Summary
The issue is a misconfiguration during the Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) process on an Aruba 9004 gateway. The gateway has both a routed port (G0/0/0) and a switched virtual interface (G0/0/0.1) by default. If the technician plugs the upstream internet link into the switched port (G0/0/0.1), it can create a rogue DHCP server scenario. The gateway's internal DHCP server assigns an IP from a default range (like 172.16.0.0/24) to the connected device, overriding the legitimate branch network (10.231.81.0/24). This explains the user's incorrect IP address. The solution is to physically move the cable to the correct routed port to establish proper upstream connectivity for ZTP.

Correct Option

B. Move the cable on the gateway from port G0/0/1 to port G0/0/0
This is the direct and correct solution. The Aruba 9004 gateway is designed so that the primary WAN/Internet uplink for ZTP should be connected to the dedicated routed port, typically G0/0/0.

Port G0/0/0.1 is a switched virtual interface (SVI) that is often part of a default VLAN and may have a pre-configured DHCP server enabled for internal management or user access. Plugging the uplink into this port causes the gateway to interfere with the existing network's DHCP process.

By moving the cable to G0/0/0, the technician connects the gateway directly to the upstream network as a routed device. This allows it to obtain an IP address via DHCP from the upstream router and establish internet connectivity to contact Aruba Activate and complete the ZTP process without disrupting the local branch network.

Incorrect Option

A. Turn off the DHCP scope on the gateway, and set DNS correctly on the gateway to reach Aruba Activate:
While this might stop the rogue DHCP server, it is an administrative and complex fix that requires CLI access and knowledge of the correct DNS settings. It is not the simplest or most direct solution. The physical port move is faster and aligns with the intended device setup for ZTP.

C. Move the cable on the gateway to G0/0/1. and add the device's MAC and Serial number in Central:
Moving to another switched port (G0/0/1) would likely cause the same rogue DHCP problem. Furthermore, pre-registering the device in Central is a valid onboarding method but does not address the immediate root cause of the physical misconnection and is an unnecessary step if ZTP is the intended method.

D. Factory default and reboot the gateway to restart the process.:
A factory reset would restart the ZTP process, but if the cable remains in the incorrect switched port (G0/0/0.1), the same problem will recur after the reboot. This does not fix the underlying physical configuration error.

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: Aruba 9004 Gateway Quick Start Guide (The official quick start guide for the 9004 gateway illustrates the initial setup, specifying that the internet/WAN connection must be plugged into the designated WAN port, which is the routed port G0/0/0, not a switched VLAN interface.)

Summary
VSX LAG (Link Aggregation Group) allows a downstream device to form a single logical link to both switches in a VSX pair, providing active-active forwarding and high availability. Key characteristics include how traffic is load-balanced and the operational behavior of the LAG members. Outbound traffic from the VSX pair uses a hash algorithm to select a physical port, which can be on either switch. For inbound traffic, the VSX pair prefers to use local LAG members to avoid consuming Inter-Switch Link (ISL) bandwidth, only using the ISL when the destination is on the peer switch.

Correct Option:

B. Outgoing traffic is switched to a port based on a hashing algorithm which may be either switch in the pair
This is correct. For traffic egressing the VSX pair towards the downstream device, the VSX system uses a standard LAG hashing algorithm (based on source/destination IP/MAC, etc.) to select a physical port. This selected port can be on the local switch or the peer switch, enabling active-active load-sharing across the entire LAG.

D. Outgoing traffic is preferentially switched to local members of the LAG.
This statement requires careful interpretation. For traffic ingressing the VSX pair from the downstream device, the switch that receives the frame will first attempt to forward it out a local port. If the destination is on the peer switch, it will use the ISL. However, for traffic originating from the VSX switches themselves (control traffic, or traffic routed to the LAG), the system does have a preference to use local LAG members to avoid ISL overhead. The most accurate true statement in the context of standard VSX documentation is that the system optimizes paths to use local links where possible.

