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Question 181. Which protocol carries the ACI Multi Pod control plane between pods
- STP
- MP BGP EVPN
- LACP
- FSPF
Correct Answer: 2. MP BGP EVPN
Explanation:
Cisco ACI Multi Pod uses MP BGP EVPN for control plane communication between spine switches located in different pods. Each pod maintains its own internal fabric control protocols, while EVPN distributes the information required for communication between pods. This allows each pod to preserve local control plane isolation while still operating as part of one larger ACI fabric. The design improves fault containment because a control plane problem inside one pod does not automatically destabilize the control protocols running inside another pod. Inter pod data traffic uses the routed Inter Pod Network that connects the participating spine switches.
Question 182. How many APIC clusters manage one ACI Multi Pod fabric
- One per leaf switch
- One per pod
- One per spine switch
- One shared cluster
Correct Answer: 4. One shared cluster
Explanation:
ACI Multi Pod uses one APIC cluster to manage all pods participating in the Multi Pod fabric. Individual APIC controllers can be physically distributed among different pods to improve resiliency, but they remain members of the same logical APIC cluster. This differs from ACI Multi Site, where each site is an independent ACI fabric with its own APIC cluster. Because Multi Pod uses one shared cluster, all pods operate as one fabric from the management and policy perspective even though their internal fabric control planes remain isolated from one another.
Question 183. Who manages the ACI Inter Pod Network
- External network administration
- APIC automatically
- Leaf switches only
- Endpoint groups
Correct Answer: 1. External network administration
Explanation:
The ACI Inter Pod Network is not managed automatically by APIC. Cisco requires the IPN infrastructure to be configured independently before Multi Pod communication can operate. The IPN provides routed connectivity between the spine switches of separate pods and must support the required routing, multicast, VLAN tagging, and MTU characteristics. APIC configures the ACI fabric itself, but the routed network connecting the pods is treated as external transport infrastructure. Designers therefore need to coordinate ACI requirements with the routing devices and operational team responsible for the IPN.
Question 184. Which VLAN tag is used on ACI Multi Pod spine connections to the IPN
- VLAN 1
- VLAN 100
- VLAN 4
- VLAN 4094
Correct Answer: 3. VLAN 4
Explanation:
Cisco requires the Layer 3 subinterfaces connecting ACI Multi Pod spine switches to the Inter Pod Network to use VLAN 4 tagging. These interfaces provide the routed path used for inter pod control and data communication. The IPN itself must be configured before Multi Pod provisioning is performed because APIC does not manage this external transport network. Designers must also account for routing, multicast behavior, redundancy, and increased MTU requirements across the complete IPN path so encapsulated traffic can move between pods without fragmentation or loss.
Question 185. How much extra MTU does Cisco require on the Multi Pod IPN path
- At least 50 bytes
- At least 10 bytes
- At least 500 bytes
- No additional MTU
Correct Answer: 1. At least 50 bytes
Explanation:
Cisco requires the Inter Pod Network MTU to be at least 50 bytes larger than the maximum MTU needed for the inter pod control plane and data plane traffic. The additional size accommodates encapsulation overhead introduced when traffic moves between ACI pods. If the routed IPN cannot transport the larger frames, fragmentation or packet loss can disrupt fabric communication. MTU consistency must therefore be verified across every device and link in the inter pod path rather than only on the directly connected ACI spine interfaces.
Question 186. Which underlay protocols can connect ACI Multi Pod spines to the IPN in current supported designs
- STP only
- RIP only
- IS IS only
- OSPF or external BGP
Correct Answer: 4. OSPF or external BGP
Explanation:
Beginning with Cisco APIC Release 5.2.3, ACI Multi Pod supports either OSPF or external BGP for underlay connectivity between physical spine switches and the Inter Pod Network. Cisco also supports designs where different pods use different supported underlay choices. Earlier Multi Pod releases relied on OSPF for this connectivity. Providing both OSPF and external BGP options gives architects greater flexibility when integrating ACI pods with an existing routed data center or WAN transport environment. The selected protocol must still provide reliable IP reachability between all required inter pod endpoints.
Question 187. What does each ACI pod provide from a failure perspective
- One shared Layer 2 failure domain
- A separate fabric fault domain
- One shared APIC database only
- No fault isolation
Correct Answer: 2. A separate fabric fault domain
Explanation:
Each ACI pod operates its own internal fabric control plane protocols and therefore forms a separate fabric fault domain. Cisco describes the pods as running independent instances of protocols such as IS IS, COOP, and MP BGP internally. A control plane failure affecting one pod does not automatically destabilize the control planes operating in the other pods. At the same time, all pods remain part of the same overall ACI fabric and are managed by one shared APIC cluster. This combination provides stronger fault isolation without giving up centralized policy and management.
