HPE7-A01 Aruba Certified Campus Access Professional Exam Questions and Answers

The correct answers are A and D.

According to the web search results, VSX LAG is a feature that allows multiple PSKs to be used on a single SSID, providing device-specific or group-specific passphrases for enhanced security and deployment flexibility for headless IoT devices1. VSX LAGs span both aggregation switches and appear as one device to partner downstream or upstream devices or both when forming a LAG with the VSX pair2.

One of the statements that is true about VSX LAG is that the total number of configured links may not exceed 8 for the pair or 4 per switch1. This means that a VSX LAG across a downstream switch can have at most a total of eight member links, and a switch can have a maximum of four member links. When creating a VSX LAG, it is recommended to select an equal number of member links in each segment for load balancing1.

Another statement that is true about VSX LAG is that outgoing traffic is preferentially switched to local members of the LAG2. This means that when active forwarding and active gateway are enabled, north-south and south-north traffic bypasses the ISL link and uses the local ports on the switch. This optimizes the traffic path and reduces the load on the ISL link2.

The other statements are false or not relevant for VSX LAG. Outgoing traffic is not switched to a port based on a hashing algorithm, which may be either switch in the pair. This is a characteristic of MLAG (Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation), which is a different feature from VSX LAG. LAG traffic is not passed over VSX ISL links only while upgrading firmware on the switch pair. This is a scenario that may occur when performing hitless upgrades, which is a feature that allows software updates without impacting network availability. The number of VSX lags that can be configured on all 83xx and 84xx model switches is not 255, but depends on the switch model and firmware version. For example, the AOS-CX 10.04 supports up to 64 VSX lags for 8320 switches and up to 128 VSX lags for 8325 and 8400 switches.

The command loop-protect enables loop protection on each layer 2 interface (port, LAG, or VLAN) for which loop protection is needed. Loop protection can find loops in untagged layer 2 links, as well as on tagged VLANs.

The reason is that the Inter-Switch Link Protocol (ISLP) is a protocol that enables VSX stack join and synchronization between two VSX peer switches. ISLP uses a hello interval to exchange control messages between the switches.

The hello interval is a parameter that specifies the time interval between sending hello messages. The default value of the hello interval is 1 second. The hello interval can be configured from 1 second to 10 seconds.

https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10.04/HTML/5200-6728/index.html

The likely cause of the issue of weak Wi-Fi coverage in the office is that the AP is using a directional antenna. A directional antenna is an antenna that radiates or receives radio waves more strongly in one or more directions, creating a focused beam of signal. A directional antenna can provide better coverage and performance for a specific area, but it can also create dead zones or weak spots for other areas. The other options are incorrect because they either do not affect the Wi-Fi coverage or do not match the scenario. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/wlan-rf/rf-fundamentals.htm https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/wlan-rf/antennas.htm

The reason is that the linkup delay timer is a feature that delays bringing downstream VSX links up, following a VSX device reboot or an ISL flap. The linkup delay timer has two phases: initial synchronization phase and link-up delay phase.

The initial synchronization phase is the download phase where the rebooted node learns all the LACP+MAC+ARP+STP database entries from its VSX peer through ISLP. The initial synchronization timer, which is not configurable, is the required time to download the database information from the peer.

The link-up delay phase is the duration for installing the downloaded entries to the ASIC, establishing router adjacencies with core nodes and learning upstream routes. The link-up delay timer default value is 180 seconds. Depending on the network size, ARP/routing tables size, you might be required to set the timer to a higher value (maximum 600 seconds).

When both VSX devices reboot, the link-up delay timer is not used.

Therefore, by configuring the linkup delay timer to include LAGs 101 and 102, which are part of the same VSX device as LAG 201, you can ensure that both devices have enough time to synchronize their databases and form routing adjacencies before bringing down their downstream links.

The default management role that should have been assigned for the user is B. operators.