Incorrect Option:

A. The total number of configured links may not exceed 8 for the pair or 4 per switch:
This is incorrect. The maximum number of links in a VSX LAG is model-dependent but is often 8 links per switch, not for the entire pair. For example, many CX 8400 switches support 16 links in a multi-chassis LAG (8 per switch).

C. LAG traffic is passed over VSX ISL links only while upgrading firmware on the switch pair:
This is incorrect. Traffic is passed over the ISL during normal operation whenever a frame ingresses on one switch and needs to egress from a LAG port on the peer switch. The ISL is a critical data path, not just for maintenance.

E. Up to 255 VSX lags can be configured on all 83xx and 84xx model switches:
This is incorrect. The maximum number of VSX LAGs is a platform-specific limitation and is typically much lower than 255. The exact limit should be verified in the datasheet for each specific model (e.g., 8300 vs 8400).

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: VSX Guide for AOS-CX (The official VSX guide explains the active-active forwarding model, the load-balancing hash for outbound traffic, and the preference for local forwarding to optimize ISL utilization.)

Summary
This question tests understanding of OWE (Opportunistic Wireless Encryption) in an ArubaOS 10 setup. OWE is the standardized version of "Open" network security that provides encryption without authentication. It is defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance as the replacement for traditional open networks. When a WLAN is configured with OWE, any client can connect without providing credentials. However, unlike a truly open network, OWE automatically establishes an encrypted connection using a Diffie-Hellman key exchange during the association process, protecting user data from eavesdroppers.

Correct Option:

A. Authentication information is not exchanged
This is the correct and defining characteristic of OWE. OWE provides encryption without authentication. The client does not need to (and cannot) present any credentials like a username/password or digital certificate.

The connection process involves an unauthenticated key exchange (using Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman) that establishes a unique, encrypted session between the client and the AP. Since there is no verification of user or device identity, no authentication information is exchanged. The network is open for anyone to join, but their traffic is encrypted.

Incorrect Option:

B. The Gateway will not respond.:
This is incorrect. The gateway is a core part of the ArubaOS 10 architecture and remains fully functional. It will route the encrypted traffic from the OWE client just as it would for any other client. The security mechanism (OWE) is handled between the client and the AP, not by blocking the gateway.

C. No encryption is applied.:
This is incorrect and is the key differentiator between a legacy open network and an OWE network. A legacy open network applies no encryption. OWE does apply encryption, making it a more secure alternative. The data frames are encrypted, preventing passive eavesdropping.

D. RADIUS protocol is utilized.:
This is incorrect. RADIUS is an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) protocol. Since OWE explicitly does not perform user authentication, there is no need to involve a RADIUS server. The entire OWE connection process occurs between the client and the AP without any external AAA server.

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: ArubaOS 10 WLAN Configuration Guide - WLAN Security (The official documentation for WLAN security settings explains OWE (Opportunistic Wireless Encryption) as a method that provides encryption for open networks without requiring user authentication.)

Summary
In an ArubaOS 10 architecture, an AP can operate in different forwarding modes, such as tunneled (where traffic is sent to a gateway) or bridged (where traffic is forwarded locally). "Mixed mode" allows different clients connected to the same AP to be assigned different forwarding roles based on policy. This decision is made by the policy engine, which can use various attributes from the client's connection profile. Key factors include the SSID the client is associated with and the client's IP address, allowing for granular control over how traffic is forwarded.

Correct Option

A. Client IP address
The client's IP address can be used in a policy rule to determine the forwarding role. For example, a policy could be created to tunnel all traffic from clients in the 10.10.10.0/24 subnet while bridging traffic from clients in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. This allows for role assignment based on network layer information.

D. Client SSID
The Service Set Identifier (SSID) is a primary factor for determining client forwarding behavior. It is common to have one SSID configured for tunneled forwarding to a central gateway (e.g., "Corporate") and another SSID configured for bridged local forwarding (e.g., "Guest"). The SSID acts as a initial classifier for policy enforcement.

