Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (formerly known as Data Center Network Manager aka DCNM) is the comprehensive management solution for all NX-OS deployments spanning LAN Fabric, SAN, and IP Fabric for Media (IPFM) networks in data centers powered by Cisco. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller also supports other devices, such as IOS-XE switches, IOS-XR routers, and non-Cisco devices. Being a multi-fabric controller, Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller manages multiple deployment models like VXLAN EVPN, Classic 3-Tier, FabricPath, and Routed based fabrics for LAN while providing ready-to-use control, management, monitoring, and automation capabilities for all these environments. In addition, Cisco NDFC when enabled as a SAN Controller automates Cisco MDS Switches and Cisco Nexus Family infrastructure in NX-OS mode with a focus on storage-specific features and analytics capabilities.

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller primarily focuses on Control and Management for three primary types of deployments:

LAN networking including VXLAN, Multi-Site, Classic Ethernet, and External Fabrics supporting Cisco Nexus switches running standalone NX-OS, with additional support for IOS-XR, IOS-XE, and adjacent Host, Compute, Virtual Machine, and Container Management systems.

SAN networking for Cisco MDS and Cisco Nexus switches running standalone NX-OS, including support for integration with storage arrays and additionally Host, Compute, Virtual Machine, and Container Orchestration systems.

Media Control for Multicast Video production networks running Cisco Nexus switches operated as standalone NX-OS, with additional integrations for 3rd party media control systems.

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller is available as an application running exclusively on top of the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Virtual or Physical Appliance. Virtual Nexus Dashboard deployment with OVA is also referred to as virtual Nexus Dashboard (vND) deployment, while the deployment of Nexus Dashboard on physical appliance (Service Engine) is known as physical Nexus Dashboard (pND) deployment. More on various deployment modes of Nexus Dashboard in later sections of this chapter.

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller has a single installation mode. Post-installation, it supports selection from multiple personas at run-time. After the Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller is installed, you can choose from one of the following personas:

 Fabric Discovery—Discover, Monitor, and Visualize LAN Deployments.

Fabric Controller—LAN Controller for Classic Ethernet (vPC), Routed, VXLAN, Multi-Site, and IP Fabric for Media Deployments.

SAN Controller—SAN Controller for MDS and Nexus switches. Includes SAN Insights with streaming telemetry.

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