The operators user role is a predefined role that allows users to view nonsensitive configuration information on the switch, such as interfaces, VLANs, routing protocols, statistics, and more. The operators user role has a privilege level of 1, which is the lowest level of access on the switch1.

The administrators user role is a predefined role that has full access to all switch configuration information and all REST API methods. This role is more than what the Director of Security requires1.

MPSK Local is a feature that can reduce the IT administration overhead associated with deploying devices that do not support 802.1X authentication while maintaining a secure environment. MPSK Local allows the switch to automatically generate and assign unique pre-shared keys for devices based on their MAC addresses, without requiring any configuration on the devices or an external authentication server. The other options are incorrect because they either require manual intervention by the installers or the MPSK gateway, or they do not provide unique pre-shared keys for devices. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch05.html https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch06.html

802.3bz is a standard for Ethernet over twisted pair at speeds of 2.5 and 5 Gbit/s. These use the same cabling as the ubiquitous Gigabit Ethernet, yet offer higher speeds. The resulting standards are named 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T.

Option A: 2.5Gb and 5Gb Ethernet ports

This is because option A shows how to identify the speed of an Ethernet port based on its name and the standard it supports. A port that supports 2.5GBASE-T or 5GBASE-T is a multi-gigabit port that can operate at speeds of up to 2.5 Gbit/s or 5 Gbit/s over twisted pair cables23.

Therefore, option A is correct.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.5GBASE-T_and_5GBASE-T  2: https://kb.netgear.com/000049004/What-is-Multi-Gigabit-Ethernet-and-how-can-I-benefit-from-using-NETGEAR-Multi-Gigabit-Ethernet-Switches-in-my-network  3: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/09/5gbps-ethernet-standard-details-8023bz/

To configure an IP address for an interface in default state for interface 1/1/1 on Aruba CX 6300 switch, you need to disable switching on the interface first with the command no switching. Then you can assign an IP address with the command ip address. The other options are incorrect because they either do not disable switching or use invalid keywords such as switching or routing. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch01.html https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch02.html

According to the Aruba Documentation Portal1, 802.1X is a standard for port-based network access control that uses a RADIUS server to authenticate and authorize wireless clients. 802.1X can be configured in different modes, such as bridge mode, tunnel mode, or split tunnel mode.

Option C: GRE tunnel

This is because option C shows how to configure an SSID in tunnel mode with the default AP-group settings on an Aruba switch. In tunnel mode, all client traffic from the access points is tunneled back to the controller and the controller would in turn put the client traffic onto the network2. The GRE protocol is used to encapsulate and decapsulate the traffic between the access points and the controller3.

Therefore, option C is correct.

1: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10.06/HTML/5200-7696/GUID-581D2976-694B-46C7-8497-F6B788AA05B2.html  2: https://community.arubanetworks.com/discussion/bridge-and-tunnel-mode  3: https://www.twingate.com/blog/ipsec-tunnel-mode

• Proves knowledge of the PMK
• Exchanges messages for generating PTK
• Distributes an encrypted GTK to the client
• Sets first initialization vector (IV)

Encryption is a feature supported by SNMPv3 that provides an advantage over SNMPv2c. Encryption protects the confidentiality and integrity of SNMP messages by encrypting them with a secret key. SNMPv2c does not support encryption and relies on community strings for authentication and authorization, which are transmitted in clear text and can be easily intercepted or spoofed. Transport mapping, community strings, and GetBulk are features that are common to both SNMPv2c and SNMPv3. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/snmp/snmp.htm https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/snmp/snmpv3.htm

The best option to enhance security for the new IP cameras and scanners in this environment is C. MPSK provides for each device in the WLAN to have its own unique pre-shared key.

MPSK stands for Multi Pre-Shared Key, and it is a feature that allows different devices to connect to the same SSID with different pre-shared keys. This improves the security and scalability of the network, as each device can have its own key and role without requiring 802.1X authentication or an external policy engine. MPSK can be configured either locally on the AP or centrally on Aruba Central12.

