A side by side look at two of the leading software defined networking solutions, Cisco ACI and VMware NSX.

1. Want to learn more
about NSX or ACI?
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White Paper
Two Software Defined Networking Solutions Side by Side
Cisco ACI injects more intelligence into
select Cisco networking hardware. With
this equipment, administrators can
create application profiles to dictate
bandwidth priority and network policies
for key applications.
These policy templates can then be
duplicated, tweaked, and assigned to
each application in the network.
Cisco ACI VMware NSX
VMware NSX is a software overlay
application. It can be applied over
nearly any existing networking
equipment and overrides the
intelligence within the networking
hardware. Admins can set policies
within NSX to manage network traffic.
NSX makes it very easy to create virtual
networks and manage the network as a
whole.
Quick Reference Benefits
Software Overlay
Spin up networks like virtual machines
Leverage microsegmentation to
effectively place firewalls around each
virtual machine (VM) and prevent East-
West traffic of malicious data
Deploy NSX on any existing
networking equipment
ACI Cash Flow NSX Cost Savings
Source: Forrester Research
In person-hours and costs required to
provision a network
In CapEx investments due to full compute
capacity utilization
In CapEx investments by replacing
incumbent gear with commodity switches
42%
50%
18Month
87%
88%
66%
Savings
In very large network designs, both solutions can be used together to yield the best results.
ACI is best deployed at the core and switching layer. Administrators can use ACI to create
networks within the core switching and assign profiles as necessary. This allows the team to
configure the core of the network through software as well as track changes along the way.
Meanwhile, NSX can be used at the hypervisor level. Using the software overlay, the
administration team can spin up new virtual networks throughout the environment quickly
and efficiently while also enabling microsegmentation of the virtual machines.
This approach overlaps the strengths of each solution to create a strategy more effective
than either individual solution.
Better Together
Intelligent Hardware
Create network policy templates for
each application. The templates
will determine bandwidth priority of
the apps
Automate IT processes and
simplify network operations
Deploy ACI-enabled Cisco
networking hardware to access
ACI features
ROI
IRR
Payback
Period
Reduction
Reduction
Source: VMware White Paper
Savings and Returns
Return on investment over a period of 3
years
Internal Rate of Return over the same 3
year period
The point when net benefits will equal
initial investments