Incorrect Option:

B. 802.1X authentication result:
While the 802.1X result determines the user role, which controls access permissions (like firewall policies and VLAN assignment), it is not the direct attribute used to select the forwarding role (tunneled vs. bridged). The forwarding role is a separate policy decision that can use the assigned user role as a condition, but the question asks for the factors themselves, and the result is more abstract than the direct attributes like SSID or IP.

C. Client MAC address:
Although MAC address can be used for filtering and profiling, it is not a typical or scalable primary factor for assigning a forwarding role in a mixed-mode policy. Policies are generally based on broader attributes like user role, SSID, or IP subnet.

E. Client VLAN:
The client VLAN is typically an outcome of the authentication and policy process, not an input used to determine the forwarding role. The forwarding role (tunneled or bridged) is decided first, and the VLAN assignment is part of the user profile applied after that decision.

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: ArubaOS 10 User Guide - WLAN Client Access Policies (The official documentation explains how to create client access policies that use conditions such as SSID and IP address to assign different forwarding modes (tunneled or bridged) to clients.)

Summary
The security team's concern is about the lack of encryption for RADIUS traffic between the Access Points and the cloud-based RADIUS server. Standard RADIUS uses UDP and only encrypts the password portion of the packet, leaving other sensitive attributes like the username vulnerable to interception. The appropriate solution is to implement RadSec (RADIUS over TLS), which encapsulates the entire RADIUS packet within a TLS/SSL encrypted TCP connection. This provides end-to-end encryption between the AP (the RADIUS client) and the RADIUS server, securing all authentication data over the internet.

Correct Option

D. Configure RadSec on the AP and the RADIUS server
This is the direct and correct solution to encrypt the RADIUS transport. RadSec (RADIUS over TLS) establishes a secure, encrypted TCP connection (typically on port 2083) between the RADIUS client (the Aruba AP) and the RADIUS server.

By configuring RadSec on both ends, all RADIUS packets (including Access-Request, Access-Challenge, and Access-Accept) are fully encrypted within this TLS tunnel. This protects the entire authentication exchange from eavesdropping as it traverses the internet, addressing the security team's concern directly.

Incorrect Option

A. Enable EAP-TLS on all wireless devices:
EAP-TLS is a strong authentication method that encrypts the conversation between the client device and the RADIUS server. However, it does not encrypt the RADIUS protocol itself between the AP and the RADIUS server. The AP acts as a pass-through, and the outer RADIUS packets carrying the inner EAP-TLS exchange could still be sent in cleartext (or with only partial encryption), leaving them exposed.

B. Configure RadSec on the AP and Aruba Central:
This is incorrect because Aruba Central is a network management cloud, not the RADIUS server in this scenario. The communication path that needs securing is between the AP and the cloud RADIUS server, not the management platform. Configuring RadSec on Central would not affect the RADIUS traffic to the authentication server.

C. Enable EAP-TTLS on all wireless devices:
Similar to EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS is a client-to-server authentication method. It provides a secure tunnel for the client's credentials but does not secure the underlying RADIUS transport between the AP (the Network Access Server) and the RADIUS server. The vulnerability in the AP-to-server link remains.

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: ArubaOS 10 Security Configuration Guide - RADIUS Server Settings (The official documentation details how to configure a RADIUS server on an AP or gateway, including the option to enable RadSec (RADIUS over TLS) to encrypt the entire connection to the server.)

Summary
Splitting a large Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) area into multiple smaller areas is a fundamental design principle for scalability and stability. A larger area means a larger Link-State Database (LSDB) and more frequent Shortest Path First (SPF) calculations for every router in that area. By creating smaller areas, the scope of link-state advertisements (LSAs) is contained, which directly reduces the computational load on routers and confines network instability, such as a flapping link, to a single area.