The other options are incorrect because:

• A. MPSK Local is a feature that allows the user to configure 24 PSKs per SSID locally on the device. These local PSKs would serve as an extension of the base MPSK functionality. However, MPSK Local is not suitable for this scenario, as it can only support up to 24 devices per SSID, while the client has 250 devices1.
• B. Aruba ClearPass is a network access control solution that can perform 802.1X authentication and install certificates for devices. However, this option is not feasible for this scenario, as the new IP cameras and scanners do not support 802.1X authentication3.
• D. MPSK Local will not allow the cameras to share a key and the scanners to share a different key. MPSK Local will assign a different key to each device, regardless of their type. Moreover, MPSK Local can only support up to 24 devices per SSID, while the client has 250 devices1.

The reason is that ClearPass OnBoard is a tool that allows you to enroll Mac computers into a ClearPass Policy Manager site using an Apple MDM push certificate. This certificate can be obtained from Apple or from a third-party PKI provider.

Apple Configurator is a tool that allows you to configure and deploy Mac computers using a GPO. This tool can also be used to enroll Mac computers into a ClearPass Policy Manager site using an Apple MDM push certificate.

This is the correct statement about what happens when a client attempts to join the network and the WLAN is configured with OWE (Opportunistic Wireless Encryption). OWE is a standard that provides encryption for open networks without requiring any authentication or credentials from the client or the network. OWE uses a Diffie-Hellman key exchange mechanism to establish a secure session between the client and the AP without exchanging any authentication information. The other options are incorrect because they either describe scenarios that require authentication or encryption methods that are not used by OWE. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_WiFi6.pdf https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_AP510Series.pdf

CoA (Change of Authorization) is a feature that allows ClearPass to dynamically change the authorization and access privileges of a device after it has been authenticated1. CoA uses RADIUS messages to communicate with the network device and instruct it to perform an action, such as reauthenticating the device, applying a new VLAN or user role, or disconnecting the device2.

To enable CoA on a CX switch, the network engineer needs to configure dynamic authorization on the switch, which is a global command that allows the switch to accept RADIUS messages from ClearPass and execute the requested actions3. The network engineer also needs to specify the IP address and shared secret of ClearPass as a dynamic authorization client on the switch3.

To trigger CoA for a specific wired device, the network engineer needs to bounce the switchport, which is an action that temporarily disables and re-enables the port where the device is connected. This forces the device to reauthenticate and receive the new policy from ClearPass. Bouncing the switchport can be done manually by using the interface shutdown and no shutdown commands, or automatically by using ClearPass as a CoA server and sending a RADIUS message with the Port-Bounce-Host AVP (Attribute-Value Pair).

MPSK Local is a feature that can be used to set up 15 headless IoT devices that do not support 802.1X authentication. MPSK Local allows the switch to automatically generate and assign unique pre-shared keys for devices based on their MAC addresses, without requiring any configuration on the devices or an external authentication server. The other options are incorrect because they either require 802.1X authentication, which is not supported by the IoT devices, or WPA3 encryption, which is not supported by Aruba CX switches. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10.04/HTML/5200-6728/bk01-ch05.html https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10.04/HTML/5200-6728/bk01-ch06.html

• Class 3 (15.4W): 802.3af
• Class 4 (30W): 802.3at
• Class 6 (60W): 802.3bt
• Class 8 (90W): 802.3bt

The correct answer is A. DMO is configured individually for each SSID in use in the network.

DMO is a feature that allows the AP to convert multicast streams into unicast streams over the wireless link. This enhances the quality and reliability of streaming video, while preserving the bandwidth available to the non-video clients. DMO is configured individually for each SSID in use in the network, as different SSIDs may have different multicast requirements.

