350-601 Network Practice Question
In a Cisco ACI fabric, which component acts as the centralized policy and management controller?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that the spine switch is the central controller because it is the top-level device in the fabric topology, but in reality, the spine is a pure data-plane element with no policy or management role.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
APIC
The APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller) is the centralized policy and management controller in a Cisco ACI fabric. It serves as the single point of configuration, policy definition, and monitoring for the entire fabric, managing all leaf and spine switches through a declarative model. The APIC does not handle data-plane forwarding but orchestrates the application of policies via the OpFlex protocol and the ACI object model.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Spine switch
Why it's wrong here
Spine switches are part of the data plane, not the controller.
- ✓
APIC
Why this is correct
APIC is the centralized policy controller in ACI.
- ✗
DCNM
Why it's wrong here
DCNM is a management tool but not the ACI controller.
- ✗
Leaf switch
Why it's wrong here
Leaf switches are data plane switches, not controllers.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-601 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-601 exam.