Correct Option

B. It increases stability
Creating smaller OSPF areas enhances network stability by containing the impact of topology changes. For example, if a link flaps repeatedly within one area (Area 1), routers in other areas (Area 0, Area 2) are shielded from this instability. They do not receive Type 1 and Type 2 LSAs for that change and therefore do not need to run the SPF algorithm. This localizes churn and prevents it from propagating across the entire network.

D. It reduces processing overhead
This is a primary advantage of multi-area OSPF. Routers within a non-backbone area maintain a full topology database only for their own area. They receive summarized routing information or a default route from the Area Border Router (ABR) for other areas. This significantly reduces the size of the LSDB and, consequently, the memory and CPU resources required for SPF calculations.

Incorrect Option:

A. It extends the LSDB:
This is the opposite of the goal. The objective is to reduce the size of the LSDB for most routers in the network, not extend it.

C. it simplifies the configuration:
Multi-area OSPF generally adds complexity to the configuration. It requires careful planning of Area Border Routers (ABRs), configuring different area types, and managing route summarization. A single-area OSPF design is far simpler to configure.

E. It reduces the total number of LSAs:
This is not strictly true. While multi-area OSPF reduces the number of detailed LSAs (Router and Network LSAs) that any single router must process, it actually increases the total number of LSAs in the network by introducing new types of LSAs, such as Summary LSAs (Type 3/4) and possibly AS External LSAs (Type 5). The benefit is not a reduction in the total count, but a more efficient and scalable distribution of the LSA information.

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: Aruba CX Routing Configuration Guide - OSPF (The official guide explains the benefits of multi-area OSPF, including how it confines topology changes and reduces the routing table and LSDB size for routers inside a specific area, thereby improving stability and reducing resource usage.)

Summary
Class of Service (CoS) and Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) are both QoS marking methods but operate at different layers of the network stack. CoS is a Layer 2 marking contained within the 3-bit Priority Code Point (PCP) field of an 802.1Q VLAN tag. DSCP is a Layer 3 marking that uses the 6-bit Differentiated Services Field in the IP header. The key difference is scope: CoS is only significant on a single Layer 2 hop (e.g., across a switch trunk) and is lost when the frame is routed, while DSCP is part of the IP packet and is preserved from source to destination across routed networks.

Correct Option

B. CoS is only contained in VLAN Tag fields DSCP is in the IP Header and preserved throughout the IP packet flow
This is the most accurate description of the fundamental difference. CoS (the 802.1p bits) exists only within an Ethernet frame header. Once a router strips the Layer 2 header to route the packet, the CoS value is lost. DSCP, however, is embedded in the IP header, which remains intact throughout the packet's entire journey across multiple routers and networks, allowing for end-to-end QoS policy enforcement.

Incorrect Option

A. CoS has much finer granularity than DSCP:
This is incorrect. The opposite is true. CoS uses a 3-bit field, allowing for only 8 (2^3) possible priority levels. DSCP uses a 6-bit field, allowing for 64 (2^6) different code points, providing much finer granularity for classifying traffic.

C. They are similar and can be used interchangeably.:
This is incorrect. While they are both used for QoS, they are not interchangeable due to their different layers and scopes. Switches at the network edge often map CoS values to DSCP values (and vice-versa) as traffic crosses Layer 2/Layer 3 boundaries, but they are distinct marking schemes.

D. CoS is only used to determine CLASS of traffic DSCP is only used to differentiate between different Classes.:
This is an oversimplification and misleading. Both markings are used to determine the class or Per-Hop Behavior (PHB) for traffic. The primary difference is not their purpose but their location in the packet/frame and their scope of influence (Layer 2 domain vs. end-to-end IP path).

Reference
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: Aruba CX Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration Guide (The official guide explains the CoS and DSCP fields, their locations in the frame/packet, and how they are used and mapped to traffic classes and queues on the switch.)

Summary:
This question asks for the recommended first-hop redundancy protocol (FHRP) specifically for a VSX (Virtual Switching Extension) Layer 3 gateway configuration. Traditional protocols like VRRP operate in an active-standby mode, where one gateway is active and the other is idle. Aruba's VSX introduces the "Active Gateway" feature, which is a superior, native alternative. It allows both VSX nodes to actively respond to ARP requests and route traffic for the same VLAN IP address simultaneously, enabling true active-active forwarding and optimal path selection without relying on the legacy VRRP protocol.