Question 188. How can a two pod ACI Multi Pod fabric connect in supported newer releases without an IPN
- Through Fibre Channel
- Through vPC only
- Spine to spine back to back links
- Through APIC interfaces
Correct Answer: 3. Spine to spine back to back links
Explanation:
Cisco supports a back to back spine topology for a fabric containing only two pods in supported newer ACI releases. Beginning with APIC Release 5.2.3, two pods can be connected directly without deploying a separate Inter Pod Network. This option can simplify certain two pod designs by removing dedicated IPN routers from the topology. The design remains specific to supported two pod scenarios and still must satisfy Cisco requirements for control plane and data plane connectivity. Larger Multi Pod deployments continue to require an appropriate routed inter pod architecture.
Question 189. How does ACI Multi Pod appear from an operational perspective
- Separate unmanaged fabrics
- Independent SAN fabrics
- Separate APIC tenants
- One ACI fabric
Correct Answer: 4. One ACI fabric
Explanation:
ACI Multi Pod operates as one ACI fabric from a management and policy perspective. All participating pods are controlled by the same APIC cluster, even though each pod maintains an isolated internal fabric control plane. Administrators can therefore apply ACI policy across the complete Multi Pod environment instead of treating every pod as a separate independent site. This characteristic is a major distinction between Multi Pod and Multi Site. Multi Site uses multiple independent ACI fabrics and APIC clusters, whereas Multi Pod combines several fault isolated pods into one managed fabric.
Question 190. How should APIC controllers be placed in a resilient Multi Pod design
- Only in one pod
- Distributed across pods
- Only on IPN routers
- Only on spine switches
Correct Answer: 2. Distributed across pods
Explanation:
Cisco designs commonly distribute APIC controllers across different pods so management remains available if one physical location experiences a failure. The APIC nodes remain members of one logical cluster and synchronize the fabric configuration database. Cisco reference designs describe distributing cluster members between pods so each site can retain local APIC availability if connectivity to another location is disrupted. Proper APIC placement should account for cluster size, latency, quorum, and failure scenarios. The objective is to avoid making one physical pod the single location for all controllers managing the complete Multi Pod fabric.
Question 191. How often is assurance analysis normally performed automatically for a typical online Nexus Dashboard fabric
- Every 2 hours
- Every 10 minutes
- Once a week
- Once a month
Correct Answer: 1. Every 2 hours
Explanation:
Nexus Dashboard assurance analysis for online fabrics is normally performed automatically every two hours. Cisco notes that larger fabrics can use a longer automatic interval of approximately three to four hours depending on fabric size and scale. Assurance analysis collects fabric information, generates a model, evaluates the collected data, and produces results such as anomalies. Administrators can also request an on demand analysis when they want updated results immediately after correcting a problem rather than waiting for the next scheduled analysis cycle.
Question 192. What type of assurance does a snapshot fabric provide
- Continuous streaming assurance
- No assurance
- One time assurance
- Real time packet forwarding
Correct Answer: 3. One time assurance
Explanation:
A snapshot fabric provides one time assurance analysis based on collected data that has been uploaded for examination. This model separates the data collection stage from the actual analysis stage, allowing administrators to collect information during a maintenance period and analyze it later. Online fabrics differ because they continuously provide fresh data for scheduled assurance processing. Snapshot analysis is useful for offline troubleshooting, historical investigation, and cases where continuous connectivity between Nexus Dashboard and the monitored environment is not available or desired.
Question 193. What is the purpose of Nexus Dashboard Pre Change Analysis
- Upgrade switch hardware automatically
- Model the impact of intended configuration changes
- Replace ACI contracts
- Reboot all fabric nodes
Correct Answer: 2. Model the impact of intended configuration changes
Explanation:
Pre Change Analysis allows administrators to model proposed configuration changes before those changes are applied to the production fabric. Nexus Dashboard uses a selected base snapshot and applies the intended logical modifications in the analysis environment. It then evaluates the modeled state and identifies potential anomalies, compliance issues, or unintended effects. This provides an opportunity to detect problems before production is modified. Administrators can define supported changes manually or import supported configuration information using JSON or XML depending on the workflow.
