Cisco Industry Validated Design Guides (CVDs)

Validated network architectures made for your industrial use case and meeting the needs of both operations and IT

These reference network architectures are designed and validated for the specific needs of your industry, so you can use the latest advances in IT networking to securely digitize operations and benefit from today’s industrial automation technologies.

What a Cisco Validated Design Guide provides

Reliability

CVDs are extensively tested. You can confidently set performance expectations when you deploy your solution.

Less risk

Using a CVD reduces both the risk that products won’t work together and the risk that they won’t perform as promised.

Comprehensiveness

CVDs provide everything from system designs to configuration instructions to a bill of materials (BOM).

End to end designs

CVDs start with the customer use cases and architect from the edge device to the application, validating Cisco and third party components.

All-Industry guides

Find design and implementation guidance for industry-specific solutions and architectures

Industry	Solution / Guide	Description
Extended Enterprise	SD-WAN for Distribution Automation design guide	This solution overview explains how Cisco's validated SD-WAN architecture using vManage can help power utilities securely, connect more renewable energy sources to the grid, reduce operational costs, improve efficiency, and grid reliability, enhance security, and meet regulatory compliance. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Extended Enterprise	SD-WAN for Mobile Fleets design guide	This design guide explains how Cisco's validated SD-WAN architecture using vManage can help modern mass transit and fleet deployments that rely greatly on connectivity for both onboard devices, as well as applications in central data centers or the cloud. Cisco’s SD-WAN solution based on vManage can help extend the enterprise network to the fleet assets in the field – including bus/rail stops, bus/rail yards, maintenance areas, and the fleet vehicles themselves. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Extended Enterprise	SD-WAN for Remote Condition Monitoring and Control design guide	Many industries rely on equipment and other assets deployed at geographically remote locations for their line of business to function properly. Having visibility into the current condition of these devices is critical in ensuring that the day-to-day operations work smoothly, and when something does go wrong, it can be responded to quickly for resolution. Cisco’s SD-WAN solution based on vManage can work with Industrial IOT routers to provide reliable, secure connectivity for the end devices themselves, as well as other sensors, cameras, and other equipment that supports the operation of the end devices. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Extended Enterprise	SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide	This design guide outlines the application of SD-WAN using vManage to the IR1800, IR1101, and IR8340 Industrial Routers. It defines the incremental capabilities provided by Industrial Routers and how those can be leveraged in an SD-WAN environment to provide solutions for industrial vertical markets. This document is an augmentation of an existing SD-WAN Enterprise design case study and the launching point for additional SD-WAN vertically focused design guide documents in this industry guide listing (search for “SD-WAN”).
Extended Enterprise	SD-WAN for Industrial Markets solution brief	SD-WAN has emerged as a viable technology for industrial IoT markets by leveraging vManage and industrial router features to extend enterprise networking into industrial spaces. This document overviews how the combination of SD-WAN and industrial router features can be used to provide effective solutions for industrial IoT markets.
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise solution overview	The Cisco Extended Enterprise Solution extends your IT network to the non-carpeted spaces of the enterprise, where the operations happen. The solution brings Cisco’s marketRenewable Generation Wind Farms: Enabling green technologies-leading intent-based networking, Internet of Things (IoT) networking, and Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) all the way to the IoT edge. This document targets both IT and non-IT audiences to provide a high-level overview of the solution architecture and the building blocks.
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise SD-WAN solution overview	The Cisco Extended Enterprise SD-WAN solution offers a simplified ability to route traffic from non-carpeted spaces in a secure manner with a consistent quality of experience. This document provides IT audiences a high-level overview of the use cases, business outcomes, solution architecture, and building blocks of Cisco Extended Enterprise SD-WAN.
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise non-fabric and SD-Access fabric Design Guide	This Design Guide targets both IT and non-IT audiences to provide a high-level overview of the Cisco Extended Enterprise (EE) solution architecture and building blocks. The EE solution captures business intent and extends it to the non-carpeted spaces of the enterprise, where the operations happen. The solution brings Cisco's market-leading intent-based networking, Internet of Things (IoT) networking, and Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) all the way to the IoT edge.
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise SD-WAN Design Guide	This CVD outlines the steps for both IT and operations teams to accomplish their business goals by realizing unified SD-WAN-based management for enterprise and extended enterprise deployments with the Cisco IR1101 Integrated Services Router Rugged (Cisco IR1101).
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise Implementation Guide for Non-Fabric Deployment with the Cisco DNA Center	This Implementation Guide provides deployment guidance for an Extended Enterprise network design. It is a companion to the associated design and deployment guides for enterprise networks, which provide configurations explaining how to deploy the most common implementations of the designs as described in this guide. It discusses the Extended Enterprise implementation for non-fabric technology with the Cisco DNA Center.
