33 Cisco ACI Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

Updated 23 March 2023

Since the Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) framework is a complex system that requires specific skills and proficiencies, it is important to understand what kind of interview questions to expect from an employer. Employers may explore your general knowledge of the Cisco ACI framework, your experience and your technical proficiencies to determine if you are a qualified job candidate. Understanding how to answer these questions and explain technical concepts may help you excel in the interview and increase your chances of getting a job offer.

In this article, we list 33 Cisco ACI interview questions and provide a few sample answers and interview tips to help prepare for your next interview.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

Cisco ACI Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Here are three Cisco ACI interview questions and their sample answers to guide you and increase your chances of having a successful interview:

1. What is Cisco ACI and why is it important for data centre networking?

A hiring manager might ask you to give a simple definition of the Cisco ACI system and why it is important. Your response shows how well you understand the system and what you would typically use it for. It can also show an employer that you understand the system well enough to perform the job. Provide a simple and concise answer.

Example: Cisco ACI is a software-defined networking solution for data centre networks. It provides a programmable, policy-driven infrastructure that automates network operations and enables organisations to manage the growing demands of modern applications and services more effectively.

2. What experience do you have as a Cisco ACI developer, and how have you used this experience in your previous projects?

Employers typically explore a candidate's professional background to determine their skill level and whether they have direct, practical experience working with Cisco systems and software teams. Answer this question by summarising your general experience or providing context about your experience in a previous role.

Example: I have several years of experience as a Cisco ACI developer, working on projects for a variety of clients. In my previous roles, I have worked on large-scale deployments and smaller-scale implementations, giving me a deep understanding of the technology and its best practices. I have also worked with a variety of other networking technologies, including traditional switches and routers, and used this experience to help my clients design and deploy highly efficient and scalable network solutions.

One particularly exciting project I worked on involved deploying a large-scale Cisco ACI implementation for a financial services firm. This project was complex and involved integrating the client's existing network infrastructure with their newly implemented Cisco ACI fabric. My experience with Cisco ACI allowed me to work closely with the client to understand their requirements and design a solution that met their needs. I then used my technical skills to deploy the solution, ensuring that it was highly available, secure and scalable.

3. What is the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), and what does it do in a Cisco ACI deployment?

You might experience interview questions that focus on one or more technical aspects of the job, including the Cisco ACI framework and how it functions. Answer these questions with as much detail as possible to show an employer that you are knowledgeable and experienced and that you can explain complex subjects easily.

Example: The APIC is a key component of the Cisco ACI architecture. The APIC controller serves as the central point of control and management for the ACI fabric, providing a single point of automation and orchestration for the entire network. In a Cisco ACI deployment, the APIC controller is responsible for several key functions, including policy definition, network automation, management and monitoring and analytics and reporting. The APIC controller allows network administrators to define network policies and application profiles, which automate network operations and enforce security and compliance policies.

It also provides a centralised point of automation for the network, allowing network administrators to automate network operations and reduce manual errors. The controller also serves as a single point of management and monitoring for the ACI fabric, allowing network administrators to monitor the health and performance of the network and identify and resolve issues in real time, and provides detailed analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing network administrators to gain insight into network operations and make data-driven decisions to optimise performance.

Additional Cisco ACI Interview Questions

Here are some additional Cisco ACI interview questions you may encounter:

Can you explain what Cisco ACI is and what it offers?
What are the key features of Cisco ACI that set it apart from other networking solutions?
How does Cisco ACI simplify network architecture and management?
Can you discuss your experience working with the policy-driven automation features in Cisco ACI?
How does the application-centric approach in Cisco ACI help to streamline network operations?
What are some of the benefits of integrating Cisco ACI with other Cisco technologies, such as UCS or Nexus switches?
Can you discuss your experience with deploying and configuring ACI fabrics?
Can you describe how the multi-tenant architecture in Cisco ACI helps to meet the needs of different departments within an organisation?
How does the troubleshooting and problem-resolution process work in a Cisco ACI environment?
What are some of the security features and benefits of Cisco ACI, and how have you leveraged these in previous implementations?
Can you describe your experience developing software for Cisco platforms and products?
What is your expertise in programming languages and software development frameworks, and how have you applied these in your previous projects?
Can you discuss your experience with network automation and programmability, and how you have leveraged these technologies to solve real-world business problems?
Can you describe a recent project that you worked on, and how you approached the development and implementation process?
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in software development and network automation?
Can you describe how you collaborate with cross-functional teams, including network engineers and product managers, to bring new solutions to market?
What is your experience with Agile development methodologies, and how have you applied these in your previous projects?
How do you approach debugging and problem resolution in a complex, multi-vendor network environment?
Can you discuss your experience with integration and testing, and how you ensure the quality of your solutions before deployment?
What is your experience with version control and documentation, and how do you ensure that your solutions are well-documented and easy to maintain?
Can you describe how the ACI fabric is structured and how it manages network traffic flow?
How does the policy-driven automation model in ACI work, and how do you create and enforce policies in an ACI fabric?
Can you discuss the different types of endpoints that are supported in ACI, and how they are managed and secured within the fabric?
Can you describe the various components and technologies that make up the ACI framework, including the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), leaf switches and spine switches?
Can you explain how the ACI Multi-Site feature works, and how it enables organisations to manage multiple data centres as a single, unified network?
Can you discuss your experience working with the ACIAPI and how you have used it to automate and manage network operations?
What is your experience with ACI tenant administration, including creating tenants, managing policies and monitoring tenant activity?
Can you discuss the different types of network service appliances (NSAs) that are supported in ACI, and how they are integrated and managed within the fabric?
Can you explain how the ACI security features, such as micro-segmentation and firewall integration, help to protect the network and meet security requirements?
What is your experience with deploying and integrating ACI with other network and security technologies, such as firewalls, load balancers and VPNs?

Cisco ACI Interview Tips

The following are Cisco ACI interview tips that can help you perform better in an interview and potentially increase your chances of getting a job offer:

Familiarise yourself with the Cisco ACI architecture and its components. Before you go for an interview, develop a deep understanding of the Cisco ACI architecture, including its components, such as the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), Leaf switches and Spine switches to show an employer you are the best choice.
Know the various use cases for Cisco ACI. It is also important that you are able to discuss various use cases for Cisco ACI, including data centre automation, multi-cloud networking and network segmentation. This can demonstrate to the interviewer that you understand the versatility and power of the technology and know how to use it in a work environment.
Connect key skills to job experience. Connect your answers about core skills to specific contexts within your job experience using the Cisco ACI platform to provide a more complete explanation of how you applied and mastered each skill and how it can benefit the employer.