ACI VMM Deployment Immediacy for Policy CAM Programming

300-620 By islever Editorial Last updated

Describe resolution and deployment immediacy in VMM

Short answer

B Immediate deployment immediacy programs the policy CAM on the leaf switch without requiring traffic from the VM.

Question

Which feature is used to program policy CAM on a leaf switch without sending traffic from VM to the leaf?
  1. immediate resolution immediacy
  2. immediate deployment immediacy Correct Answer
  3. on-demand deployment immediacy
  4. on-demand resolution immediacy

Key Takeaways

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.

Common mistake: 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.

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.

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Discussion 6 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 6

  1. Rollizo 👍 5 Answered B
    Deployed in CAM without to wait the first packet
  2. prospio971 👍 3
    Sorry, it is B
  3. Habtamu 👍 2
    Answer is B b/c no need traffic
  4. xChdjdufurpew 👍 1 Answered A
    The question asks which feature programs the policy CAM without needing traffic from the VM. Resolution Immediacy specifically dictates when the policy (CAM) is pushed. By setting it to Immediate, the APIC pushes the configuration to the leaf switch as soon as the VMM controller (like vCenter) informs ACI that a VM is attached to that port group, regardless of whether that VM is sending data.
  5. prospio971 👍 1 Answered A
    In Cisco ACI, Resolution Immediacy determines when policies (such as VLANs, VXLAN bindings, contracts, or filters) are pushed to the leaf switches. If the goal is to program the policy CAM on a leaf switch without requiring traffic from a VM to trigger it, the correct setting is Immediate Resolution Immediacy.
Show 1 more comment
  1. Mukiongi 👍 1 Answered B
    Deployment is about programming policy in CAM

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