According to the Aruba document Configuring WLAN Settings for an SSID Profile, one of the steps to configure DMO is:

• Dynamic multicast optimization: Select Enabled to allow IAP to convert multicast streams into unicast streams over the wireless link. Enabling Dynamic Multicast Optimization (DMO) enhances the quality and reliability of streaming video, while preserving the bandwidth available to the non-video clients.

The other options are incorrect because:

• B. The AP does not use QoS to provide equal air time for multicast traffic. QoS is a feature that prioritizes different types of traffic based on their importance and latency sensitivity. QoS does not affect how multicast streams are transmitted over the wireless link.
• C. DMO is not configured globally for each SSID in use in the network. DMO is configured individually for each SSID, as different SSIDs may have different multicast requirements.
• D. The controller does not convert multicast streams into unicast streams. The AP does the conversion, as it is closer to the wireless clients and can optimize the transmission based on the client capabilities and channel conditions.

The calculated Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) for AP1 is 17 dBm.

EIRP is the measured radiated power of an antenna in a specific direction. It is equal to the input power to the antenna multiplied by the gain of the antenna. It can also take into account the losses in transmission line, connectors, and other components. The formula for EIRP is:

EIRP = P + G - L

where P is the output power of the radio, G is the gain of the antenna, and L is the loss of the cable and connectors.

For AP1, we have:

P = 10 dBm G = 9 dBi L = 2 dB

Therefore,

EIRP = 10 + 9 - 2 EIRP = 17 dBm

Option C is the correct configuration to ensure that APs will work properly. It uses the ap command to configure a port profile for APs with VLAN 100 as the native VLAN and VLAN 200 and 300 as tagged VLANs. It also enables LLDP on the ports to discover the APs and assign them to the port profile automatically. The other options are incorrect because they either do not use the ap command, do not enable LLDP, or do not configure the VLANs correctly. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch02.html https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX_10_08/UG/bk01-ch03.html

Two parts of the solution for these requirements are Option C and Option E.

Option C is a part of the solution because it defines a policy-based routing action list named route_test, which specifies the next hop IP address as 10.1.1.253 for the matching traffic. This is the new default route that the user wants to use for the subnet 10.2.250.0/24. The interface null parameter indicates that the traffic will be routed to the next hop without using a specific interface1.

Option E is a part of the solution because it applies the policy-based routing action list route_test to the VLAN interface 250, which has an IP address of 10.2.250.1/24. This is the subnet that the user wants to test the new default route for. The apply policy command enables policy-based routing on the interface and associates it with the action list2.

Option A is not a part of the solution because it defines a policy-based routing action list named route_test, but does not specify the next hop IP address as 10.1.1.253, which is the new default route that the user wants to use. Instead, it specifies a next hop IP address of 10.1.1.254, which is different from the requirement.

Option B is not a part of the solution because it defines a policy-based routing action list named route_test, but does not specify any next hop IP address at all, which is necessary for policy-based routing to work. Instead, it specifies an interface null parameter without any IP address, which is invalid.

Option D is not a part of the solution because it applies the policy-based routing action list route_test to the VLAN interface 200, which has an IP address of 10.2.200.1/24. This is not the subnet that the user wants to test the new default route for, but a different subnet that should not be affected by this change.

 Aruba Installer App is a mobile app that simplifies site installations and enables network connectivity for Aruba devices. The app allows the user to scan the barcode of the device and add it to the network using Aruba Central. The app also automates importing Aruba devices into Aruba NetEdit for intelligent configuration management and continuous conformance validation

According to the Aruba Documentation Portal1, the firewall role derivation flow in the correct order is:

• Server derived role
• User derived role
• Authentication default role
• Initiation role assigned

Client Insights matches with Built in , AI powered client visibility and fingerprinting capability that leverages infrastructure telemetry and ML based classification models to eliminate network bling spots

