Cisco ACI or Build Your Own? The Pros and Cons of SDN Solutions

Quick Answer: Choosing between a pre-packaged SDN solution like Cisco ACI and building your own network infrastructure is like deciding whether to buy a move-in-ready house or build one yourself. Both approaches have their merits, but the right choice depends heavily on your organization's specific needs, expertise, and resources.

When it comes to modernizing your network infrastructure, you've got some big decisions to make. Software-defined networking (SDN) has become the go-to solution for many organizations, but here's the catch: do you opt for a pre-packaged solution like Cisco ACI, or do you roll up your sleeves and build your own? 

Let's look at what each option brings to the table.

What is Cisco ACI?

Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) is an SDN solution that simplifies network management. It lets you set high-level business requirements and handles all the technical steps automatically. 

Think of Cisco ACI as your network's central intelligence system. It transforms complex networking tasks that typically consume IT teams' resources into streamlined, automated processes. For example, when setting up a new application environment with specific security parameters, you simply define your requirements through ACI's interface, and it manages all the underlying network configurations. It simplifies the process by automating everything without requiring too much manual intervention.

Centralized Policy Management

The beauty of ACI's centralized management is that it takes away the headache of configuring individual switches and routers. Instead of logging into dozens (or even hundreds) of devices to make changes, you work from one central location. This means faster deployments, fewer configuration errors, and a much more streamlined approach to network management.

Scalability and Flexibility

One of the biggest challenges for large enterprises in the past was the need for more scalability with traditional methods of network automation. This meant whenever new hardware was added to the network, a manual configuration was required, which increased the chances of human error. Cisco ACI allows new devices to be added to the network and automatically configured with the correct settings based on the pre-existing configurations set up in the ACI fabric.

Just plug in a new switch, and ACI handles the rest—no more late nights spent typing in commands or worrying about human error. The system does the heavy lifting for you, which is a massive time-saver when you're expanding your network.

What Does It Mean to Build Your Own SDN?

If your organization is large enough, and your IT department has the necessary skills, then you may want to consider building your own SDN from scratch. This is no small undertaking, but it will allow you to create precisely the functionality that you need.

Think of it like building a custom house instead of buying one that's move-in ready. You'll need architects (network designers), builders (developers), and a clear blueprint of what you want to achieve.

When building your own SDN solution, you can create customized functionality that precisely matches your organization's workflow. For instance, you might develop automated provisioning systems that integrate directly with your existing service desk software, allowing network resources to be allocated automatically when new tickets are created. 

Or, you may need specialized Quality of Service (QoS) policies that manage bandwidth allocation based on your unique business calendar and automatically adjust network priorities during end-of-month financial processing or quarterly sales events.

Some practical examples of custom SDN functionality include:

• Custom monitoring dashboards that display exactly the metrics your team needs

• Automated network segmentation that responds to security events in real-time

• Specialized load-balancing algorithms tailored to your application behavior

• Integration with legacy systems that don't support modern APIs

• Customized disaster recovery protocols that align with your business continuity requirements

The real power of building your own SDN comes from the ability to optimize for your specific use cases. For example, a media company might build custom traffic management systems that automatically prioritize video streaming during peak broadcasting hours, while a financial institution might implement specialized security protocols that adapt network behavior based on trading patterns and risk assessments.

Open-source Software and Hardware Options

These software platforms often require specific hardware to operate on, so it is a good idea to check compatibility lists before you start buying hardware for your project. However, many of these projects are highly configurable and may be able to accommodate your specific setup with some manual configuration.

Popular tools in the DIY SDN world include:

• OpenFlow protocol for communication between the control and data planes

• ONOS or OpenDaylight for network control

• Open vSwitch for virtual switching

• Cumulus Linux for network operating systems

Customization and Control

With a DIY SDN deployment, you can customize the solution to fit your specific requirements and choose the hardware and software components that you want on your network. This means you can build exactly what you need without paying for features you'll never use.