Correct Option:

A. Active Gateway:
Active Gateway is the dedicated and recommended first-hop protocol for VSX. It is a feature built specifically for the VSX architecture.

Its primary advantage over VRRP is that it allows both VSX nodes to be active forwarders for the same subnet/VLAN. This eliminates the need for suboptimal traffic flows where traffic from a host connected to the standby VRRP member must be hairpinned across the ISL to the active member for routing.

Active Gateway synchronizes the control plane (ARP/ND tables) between the two VSX peers, allowing them to share the virtual MAC address and both act as the default gateway. This provides the most efficient use of uplinks and switch resources.

Incorrect Option:

B. Active-Active VRRP:
While "active-active" is a goal, standard VRRP is inherently an active-standby protocol. There is no standard version called "Active-Active VRRP." Some vendor-specific implementations (like VRRP load balancing) can approximate it, but they are complex. Active Gateway is Aruba's native, simpler, and more integrated solution for achieving this on VSX.

C. SVI with vsx-sync:
The vsx-sync configuration command is used to synchronize specific SVI parameters (like helper addresses) between VSX peers. This is a supporting configuration for an SVI, but it is not in itself the first-hop redundancy protocol. Active Gateway is the protocol that provides the redundancy and active-active capability.

D. VRRP:
While VRRP can be configured on a VSX pair, it is not the recommended or optimal solution. Using VRRP forces an active-standby model, which negates the active-active forwarding benefits of the VSX infrastructure. Aruba's official recommendation for a VSX L3 gateway is to use the native Active Gateway feature instead of VRRP.

Reference:
HPE Aruba Networking Documentation: VSX Configuration Guide - Configuring Active Gateway (The official VSX guide details the Active Gateway feature, explaining that it allows both VSX switches to act as active routers for the same VLAN, providing first-hop redundancy with active-active forwarding, which is the recommended approach over VRRP.)

Explanation:
The statements that are true regarding Aruba NAE agents are A and C.

A. A single NAE script can be used by multiple NAE agents. This means that you can create different instances of the same script with different parameters or settings. For example, you can use the same script to monitor different VLANs or interfaces on the switch1.

C. NAE agents will never consume more than 10% of switch processor resources. This is a built-in safeguard that prevents the agents from affecting the switch performance or stability. If an agent exceeds the 10% limit, it will be automatically disabled and an alert will be generated2.

The other options are incorrect because:

B. NAE agents are not active at all times. They can be enabled or disabled by the user, either manually or based on a schedule. They can also be disabled automatically if they encounter an error or exceed the resource limit1.
D. NAE scripts do not need to be reviewed and signed by Aruba before being used. You can create your own custom scripts using Python and upload them to the switch or Aruba Central. You can also use the scripts provided by Aruba or other sources, as long as they are compatible with the switch firmware version1.
E. A single NAE agent cannot be used by multiple NAE scripts. An agent is an instance of a script that runs on the switch. Each agent can only run one script at a time1.

Explanation: A session-based ACL is applied to traffic entering or leaving a port or VLAN based on the direction of the session initiation. To allow ping from any wired station to wireless clients but not vice versa, a session-based ACL should be used to deny icmp echo traffic from any source to any destination, and then permit icmp echo-reply traffic from any source to user destination. The user role represents wireless clients in AOS 10.

Explanation: To allow a new VLAN 100 between VSX pair inter-switch-link 256 for port 1/45 and 2/45, you need to use the command vlan trunk allowed 100 in LAG256. This will add VLAN 100 to the list of allowed VLANs on the trunk port LAG256, which is part of the inter-switch-link between VSX peers. The other options are incorrect because they either do not use the correct command or do not specify the correct port or VLAN.

Explanation: 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.