Client Insights is a solution component of NetConductor that provides built-in, AI-powered client visibility and fingerprinting capability that leverages infrastructure telemetry and ML-based classification models to eliminate network blind spots. Client Insights uses machine learning to automatically detect, identify, and classify devices on the network, such as IoT devices, BYOD devices, or rogue devices. Client Insights also provides behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to monitor device performance and security posture. Client Insights helps network administrators gain visibility into the device landscape, enforce granular access policies, and troubleshoot issues faster. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/network-management-operations/central/netconductor/ https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_NetConductor.pdf

Cloud Auth matches with Enables fictionless onboarding of end users and client devices either through MAC address-based authentication or through integrations with common cloud identity stores

Cloud Auth is a solution component of NetConductor that enables frictionless onboarding of end users and client devices either through MAC address-based authentication or through integrations with common cloud identity stores. Cloud Auth is a cloud-native network access control (NAC) solution that is delivered via Aruba Central. Cloud Auth allows network administrators to define user and device groups, assign roles and policies, and enforce access control across wired and wireless networks. Cloud Auth supports MAC authentication for devices that do not support 802.1X, as well as integrations with cloud identity providers such as Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta, etc. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/network-management-operations/central/netconductor/ https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_NetConductor.pdf

The Fabric Wizard matches with Simplifies the creation of the overlays using an intuitive graphical user interface and automatic generation of configuration instructions that are pushed to switches and gateways

The Fabric Wizard is a solution component of NetConductor that simplifies the creation of the overlays using an intuitive graphical user interface and automatic generation of configuration instructions that are pushed to switches and gateways. The Fabric Wizard is a tool that allows network administrators to design, deploy, and manage overlay networks using VXLAN and EVPN protocols. The Fabric Wizard provides a graphical representation of the network topology, devices, and links, and allows users to drag and drop virtual components such as VRFs, VLANs, and subnets. The Fabric Wizard also generates the configuration commands for each device based on the user input and pushes them to the switches and gateways via Aruba Central. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/network-management-operations/central/netconductor/ https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_NetConductor.pdf

Policy Manager matches with Defines user and device groups and creates the associated traffic routing and access enforcement rules for the physical network

Policy Manager is a solution component of NetConductor that defines user and device groups and creates the associated traffic routing and access enforcement rules for the physical network. Policy Manager is a tool that allows network administrators to create and manage network policies based on user and device identities, roles, and contexts. Policy Manager uses Group Policy Identifier (GPID) to carry policy information in traffic for in-line enforcement. Policy Manager also integrates with Cloud Auth, ClearPass, or third-party solutions to provide flexible network access control. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/network-management-operations/central/netconductor/ https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_NetConductor.pdf

The correct answer is B. Spanning-tree instance VLAN mapping.

To load-balance VLANs with MSTP, you need to configure the same VLAN-to-instance mapping on all switches in the same MST region. This means that you need to assign different VLANs to different MST instances, and then adjust the spanning tree parameters (such as priority, cost, or port role) for each instance to achieve the desired load balancing. For example, you can make one switch the root for instance 1 and another switch the root for instance 2, and then map half of the VLANs to instance 1 and the other half to instance 2.

According to the Cisco document Understand the Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1s), one of the steps to configure MST is:

• Split your set of VLANs into more instances and configure different MST settings for each of these instances. In order to easily achieve this, elect Bridge D1 to be the root for VLANs 501 through 1000, and Bridge D2 to be the root for VLANs 1 through 500. These statements are true for this configuration:

Switch D1(config)#spanning-tree mst configuration

Switch D1(config-mst)#instance 1 vlan 501-1000

Switch D1(config-mst)#exit

Switch D1(config)#spanning-tree mst 1 priority 0

Switch D2(config)#spanning-tree mst configuration

Switch D2(config-mst)#instance 2 vlan 1-500

Switch D2(config-mst)#exit

Switch D2(config)#spanning-tree mst 2 priority 0

The above commands create two MST instances, 1 and 2, and map VLANs 501-1000 to instance 1 and VLANs 1-500 to instance 2. Then, they make switch D1 the root for instance 1 and switch D2 the root for instance 2.

