ACI VMM Deployment Immediacy for Policy CAM Programming
Which feature is used to program policy CAM on a leaf switch without sending traffic from VM to the leaf?
Community Insight
The exam tests the distinction between resolution and deployment immediacy in VMM domains; the common trap is confusing 'resolution' (pushing config to APIC/Leaf) with 'deployment' (programming the actual hardware CAM entries).
This question addresses Cisco ACI VMM integration, specifically how to program the policy Content Addressable Memory (CAM) on leaf switches proactively without waiting for VM traffic.
Many learners select 'immediate resolution' (Option A), mistakenly believing that pushing the configuration to the leaf is sufficient, whereas the question specifically asks about programming the CAM entries which requires deployment.
Community Discussion (6 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
In Cisco ACI VMM integration, Resolution Immediacy determines when the APIC pushes configuration information to the leaf switches, while Deployment Immediacy determines when those configurations are programmed into the leaf's hardware tables (CAM). To program the policy CAM immediately upon VM attachment without waiting for the first packet of traffic, you must set Deployment Immediacy to 'Immediate'. This ensures the EPG-to-VLAN binding is pre-populated in the leaf's forwarding database.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Options A and D refer to Resolution Immediacy, which controls the push of configuration from APIC to Leaf but does not guarantee immediate hardware CAM programming; 'On-demand' resolution waits for triggers. Option C suggests 'on-demand deployment', which explicitly means the CAM entries are only created when traffic is observed, directly contradicting the requirement to avoid sending traffic.Community Comment Notes
While some users like user=xChdjdufurpew argued for Resolution Immediacy based on general configuration push logic, the majority consensus among experienced administrators (e.g., Rollizo, prospio971) correctly identifies Deployment Immediacy as the mechanism for CAM programming. User Mukiongi accurately noted that 'Deployment is about programming policy in CAM', clarifying the specific hardware action required by the question.Exam Strategy
Always distinguish between 'Resolution' (APIC to Leaf config push) and 'Deployment' (Leaf hardware table population). If the question mentions 'CAM', 'hardware', or 'forwarding table', think Deployment. If it mentions 'configuration push' or 'VLAN mapping to leaf', think Resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Resolution and Deployment Immediacy?
Resolution Immediacy controls when the APIC pushes config to the Leaf. Deployment Immediacy controls when the Leaf programs the hardware CAM entries.
Why is On-Demand Deployment wrong here?
On-Demand Deployment waits for the first packet of traffic to create CAM entries, which violates the requirement to program without sending traffic.