Extended Enterprise	Extended Enterprise Implementation Guide for SD-Access Deployments	This Implementation Guide provides deployment guidance for an Extended Enterprise network design. It is a companion to the associated design and deployment guides for enterprise networks, which provide guidance in how to deploy the most common implementations of SD-Access. This guide discusses the extended enterprise implementation for SD-Access deployments.
Grid Security	Grid Security solution brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco's comprehensive solution for securing power utilities grid infrastructures. It explains the capabilities offered and how the global solution helps achieve a holistic, secure operational technology (OT) network.
Grid Security	What is NERC CIP Compliance white paper	Power utilities in North America have to comply to the NERC CIP cybersecurity requirements. This white paper provides a detailed overview of NERC CIP and how Cisco can help gain compliance.
Grid Security	Grid Security Design Guide	This Grid Security Cisco Validation Design guide details the integration between various security platforms to achieve a holistic, secure operational technology (OT) network.
Grid Security	Grid Security Implementation Guide	Smart Grid is an electricity delivery system that is integrated with communications and information technology to enhance grid operations, improve customer service, lower costs, and enable new environmental benefits. This document describes the overall use of the network to monitor and manage the electrical system from power generation, through transmission and distribution, to end users in smart buildings, smart homes, and other sites connected to the utilities network.
Industrial Security	Industrial Security Solution Overview	Get a high-level overview of the Cisco Validated Design for industrial security. The Cisco industrial security solution is intended to be used by IT, OT, and security teams to protect the industrial network without disrupting production safety and uptime. Cisco’s phased approach enables organizations to enhance their security posture at their own pace.
Industrial Security	Industrial Security design guide	This Design Guide describes Cisco's industrial security solution and its capabilities, providing a tested and validated architecture to gain visibility into OT devices and their communications, segment the industrial network and detect cyber threats.
Industrial Security	Industrial Automation Security Design Guide 2.0	The Cisco industrial security architecture brings IT and OT together and simplifies complexity across the network by implementing a model that focuses on the use cases an organization must secure. This 2.0 model treats each use case holistically, focusing on today’s threats and the capabilities needed to secure the operational network against those threats.
Industrial Security	Industrial Security implementation guide	This Implementation Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of how to deploy Cisco's industrial security solution and tips on configuring key components of the solution.
Manufacturing	Industrial Automation – Reliable Wireless for Factory AGV/AMR	This CRD design guide provides architectural and implementation guidance for the deployment of the Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (CURWB) to enable support for the Factory AGV/AMR use case. CURWB is a proprietary wireless technology that provides a make-before-break wireless roaming that is extremely suitable for supporting critical, time-sensitive AGV control traffic (wired PLC to PLC on-board the AGV). Design and implementation guidance for both the CIP Safety and the PROFINET protocols are provided.
Manufacturing	Industrial Automation Networks implementation guide	Cisco's Industrial Automation CVD solution applies network, security, and data management technologies to Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) plant environments and key production assets that are the core to operational environments. It provides a Cisco validated reference architecture and design and deployment guidance for customers, partners, and system implementers.
Manufacturing	Making Industrial IoT Simpler - Solution brief for Cisco DNA Center for industrial automation	This solution brief describes at a high-level the value Cisco DNA Center brings to operational networks in terms of network automation, assurance, and security.
Manufacturing	Cisco DNA Center for Industrial Automation design guide	This design guide describes operational network architecture and details of automation, performance assurance, and security workflows with Cisco DNA Center.
Manufacturing	Cisco DNA Center for Industrial Automation implementation guide	This implementation guide provides in-depth guidance on configurations and administrational details of a Cisco DNA Center managed operational network.
Manufacturing	Industrial Automation Networks solution brief	This solution brief details Cisco's validated architecture for deploying industrial automation technologies as you digitize your industrial operations.
Manufacturing	Industrial Automation at-a-glance	This at-a-glance brochure provides a quick overview of Cisco's Validated Design for deploying industrial automation technologies and the capabilities enabled by this architecture as you digitize your industrial operations.
Manufacturing	HA Seamless Redundancy in the Factory Network design guide	This Design Guide describes the High-Availability Seamless Redundancy in the Factory Network Cisco Validated Design (CVD), which provides a tested and validated architecture to deploy HSR in ring topologies in the factory Cell/Area zone (the area where the IACS and end devices (Levels 0-2) connect to the network). This document guides the reader through the high-level technology and architecture.
Manufacturing	Cisco Connected Factory - Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) solution site	Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE), which applies to multiple industries, specifically helps manufacturers seeking to integrate or upgrade their Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) networks to standard Ethernet and IP networking technologies.