The other options are incorrect because:

• A. Spanning-tree bpdu-guard setting is a security feature that disables a port if it receives a BPDU from an unauthorized device. It does not affect load balancing with MSTP.
• C. Spanning-tree CIST mapping is not a valid command. CIST stands for Common and Internal Spanning Tree, which is the spanning tree instance that runs within an MST region and interacts with other regions or non-MST switches.
• D. Spanning-tree root-guard setting is another security feature that prevents a port from becoming a root port if it receives superior BPDUs from another switch. It does not affect load balancing with MSTP.

The information that the Inter-Switch Link Protocol configuration uses in the configuration created is B. MAC tables.

The Inter-Switch Link Protocol (ISL) is a protocol that enables the synchronization of data and state information between two VSX peer switches. The ISL uses a version control mechanism and provides backward compatibility regarding VSX synchronization capabilities. The ISL can span long distances (transceiver dependent) and supports different speeds, such as 10G, 25G, 40G, or 100G1.

One of the data components that the ISL synchronizes is the MAC table, which is a database that stores the MAC addresses of the devices connected to the switch and the corresponding ports or VLANs. The ISL ensures that both VSX peers have the same MAC table entries and can forward traffic to the correct destination2. The ISL also synchronizes other data components, such as ARP table, LACP states for VSX LAGs, and MSTP states2.

BSS coloring is a mechanism that helps identify the BSS Basic Service Set. A BSS is a set of interconnected stations that can communicate with each other. BSS can be an independent BSS or infrastructure BSS. An independent BSS is an ad hoc network that does not include APs, whereas the infrastructure BSS consists of an AP and all its associated clients. on the same channel and differentiate them from other BSS on the same channel12. Each BSS is assigned a color code, which is a 6-bit value that is carried in the PHY header of the Wi-Fi frames12. By using BSS coloring, the APs and clients can reduce the threshold for interference detection and avoid unnecessary backoff or retransmissions when they detect frames from other BSS with different colors12. This can improve the spectral efficiency and throughput of the network12. The other options are incorrect because they do not describe the primary benefit of BSS coloring.

QoS concept: Class of Service Definition: 3) A method for classifying network traffic using access categories based on the IEEE 802.11e QoS standards

QoS concept: Differentiated services Definition: 2) A method for classifying network traffic at layer-3 or marking packets with one of 64 different service classes

QoS concept: WMM Definition: 4) A method for classifying network traffic using access categories based on the IEEE 802.11e QoS standards

According to the Aruba Documentation Portal1, the ArubaOS-CX switch supports various features to control the ingress traffic on specific ports, such as rate limiting, QoS shaping, and access control. These features can help reduce the impact of excessive broadcast traffic on the network performance and availability.

This is because rate limiting is a feature that allows you to limit the inbound or outbound traffic on a port based on a percentage of the port capacity or a fixed amount of bytes per second. Rate limiting can help prevent broadcast storms by reducing the amount of broadcast packets that enter or leave a port

 https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/central/latest/content/nms/aos-cx/cfg/conf-cx-access-control.htm  2: https://community.arubanetworks.com/blogs/esupport1/2021/02/08/broadcast-storm-containment-in-aruba-pvos-switches  3: https://techhub.hpe.com/eginfolib/networking/docs/switches/K-KA-KB/15-18/5998-8160_ssw_mcg/content/ch05.html

AOS 10 Gateways can have the following personas: Mobility, Branch, and VPN Concentrator1 However, the Mobility persona is only available when configuring a Gateway-only group, which is a group that contains only one gateway device2 The Mobility persona provides Overlay WLAN and (or) wired LAN functionalities for campus networks1 The Branch persona provides the Aruba Instant OS and SD-Branch (LAN + WAN) functionality for branch and microbranch networks1 The VPN Concentrator persona provides VPN termination and routing functionality for remote access networks3 The Edge persona is not a valid option, as it is not a supported device persona for AOS 10 Gateways.