Why Service Graphs Matter in Cisco ACI

Service graphs in Cisco ACI simplify network and security integration by offering several key benefits:

• Traffic Redirection Made Easy: Direct traffic to L4-L7 devices without complex designs.
• Automated VLAN Management: No manual VLAN assignments needed.
• Seamless vNIC Connectivity: Virtual NICs are automatically connected.
• Reusable Templates: Configure once, reuse multiple times.
• Logical & Application-Centric View: Gain clarity and better visibility of services.
• Shared Device Model: Efficiently share devices across departments.
• Health & Performance Insights: Collect health scores and statistics from devices.
• Dynamic Updates: ACLs and pools update automatically with endpoint discovery.

However, in Service Policy Mode:

• The model leans heavily on automation.
• Managing numerous configuration parameters can be overwhelming for frequent changes.

Bottom Line:
Service graphs offer a streamlined, application-focused approach compared to traditional designs—but choose wisely based on your operational needs.