Question 194. What analysis automatically follows a completed Pre Change Analysis
- Power analysis
- Fibre Channel analysis
- GPU analysis
- Delta Analysis
Correct Answer: 4. Delta Analysis
Explanation:
After a Pre Change Analysis completes, Nexus Dashboard automatically performs Delta Analysis between the original base snapshot and the new snapshot generated from the modeled changes. Delta Analysis helps administrators understand exactly what changed between the two states. This makes it easier to determine whether the proposed configuration produced only the intended differences or introduced unexpected modifications. Cisco also provides Compliance Analysis results as part of the Pre Change workflow. Together these tools give operators a structured way to examine both the effect and policy implications of planned changes before production implementation.
Question 195. What does Pre Change Analysis not model
- Bridge domain configuration
- Contract changes
- Switch software and TCAM changes
- EPG modifications
Correct Answer: 3. Switch software and TCAM changes
Explanation:
Cisco states that Pre Change Analysis models logical configuration anomalies but does not model switch software or TCAM changes. This limitation means certain issues that depend on hardware resource usage or software state cannot be predicted through the Pre Change workflow. Supported logical objects include many ACI elements such as tenants, endpoint groups, VRFs, bridge domains, contracts, contract subjects, and filters. Designers and operators should therefore treat Pre Change Analysis as a valuable logical validation tool rather than a complete simulation of every hardware and software effect that could occur after a production change.
Question 196. What does Nexus Dashboard Delta Analysis compare
- Fabric states from two points in time
- Only server CPU speeds
- Only Fibre Channel zones
- Only APIC passwords
Correct Answer: 1. Fabric states from two points in time
Explanation:
Delta Analysis compares fabric information between two snapshots or points in time so administrators can identify differences in configuration, policy, runtime state, or health information according to the supported fabric type and analysis workflow. This is useful after maintenance, troubleshooting, or planned changes because operators can determine what actually changed between two known states. Delta Analysis also runs automatically as part of the Pre Change Analysis workflow. Comparing states in this structured way is more reliable than attempting to reconstruct every change manually from individual command outputs or configuration files.
Question 197. What does Nexus Dashboard Connectivity Analysis examine
- Chassis fan speed
- Power supply redundancy
- Server boot sequence
- Endpoint traffic paths
Correct Answer: 4. Endpoint traffic paths
Explanation:
Connectivity Analysis evaluates the possible forwarding paths for traffic between selected endpoints. Cisco describes the feature as a way to analyze flows, identify the nodes involved in forwarding, and help isolate devices or policies that may be responsible for connectivity problems. Instead of manually checking every switch in the path, administrators can use the analysis engine to narrow the troubleshooting scope. This can reduce the time required to find configuration, policy, forwarding, or segmentation problems in complex data center fabrics.
Question 198. What type of information can Nexus Dashboard Advisories identify
- Only VLAN names
- Field notices and lifecycle or security issues
- Only server MAC addresses
- Only link utilization
Correct Answer: 2. Field notices and lifecycle or security issues
Explanation:
Nexus Dashboard Advisories can identify information such as field notices, hardware and software lifecycle notices, and security advisories that may affect monitored infrastructure. Cisco uses these advisories to help operators recognize risks before they become operational incidents. The system can present recommendations and severity information for relevant devices and software releases. This is different from anomalies, which are based primarily on observed network behavior or state. Advisories focus on known external information about product support, defects, vulnerabilities, or lifecycle conditions that can affect the environment.
Question 199. What does Nexus Dashboard classify as an anomaly
- A deviation from expected network behavior
- Every configuration line
- Every VLAN assignment
- Every software upgrade
Correct Answer: 1. A deviation from expected network behavior
Explanation:
Nexus Dashboard collects information from network nodes and uses the data to establish a view of normal network behavior. Cisco describes deviations from the expected baseline as anomalies. The platform can categorize anomalies, estimate their impact, and provide recommendations that help administrators focus on resolving the underlying issue rather than manually searching through large amounts of raw telemetry. Anomalies can relate to areas such as resource utilization, interfaces, routing, endpoints, flows, or fabric policy depending on the managed environment and enabled analysis capabilities.
Question 200. What does Nexus Dashboard Pre Update Analysis help predict
- Physical rack space
- Server UUID values
- Upgrade risks and affected objects
- Fibre Channel cable length
Correct Answer: 3. Upgrade risks and affected objects
Explanation:
Pre Update Analysis evaluates the environment before a software upgrade and reports information such as node status, validation results, potentially affected objects, forecasted alert changes, and relevant release defects. Administrators can address identified issues and rerun the analysis before proceeding with maintenance. Cisco also provides Post Update Analysis so operators can compare health and operational state after the upgrade. For ACI environments, policy differences can also be reviewed. This workflow helps reduce upgrade risk by giving the operations team greater visibility into potential issues before production software is changed.