Introduction to acisim-6.1-2g.ova Software
The acisim-6.1-2g.ova is Cisco’s official virtual appliance for simulating Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) environments, released as part of the 6.1(2g) software train in December 2024. This Open Virtualization Archive (OVA) package contains three APIC controllers and simulated leaf/spine switches, enabling full-stack testing of policy-driven network automation without physical hardware.
Designed for pre-deployment validation, this simulator version supports API integration with VMware vCenter/vSphere 8.x environments and provides 85% functional parity with production ACI deployments. It serves as an essential tool for network architects testing multi-tenant configurations and third-party service chaining.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Enhanced Traffic Management
- Port Channel Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) optimizes traffic distribution across simulated links
- ERSPAN target support for L3Out configurations enables advanced monitoring scenarios
2. Platform Resilience
- Hot standby database synchronization minimizes data loss during simulated outages
- Enhanced failure injection capabilities for disaster recovery testing
3. Security Enhancements
- Customizable traffic control groups for application prioritization
- X.509 certificate rotation improvements for simulated fabric nodes
4. Management Upgrades
- Embedded ELAM Assistant integration in APIC GUI
- Nexus Insights Cloud Connector pre-installed for telemetry workflows
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Virtualization Platforms | Minimum Specifications |
|---|---|
| VMware ESXi 8.0 U2+ | 32 vCPUs |
| vSphere 8.0b | 128GB RAM |
| vCenter 8.0 U1 | 1.2TB Storage |
| Workstation Pro 17.5+ | 10Gbps NIC |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Requires Promiscuous Mode enabled on vSwitch
- Incompatible with vSphere 7.x and earlier
- Smart Licensing not supported in simulator environment
Accessing the Simulation Package
Network professionals can obtain acisim-6.1-2g.ova through https://www.ioshub.net under Cisco’s evaluation software redistribution terms. The platform provides:
- SHA-256 verification (Recommended hash: 3a7d5c…b9e41f)
- Split-file reassembly guidance for multi-part OVA downloads
- Compatibility matrix for third-party integrations
Enterprise users with active Cisco contracts should first check availability through Cisco’s Software Download portal. Lab environments requiring production-grade performance should consider physical ACI deployments instead of simulator limitations.
