Cisco SD-Access

As explained in Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 2 Advanced Networking and Security

Cisco SD-Access is Cisco's software-defined networking solution for automating and securing wired and wireless campus LANs.

Cisco SD-Access automates and secures wired and wireless campus LANs by combining a physical underlay with a virtual overlay. section 22.2.3

The underlay consists of physical switches, while the overlay uses VXLAN tunnels to create virtual Layer 2 networks across a Layer 3 underlay. Together, they form the fabric. section 22.2.3 section 22.4

Key operational terms include:

• Cisco Catalyst Center acts as the SDN controller and was formerly called Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center. section 22.2.3
• VXLAN provides the virtual overlay, while switches provide the physical underlay. section 22.4
• The fabric means the complete network infrastructure, including physical and virtual elements. section 22.2.3

Figure 22.7 The Cisco SD-Access fabric, consisting of a physical underlay of switches and a virtual overlay of VXLAN tunnels. Cisco Catalyst Center is the SDN controller.

The figure shows the SD-Access fabric, including its switch-based physical underlay, VXLAN tunnel overlay, and Catalyst Center controller. section 22.2.3

Exam distinction

Identify SD-Access as Cisco’s campus-LAN solution; distinguish SD-WAN for WANs and ACI for data-center networks. section 22.2.3 section 22.4

How Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 2 Advanced Networking and Security covers it

How deep it goes

Defines the underlay, overlay, fabric, VXLAN, and controller at a high level without configuration or verification procedures.

Examples

Uses a fabric diagram and contrasts SD-Access with SD-WAN and ACI by network scope.

What it assumes

Assumes familiarity with SDN principles and teaches the physical-underlay versus virtual-overlay distinction.

What you can do after

Evaluate SD-Access architectures and distinguish their controller, overlay, underlay, and campus-network roles.

How it connects

Connects campus LANs with SDN controllers, VXLAN, Layer 2 virtualization, Layer 3 underlays, overlays, and network fabrics.

liveBookmanning.com

Read Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 2 Advanced Networking and Security on liveBook Get the book at manning.com

Related concepts

• VXLANuses · VXLAN is a network virtualization protocol that encapsulates Layer 2 frames within Layer 3 packets to extend virtual networks across routed infrastructure.
• Cisco SD-WANcontrasts with · Cisco SD-WAN is Cisco's software-defined networking solution for managing wide area networks through centralized control and overlay tunnels.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 2 Advanced Networking and Security. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.