Pros and Cons of Cisco ACI

The main challenge that many organizations face with Cisco ACI is the steep learning curve it presents to untrained staff. The software-defined networking model that ACI employs is very different from the traditional networking model, and this can be pretty overwhelming for IT staff without formal training with Cisco products.

Advantages of Cisco ACI

Using Cisco ACI helps to minimize any potential risks that may occur during the implementation phase of the project. It offers the reassuring safety net of a support team that is familiar with your specific setup. You'll also benefit from:

• Proven deployment methodologies

• Regular security updates and patches

• Access to Cisco's extensive knowledge base

• 24/7 enterprise support

• Integration with other Cisco products

While ACI is a Cisco feature, it is not limited to Cisco hardware. Some vendors also support it, but there are limitations compared to Cisco hardware.

Disadvantages of Cisco ACI

While Cisco ACI offers many powerful features, there are some disadvantages to be aware of before implementing it in your organization. Licensing costs can be expensive, and users have little flexibility to customize the environment to suit their needs.

Let's be honest: it's not just the initial investment that'll make your finance department raise its eyebrows. You're looking at:

• Ongoing licensing fees

• Mandatory hardware requirements

• Training costs for your team

• Consultant fees for specialized configurations

Pros and Cons of Building Your Own SDN Solution

When we look at the big players in the SDN space, such as Cisco ACI, we see a fully integrated solution with the hardware and software working together in perfect harmony. There is little to no customization or deviation from the prescribed configurations, but the system works as expected, and it does so with Cisco's full backing and support.

Advantages of DIY SDN

The cost of proprietary solutions can be pretty high because they rely on a specialized hardware and software combination that is needed to perform the desired task. This means if there is a hardware failure, a like-for-like replacement is usually required. Going the DIY route gives you:

• Complete control over your network architecture

• Freedom to choose any compatible hardware

• Ability to optimize for your specific use cases

• No vendor lock-in

• Potential for significant cost savings on licensing

Disadvantages of DIY SDN

The maintenance and support costs for these systems can also be much higher than proprietary systems such as Cisco ACI. This needs to be factored into your SDN strategy before you commit to using a DIY solution. You'll need to consider:

• Higher staffing requirements for development and maintenance

• Increased troubleshooting complexity

• No vendor support safety net

• Potential integration challenges with other systems

• Ongoing training needs for your team

Which Solution is Best for Your Business?

As with most IT decisions, it comes down to your business needs. Keep in mind that your system's out-of-the-box functionality may not be exactly what you are looking for.

When to Choose Cisco ACI

For organizations looking for a fully supported solution with access to validated designs and enterprise-level support, Cisco ACI is definitely the way to go. Anyone who has ever worked with Cisco knows that they have an unrivaled global support network in the IT industry. If you are an IT professional who relies on service-level agreements and premium support, Cisco ACI is definitely worth considering.

Consider ACI if you:

• Need rapid deployment with minimal risk

• Have limited in-house networking expertise

• Require enterprise-grade support

• Want a proven, validated solution

• Already have significant Cisco infrastructure

When to Build Your Own SDN

If you have a large enough team of IT professionals with the necessary skills to set up and manage a custom SDN, your business can save a lot of money in the long run by going this route. It is also a good idea to look at your current hardware and see what options are available for your specific brand of equipment.

The DIY approach might be right if you:

• Have strong in-house networking expertise

• Need highly customized network solutions

• Want to avoid vendor lock-in

• Have budget constraints on licensing

• Already have compatible hardware you can utilize

Remember, whichever route you choose, you're making a long-term commitment that will affect your network infrastructure for years to come. Before making the leap, take the time to assess your team's capabilities, budget constraints, and specific needs.

Want to learn more about Cisco ACI? Check out our comprehensive Cisco ACI training course with Jeff Kish to get started on your journey to network automation mastery.