Manufacturing	Cisco Connected Factory - PROFINET Solution Site	The Connected Factory PROFINET solution addresses the needs of the resilient network by providing a variety of key factors, such as operational availability, network integration, flexibility, low maintenance, better determinism, faster response-time, and low data collisions, both by physical, or by protocol, within the industrial Cell/Area Zone.
Manufacturing	Integrating CC-Link IE IACS into the Connected Factory Architecture Design Guide	This Design Guide gives an overview of how Cisco's industrial networking products can help integrate existing plant floor networks with demanding industrial applications, such as the CC-Link Industrial Ethernet (CC-Link IE). CC-Link IE is supported on many of the Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) devices in Mitsubishi Electric's vast portfolio.
Manufacturing	Industrial Automation Network design guide	This Design Guide describes the solution architecture of Cisco's Industrial Automation CVD solution, which applies network, security, and data management technologies to Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) plant environments and key production assets that are the core to operational environments. It provides a Cisco validated reference architecture and design and deployment guidance for customers, partners, and system implementers.
Mining	Industrial Automation for Mining at-a-glance	The Cisco Industrial Automation Solution for Mining provides guidance for digitizing industrial mining environments in order to achieve significantly improved business operational outcomes. It provides network and security design and implementation guidance for mining industrial applications supporting extraction, crushing, conveyance, processing, smelting, and refining processes.
Mining	Mobile Fleet Operations for Mining at-a-glance	This at-a-glance brochure highlights Cisco's architecture for connecting moving and autonomous vehicles in mines.
Mining	Sandvik and Cisco Digital Mine solution	This white paper describes Sandvik and Cisco joint solution, designed to accelerate the digitalization of the mining industry.
Mining	Industrial Automation for Mining design guide	This CRD outlines the Cisco Industrial Automation Mining solution and relevant product technologies that are an essential foundation to securely connect and digitize mining production environments to achieve these significantly improved business operational outcomes. The solution provides a proven and validated blueprint for connecting Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) and production assets, improving industrial security, and improving plant data access and reliable operations
Mining	Wireless Networks Enabling Autonomous Vehicles for Underground Mines design guide	This version of the Cisco Reference Design (CRD) and Implementation guide focuses on the design, implementation and validation of a subset of the Cisco Industrial Automation Mining 1.0 Reference Architecture to provide wireless connectivity within an underground mining environment to enable the Sandvik AutoMine application for remote operations of autonomous vehicles.
Mining	CURWB Deployment for Autonomous Operations in Open-Pit Mining design guide	Cisco is enabling a more safe and secure way for mines to move to autonomy and tele-remote, not only improving efficiency but also creating a safe workplace for mining employees. The solution is for next-generation above-ground mines is described in this new Cisco Validated Design.
Oil and Gas	Industrial Automation for Oil and Gas at-a-glance	This at-a-glance brochure provides a quick overview of Cisco's Validated Design for deploying industrial automation in process control and refineries and the capabilities enabled by this architecture.
Oil and Gas	Industrial Automation for Process Control and Refineries Design Guide	This design guide provides a comprehensive explanation of Industrial Automation for Process Control and Refineries system design. It includes information about the industry challenges, primary use cases, architecture, and guidelines for implementation. The guide also recommends best practices and potential issues when deploying the reference architecture. The designs for greenfield and brownfield deployments align with the release of the new Cisco Hazloc Class1/Div 2/Zone2 hazardous location-certified industrial access point, the IW 6300.
Oil and Gas	Oil and Gas Refinery WLAN MESH Implementation Guide	The designs described in this Oil & Gas Refinery (O&G) WLAN MESH Implementation Guide have been conceived and validated to address oil & gas field and refinery plant stringent requirements. In the environment where heavy metal infrastructures, high temperatures, extreme moisture, and potential explosive materials are consistently present. A typical O&G field and refinery plant can employ environmental sensors, asset tags, personnel tracking RFID tags, and equipment and process monitoring devices, enabling operators to predict maintenance, optimize workflow, meet CAPEX and OPEX requirements, and successfully operate the facility 24x7x365.
Ports and Terminals	Terminal Operations Digitization and Security solution brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco's solution for connecting and securing automation systems and moving vehicles in cargo ports and terminals.
Ports and Terminals	Connected Ports and Terminals Design Guide	This design guide provides a reference network architecture and design and deployment guidance and best practices around Connected Ports and Terminals with a specific focus on CURWB architecture to enable the TOS application and OT security using Cisco CyberVision. Also covered within this document is RF Planning, Design, Site-Survey and Installation considerations and best-practices around a ports and terminals CURWB deployment.
