SDN connector for Cisco ACI northbound API integration

A new SDN connector type has been added for Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) northbound API integration. Administrators can define a dynamic firewall addresses for Cisco ACI directly. Deploying an SDN connector through an external VM between the FortiGate and Cisco ACI is no longer required.

The following address filters are supported:

• Tenant
• Application
• Endpoint group
• Tag

To configure a Cisco ACI connector in the GUI:

1. Configure the Cisco ACI SDN connector:
   1. Go to Security Fabric > External Connectors.
   2. Click Create New, and select Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI).
   3. Configure the Connector Settings as needed. The update interval is in seconds.
   4. In the Cisco ACI Connector section, for Type, select Direct Connection and configure the remaining settings based on your deployment.

      

   5. Click OK.
2. Create a dynamic firewall address for the connector:
   1. Go to Policy & Objects > Addresses.
   2. Click Create New > Address and enter a name.
   3. Configure the following settings:
      1. For Type, select Dynamic.
      2. For Sub Type, select Fabric Connector Address.
      3. For SDN Connector, select the connector created in step 1.
      4. For Filter, select an entry from the dropdown list. In this example, Application is selected.

      

   4. Click OK.
3. Confirm that the connector resolves the dynamic firewall IP addresses:
   1. Go to Policy & Objects > Addresses.
   2. In the address table, hover over the address created in step 2 to view which IPs it resolves to:

      

To configure a Cisco ACI connector in the CLI:

1. Configure the Cisco ACI SDN connector:

   config system sdn-connector
       edit "aci_direct1"
           set status enable
           set type aci-direct
           set server "10.100.25.204"
           set username "lzou"
           set password xxxxxxx
           set update-interval 60
       next
   end

2. Create a dynamic firewall address for the connector:

   config firewall address
       edit "aci-direct-app"
           set type dynamic
           set sdn "aci_direct1"
           set color 17
           set filter "Application=lzou-app"
       next
   end

3. Confirm that the connector resolves the dynamic firewall IP addresses:

   config firewall address
       edit "aci-direct-app"
           show
               config firewall address
                   edit "aci-direct-app"
                       set uuid 794aaf20-3e33-51ea-57e1-10b5badf3fc7
                       set type dynamic
                       set sdn "aci_direct1"
                       set color 17
                       set filter "Application=lzou-app"
                       config list
                           edit "10.0.5.11"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.5.12"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.6.11"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.6.12"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.6.13"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.6.14"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.7.11"
                           next
                           edit "10.0.7.12"
                           next
                       end
                   next
               end
       next
   end