Cisco SD-AVC

Overview

Cisco Software-Defined AVC (SD-AVC) is a component of Cisco AVC. It operates as a centralized network service, with specific participating devices in a network.

Cisco SD-AVC complements solutions such as:

  • Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN)

  • Cisco EasyQoS

  • Application Assurance

Some of the current features and benefits provided by SD-AVC:

  • Network-level application recognition consistent across the network

  • Improved application recognition in symmetric and asymmetric routing environments

  • Improved first packet classification

  • Cloud service providing continually updated information about server addresses used by public internet sites and services, improving traffic classification

  • Protocol Pack update at the network level

  • Secure browser-based dashboard over HTTPS

  • Analysis of unclassified traffic

  • Network-wide user-defined applications

  • Configuring custom applications

  • Support for Office 365 Traffic Categories

  • REST API

For details, see the Cisco SD-AVC User Guide, Release 4.0.0.

New and Updated Features

New and changed features in SD-AVC Release 4.0.0:

  • Store Cloud Connector telemetry data in separate locations for each segment

  • Configure custom applications in SD-AVC Dashboard

  • Disable Behavioral Based Classification

  • Support for Office 365 Traffic Categories

  • Clear Traffic Classification Data for a Segment

  • SD-AVC REST API: Cloud Connector status API

  • SD-AVC REST API: Add user-defined application to existing set

  • SD-AVC REST API: Management of user-defined applications by network segment

  • SD-AVC REST API: For user-defined applications, support for any subnet length for IPv4 or IPv6

For details, see the Cisco SD-AVC User Guide, Release 4.0.0.

Requirements and Installation

SD-AVC consists of two main components:

  • SD-AVC Network Service: Operates as a virtualized service within a Cisco device service container, hosted on a Cisco platform. A variety of Cisco ASR1000 Series, ISR4000 Series, and CSR1000V models can function as the host platform for this component, which is installed using a downloaded OVA file.

  • SD-AVC agent: SD-AVC can be activated on numerous devices in the network, which then communicate with the centralized SD-AVC Network Service. Activating SD-AVC on a device requires executing a few Cisco IOS commands on the device, and does not require any additional download. A variety of Cisco ASR1000 Series, ISR4000 Series, and CSR1000V models are supported. Activating SD-AVC starts an SD-AVC "agent" service on the device, which manages communication between the device and the SD-AVC Network Service.

See the user guide for:

  • System requirements for platforms hosting the SD-AVC Network Service, and instructions for installing the component, using an OVA.

  • System requirements for devices running SD-AVC, and instructions for activating SD-AVC.

Supported Platforms and OS

Host Platforms for SD-AVC Network Service

The following Cisco platforms can serve as host for the SD-AVC Network Service, which runs as a virtualized service. See the user guide for detailed system requirements for each platform type.

Table 1. Host Requirements

Host

Recommended OS (extended maintenance release trains only)

Cisco ASR1001-X Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See note 1.)

Cisco ASR1002-X Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See note 1.)

Cisco ASR1002-HX Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See note 1.)

Cisco ISR4431 Integrated Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See note 1.)

Cisco ISR4451 Integrated Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See note 1.)

Cisco CSR1000V Cloud Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

(See notes 1, 2.)

Cisco DNA Center Traffic Telemetry Appliance (TTA)

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Note

  1. Minimum supported OS: Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 or later

  2. The Cisco CSR1000V Cloud Services Router requires the following license: AX, 2.5 Gbps or higher throughput. See the Cisco CSR1000V Data Sheet.

SD-AVC Agent Supported Platforms

The following Cisco platforms support operation with SD-AVC, using the SD-AVC agent. See the user guide for detailed system requirements for each platform type.

Table 2. Network Device Requirements

Platform

Recommended OS (extended maintenance release trains only)

Cisco Cisco ASR1001-X Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco ASR1002-X Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco ASR1001-HX Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco ASR1002-HX Aggregation Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco 1100 Series Integrated Services Routers

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers: 4221, 4321, 4331, 4431, 4451

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco Integrated Services Virtual Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco CSR1000V Cloud Services Router

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

(See note 2 for information about CSR1000V license requirements.)

Cisco Route Processor RP2,

operating on Cisco ASR1004, ASR1006, or ASR1013

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Cisco Route Processor RP3,

operating on Cisco ASR1004, ASR1006, or ASR1013

Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.1 or later

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.1 or later

(See note 1 for details of feature support.)

Note

  1. Cisco IOS XE 17.3.1 adds support for Microsoft Office 365 traffic categories, the Clear State function, and additional custom application functionality (IPv6 subnet, extended IPv4 subnets, port ranges).

  2. The Cisco CSR1000V Cloud Services Router requires the following license: AX, 2.5 Gbps or higher throughput. See the Cisco CSR1000V Data Sheet.

For questions about support for specific OS releases, please contact the Cisco SD-AVC team at:

cs-nbar@cisco.com

Downloading SD-AVC

The SD-AVC Network Service is installed from an open virtual appliance (OVA) file and operates as a virtualized service on a host platform. The OVA file is available for download on the Cisco.com software download page (https://software.cisco.com/download/home). On the download page, specify a platform model to display software available for download. One software option will be SD-AVC.

Configuring the SD-AVC agent on network devices operating with the SD-AVC Network Service does not require downloading any additional software.

See the user guide for system requirements and installation instructions.

Example

To display SD-AVC OVA file(s) available for the Cisco ASR 1002-HX, enter "ASR 1002-HX" in the search field.