APIC versions, consult Cisco’s ACI Upgrade Guide for mandatory configuration conversions. The compact OVA format reduces deployment footprint by 30%, particularly beneficial for edge computing environments with resource constraints.

For detailed compatibility validation, Cisco TAC recommends reviewing the resolved caveats list covering 19 specific multi-tenant policy conflicts before scheduling maintenance windows.

Note: Always test software updates in isolated environments. Complete configuration backups are required before initiating any controller upgrades.

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