What is a characteristic of the two-tier spine-leaf topology of the Cisco ACI fabric architecture?

What is a characteristic of the two-tier spine-leaf topology of the Cisco ACI fabric architecture?

• A. The leaf switches always attach to the spines, but they never attach to each other.
• B. Spine switches connect to each other directly.
• C. Leaf switches can connect to multiple spine switches.
• D. Spine switches only connect to leaf switches through VLANs.

Answer: (A)

In the spine-leaf topology of Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) architecture, the structure is designed to enhance scalability and reduce latency in data centers. The characteristic that states the leaf switches always attach to the spines but never attach to one another is fundamental to this architecture. This configuration allows each leaf switch to access any spine switch directly, thus providing a highly efficient path for traffic between devices. Since leaf switches do not connect to each other, it simplifies the data flow and avoids potential loop issues, maintaining a clear and structured way for data to traverse the network. This design is aimed at facilitating east-west traffic—communication between servers within the data center—while relying on the spine switches for inter-connectivity. The overall effect of this design choice also contributes to the increased resiliency and redundancy within the system, as any leaf switch can reach any spine switch, ensuring that there's always an available path for data. Thus, this characteristic is vital to the performance and reliability of the ACI fabric.

In the spine-leaf topology of Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) architecture, the structure is designed to enhance scalability and reduce latency in data centers. The characteristic that states the leaf switches always attach to the spines but never attach to one another is fundamental to this architecture.

This configuration allows each leaf switch to access any spine switch directly, thus providing a highly efficient path for traffic between devices. Since leaf switches do not connect to each other, it simplifies the data flow and avoids potential loop issues, maintaining a clear and structured way for data to traverse the network. This design is aimed at facilitating east-west traffic—communication between servers within the data center—while relying on the spine switches for inter-connectivity.

The overall effect of this design choice also contributes to the increased resiliency and redundancy within the system, as any leaf switch can reach any spine switch, ensuring that there's always an available path for data. Thus, this characteristic is vital to the performance and reliability of the ACI fabric.