Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) Deployment Guide

Introduction to NDFC

The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC), formerly known as Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), is an application service that operates on top of the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Cluster. This platform leverages Kubernetes for a secure and scaled-out deployment of microservices-based applications, offering Active/Active High Availability. The NDFC 12.0.1a release marks a significant shift towards a cloud-native microservices architecture, utilizing Kubernetes constructs like services, pods, and namespaces for a seamless integration within the Cisco Cloud Networking Product Portfolio.

Networking with Nexus Dashboard

NDFC utilizes the networking interfaces of the Nexus Dashboard cluster to manage, automate, and monitor Cisco Nexus and MDS family of switches. Each Nexus Dashboard node features two primary interfaces: a Management Interface and a Data (Fabric) Interface. Understanding the configuration and connectivity of these interfaces is crucial for successful NDFC deployment and operation. This guide details the requirements for both management and data networks, including IP addressing, subnetting, and routing considerations.

For detailed networking requirements and to validate NDFC verified scale information, refer to the Networking Requirements section within the full document.

Deployment Options and Configurations

NDFC can be deployed on either a Virtual Nexus Dashboard (vND) cluster or a Physical Nexus Dashboard (pND) cluster. The choice of deployment model impacts the hardware and network interface configurations. This document outlines various deployment options, including specific configurations for connecting to switch management (mgmt0) interfaces, whether through the management or data interface. It also covers essential steps such as configuring static routes and selecting appropriate deployment profiles (e.g., virtual-app, virtual-demo, virtual-data, physical) based on the deployment scenario.