Public Transportation	SD-WAN for Mobile Fleets design guide	This design guide explains how Cisco's validated SD-WAN architecture using vManage can help modern mass transit and fleet deployments that rely greatly on connectivity for both onboard devices, as well as applications in central data centers or the cloud. Cisco’s SD-WAN solution based on vManage can help extend the enterprise network to the fleet assets in the field – including bus/rail stops, bus/rail yards, maintenance areas, and the fleet vehicles themselves. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Public Transportation	Connected Mass Transit solution brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco's solution for mass transit operations.
Public Transportation	Connected Rail Solution Brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco Connected Rail solution, including key rail industry business objectives and use cases, network challenges for rail operations, Cisco Connected rail architecture building blocks with integration of Fluidmesh technology (recently acquired by Cisco), Internet of Things (IoT) networking and Cisco intent-based networking, and the solution benefits.
Public Transportation	Connected Rail design guide	This design guide provides network architecture and design guidance for the planning and subsequent implementation of a Cisco Connected Communities Infrastructure (CCI) solution, specifically as it pertains to deployment in a trackside rail context. Use cases include connectivity for passenger Wi-Fi and infotainment, Wi-Fi at stations, and segmented connectivity for non-critical rail communication systems.
Remote and Mobile Assets	SD-WAN for Remote Condition Monitoring and Control design guide	Many industries rely on equipment and other assets deployed at geographically remote locations for their line of business to function properly. Having visibility into the current condition of these devices is critical in ensuring that the day-to-day operations work smoothly, and when something does go wrong, it can be responded to quickly for resolution. Cisco’s SD-WAN solution based on vManage can work with Industrial IOT routers to provide reliable, secure connectivity for the end devices themselves, as well as other sensors, cameras, and other equipment that supports the operation of the end devices. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Remote and Mobile Assets	Remote and Mobile Asset solution brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco's architecture and solutions for securely connecting and managing the remote and mobile assets you need to run your operations.
Remote and Mobile Assets	Remote and Mobile Asset design and implementation guide	This Cisco Remote and Mobile Assets solution pairs Cisco's leading industrial routers (IR series) with Cisco IoT Operations Dashboard. It provides a cloud-based platform for managing every component of asset connectivity-from the network and data to sensors and applications. The goal is to provide IT teams the tools they need while allowing field teams to focus on asset operations.
Remote and Mobile Assets	Edge Compute	Overview of the edge compute capabilities in Cisco Industrial Routers in the form of IOx. Includes implementation examples for deploying Dockerized applications.
Roadways and Intersections	Connected Roadways and Intersections solution brief	This solution brief provides an overview of Cisco's solution for connected roadways and intersections.
Roadways and Intersections	Connected Communities for Roadways Solution Design Guide	This design guide provides network architecture and design guidance for the planning and subsequent implementation of a Cisco Connected Communities Infrastructure (CCI) solution, specifically as it pertains to deployment in a roadways, highways, intersections or equivalent context. Use cases include V2X and secure connectivity of ITS equipment.
Smart and Safe Cities	Connected Communities Infrastructure General Solution Design Guide	This design guide provides network architecture and design guidance for the planning and subsequent implementation of a Cisco Connected Communities Infrastructure (CCI) solution. Based on the market-defining Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) and intent-based networking capabilities, CCI allows the creation of a single, secure communications network that provides a single, modular network with wired (fiber, Ethernet), wireless (Wi-Fi, cellular, and V2X) and Internet of Things (IoT) communications (LoRaWAN and RF mesh) connectivity options for unmatched deployment flexibility; Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) to virtually segment and secure your network across departments and services, each with its own policies, control, and management as needed; Cisco DNA Center for network automation with unified management of communications policy and security that significantly lowers operational costs.
Smart and Safe Cities	Connected Communities Infrastructure Implementation Guide	This Implementation Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Cisco Connected Communities Network infrastructure implementation, along with Smart Cities and Roadways vertical solution use cases such as Cisco Safety and Security, Cisco Smart Street Lighting, and Edge Computing.
Smart and Safe Cities	Connected Communities for Cities Solution Design Guide	This design guide provides network architecture and design guidance for the planning and subsequent implementation of a Cisco Connected Communities Infrastructure (CCI) solution, specifically as it pertains to deployment in a smart, instrumented and connected city/municipality context. Use cases include connected lighting, flood sensors, and public Wi-Fi.
Smart and Safe Cities	Digital Divide Cisco Reference Design Guide	The “digital divide” between upper- and lower-income communities can be addressed by the Cisco Digital Divide with extended wireless connectivity. This Cisco Reference Design (CRD) guide provides design guidance and describes best practices to implement the Digital Divide solution. It is a total solution that enables secure and fast Wi-Fi to any household, helping schools and communities bridge this digital divide.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Renewable Energy—Offshore Wind Farm implementation guide	This implementation guide provides in-depth guidance on configurations and administrational details of the components that are part of the offshore windfarm operational network.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	SD-WAN for Distribution Automation design guide	This solution overview explains how Cisco's validated SD-WAN architecture using vManage can help power utilities securely, connect more renewable energy sources to the grid, reduce operational costs, improve efficiency, and grid reliability, enhance security, and meet regulatory compliance. This document builds on the “SD-WAN for Industrial Markets design guide” in this industry guide listing.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Renewable Energy—Offshore Wind Farm design guide	This design guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Cisco solution design for offshore windfarm use cases. It includes information about the system architecture, possible deployment models, and guidelines for deployment, and also recommends best practices and potential issues when deploying the reference architecture. Also covered are the management and automation platforms for easing the deployment of network infrastructure offshore.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Renewable Energy—Offshore Wind solution brief	The offshore wind farm solution guide provides an overview to address both the onshore and offshore networks. Providing an overview of security and automation plus the relevant use cases this architecture addresses.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Substation Automation Design Guide – The New Digital Substation	This CVD version 3.0 is an update that describes developments to the Cisco validated substation automation solution architectures. The purpose of the solution release associated with this document was to further enhance the electrical utility substation automation design and implementation experience and to identify recently-added hardware and software capabilities on the Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) switching product line.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Substation Automation – The New Digital Substation Version 3.0 Implementation Guide	This document describes the overall use of the network to monitor and manage the Smart Grid electrical system from power generation, through transmission and distribution, to end users in smart buildings, smart homes, and other sites connected to the utilities network.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Renewable Generation Wind Farms: Enabling green technologies	Wind power is one of the most prevalent renewable energy forms and is gaining popularity globally. See how to connect and integrate renewable wind power into the grid.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Digital Substation Automation solution overview	This solution overview explains how Cisco's validated architecture can help power utilities securely connect more renewable energy sources to the grid, reduce operational costs, improve efficiency and grid reliability, enhance security, and meet regulatory compliance.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	DA - Secondary Substation design guide	This Design Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Cisco Smart Grid FAN solution design for Secondary Substation monitoring use cases, including FLISR and Volt/VAR control. It includes information about the system's architecture, possible deployment models, and guidelines for deployment, and also recommends best practices and potential issues when deploying the reference architecture.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	DA - Secondary Substation implementation guide	This Distribution Automation - Secondary Substation Implementation Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Cisco Smart Grid Field Area Network solution implementation for Secondary Substation monitoring and Distribution Automation use cases such as Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) and Volt/VAR.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	DA - Feeder Automation design guide	This Design Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the entire end-to-end Cisco Smart Grid Field Area Network (FAN) solution design, which was developed for the Utility Industry in the Americas region and leverages the license free spectrum: ISM band 902 - 928 MHz for last mile connectivity of the Distribution Network Grid devices. The document describes the two most common Distribution Automation use cases for monitoring and control of Distribution electrical lines equipment: Volt/VAR and Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR).
Utilities and Renewable Energy	DA - Feeder Automation implementation guide	This Cisco Distribution Automation- Feeder Automation Implementation Guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Cisco Smart Grid Field Area Network solution implementation for Distribution Automation use cases such as Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) and Volt/VAR. This implementation document includes information about the solution’s architecture, possible deployment models, and guidelines for deployment. It also recommends best practices and potential issues when deploying the reference architecture.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	DA 2.0 Whitepaper Cisco Resilient Mesh Solution	This Distributed Automation whitepaper discusses the use of the enhanced Cisco Resilient Mesh. It addresses utility distribution grid use cases such as SCADA transport, Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR), and line voltage monitoring to support applications like Volt/VAR Control and Line Sensor.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Substation Automation Local Area Network and Security DIG	This design and implementation guide describes developments to the Cisco validated substation automation solution architectures, further enhances the electrical utility substation automation design and implementation experience, and identifies recently added hardware and software capabilities on the Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) switching product line.
Utilities and Renewable Energy	Virtual RTU Implementation Guide	This Implementation Guide provides details of the Virtual Remote Terminal Unit (Virtual RTU) application on the Cisco IR8x9 Integrated Services Router and Cisco IR1101 Integrated Services Router Rugged, which can be deployed as a secondary substation or as a distribution automation gateway.