HPE6-A86 HPE Network Switching Associate Exam Question and Answers

The correct answer is A. SNMP v3. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX hardening documentation recommends using SNMPv3 instead of older SNMP versions. Older SNMP versions are unauthenticated and unencrypted, and the community string is transmitted in plaintext. SNMPv3 supports users, authentication, and strong encryption, including stronger authentication and privacy protocols. This makes SNMPv3 the correct version when the requirement is to monitor switches with encrypted SNMP data. Option B and option C are incorrect because SNMPv2 and SNMPv2c do not provide the same authentication and encryption protections required by the question. Option D is incorrect because SNMPv4 is not a valid SNMP version used for this purpose on HPE Aruba Networking CX switches. Therefore, the secure SNMP monitoring choice is SNMPv3.

The correct answer is D. UDP 161. SNMP uses different UDP ports depending on the monitoring function. When a Network Monitoring System collects or polls monitoring data from a CX switch, it communicates with the SNMP agent on the switch. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX SNMP documentation shows the SNMP agent port as UDP 161. This is the port used for SNMP polling and monitoring responses. This differs from SNMP traps or alerts, which are sent by the switch to a monitoring system on UDP 162. The question specifically asks about the Network Monitoring System collecting monitoring data from CX switches, so the required firewall allowance is UDP 161 from the monitoring system to the switch. Option A is incorrect because TCP 162 is not the standard SNMP polling port. Option B and option C are incorrect because UDP 1157 and TCP 1156 are not the SNMP polling ports used for this purpose.

The correct answer is C. The existing 5406R configuration uses an LACP trunk, with VLANs 100, 200, and 300 tagged and VLAN 50 untagged. The equivalent HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX configuration is to create a LAG, enable LACP using lacp mode active, allow the tagged VLANs on the trunk, and configure VLAN 50 as the native VLAN. In AOS-CX, the vlan trunk native < VLAN-ID > command assigns the native VLAN to the trunk or LAG interface. Native VLAN traffic is untagged unless native VLAN tagging is specifically configured. HPE Aruba documentation also shows the command syntax for assigning native VLANs to LAG interfaces and the use of vlan trunk allowed for the VLANs carried on the trunk. Option A and option B are incorrect because lacp mode enable and the shown native VLAN syntax are not the correct CX syntax. Option D is less correct because VLAN 50 is the native untagged VLAN and does not need to be included with the tagged VLAN list. The correct CX equivalent is therefore LACP active, allowed VLANs 100, 200, and 300, and native VLAN 50.

The correct answer is D. It is available as a cloud solution. HPE Aruba Networking Central is described in official Aruba documentation as a cloud-based management platform for managing AOS-CX infrastructure. It provides centralized functions for provisioning, configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting AOS-CX switches. This means it is not limited to on-premises deployment. Option A is incorrect because AOS-CX support in Aruba Central is not limited only to templates; Central also supports monitoring, troubleshooting, and UI-based workflows depending on the software version, group type, and deployment model. Option B is also incorrect because monitoring-only mode is one supported option, but it is not the only supported mode. HPE Aruba documentation specifically notes that AOS-CX switches can be added in monitoring-only mode, but also separately documents configuration using templates and UI groups. Therefore, the broad and correct description for a customer conversation is that HPE Aruba Networking Central is available as a cloud management solution for AOS-CX switches.

The correct answer is D. CX 8400. The requirement asks for a chassis solution, 100G speeds to the aggregation layer, and a maximum size of 10U. HPE Aruba Networking describes the CX 8400 as a core and aggregation switch with line-rate 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE connectivity in a compact 8-slot chassis. The installation guide also identifies the CX 8400 as an eight-slot chassis platform for core and aggregation switching. This satisfies both the 100G requirement and the physical-size requirement because 8U is below the 10U maximum. The CX 10000, CX 9300, and CX 8360 are fixed-form-factor platforms rather than chassis solutions, so they do not match the customer’s chassis requirement. Therefore, the best initial proposal from the listed options is the HPE Aruba Networking CX 8400.

The correct answer is D. administrators. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the 4100i, 6000, and 6100 switch series states that, in addition to user-defined local groups, there are three built-in user groups: administrators, operators, and auditors. The documentation also states that the default admin account belongs to the administrators group. This makes administrators the only valid default group among the answer choices. Option A, root, is not listed as a built-in AOS-CX user group. Option B, managers, is not one of the default AOS-CX groups. Option C, super-users, is also not listed as a built-in group. These names may appear in other systems or older platforms, but on HPE Aruba Networking CX 6100 switches, the built-in local user groups are administrators, operators, and auditors. Therefore, the correct default user group from the listed options is administrators.

The correct answer is D. Dynamic Segmentation. HPE Aruba Networking describes Dynamic Segmentation as an identity-based access control solution for Zero Trust and SASE security from edge to cloud. Dynamic Segmentation applies policy based on the identity and role of users and devices, rather than relying only on physical network location, VLAN placement, or static port configuration. This is important in Zero Trust because no user, device, or network segment should be automatically trusted. Access should be continuously controlled and limited to only the resources required. HPE Aruba Networking documentation also explains that Dynamic Segmentation establishes least-privilege access by segmenting traffic based on identity and associating consistent role-based access policies across wired, wireless, and WAN networks. The other options are not the best answer. Virtual Switching Framework and Virtual Switching Extension are resiliency or virtualization technologies, not the core Zero Trust/SASE policy feature. Network Analytics Engine is useful for monitoring, automation, and troubleshooting, but Dynamic Segmentation is the security framework feature directly tied to Zero Trust and SASE.

The correct answer is D. The link on interface 1/1/16 is not established. The output clearly states Interface 1/1/16 is down, Admin state is up, and State information: Waiting for link. This means the port is enabled administratively, but the physical link is not up. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX show interface documentation displays these fields to show operational and administrative interface status, including examples where the interface is down while the admin state remains up. Option A is incorrect because the output says qos trust dscp, which trusts Layer 3 DSCP markings, not Layer 2 CoS markings. Option B is incorrect because Admin state is up; an administratively disabled interface would be shut down. Option C is incorrect because the output shows VLAN Mode: native-untagged and Native VLAN: 10; native VLAN 10 is untagged, while the allowed VLAN list shows VLANs permitted on the trunk. Since the port is waiting for link, the immediate verified issue is that the physical link is not established

The correct answer is D. Allowed VLANs between access switches. The diagram shows Server-1 connected to Access-2 in VLAN 20 and PC-1 connected to Access-1. The inter-switch link between Access-1 and Access-2 is shown as a trunk carrying VLANs 1, 10, and 20. If users on Access-1 cannot reach Server-1 in VLAN 20 after a recent change, while devices directly connected to Access-2 are not affected, the most likely issue is that VLAN 20 is not being correctly carried across the trunk between the access switches. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation states that vlan trunk allowed defines which VLAN traffic is allowed across a trunk interface. It also explains that allowed VLANs are the VLANs that can be transported by the trunk; if a required VLAN is missing from the allowed list, that VLAN’s traffic will not traverse the trunk. Option A is less likely because devices directly connected to Access-2 can access Server-1, indicating Server-1’s local VLAN placement is probably correct. Option B is unlikely because a down trunk would affect more VLANs than just access to VLAN 20. Option C is not supported by the symptom pattern.

The correct answer is B. The switch does not have enough PoE budget per port. The HPE Aruba Networking 580EX Series access point requires appropriate power to boot and illuminate its LEDs. HPE Aruba Networking documentation states that the 580EX Series supports 802.3bt Class 6 power or AC power. A standard HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 48G 4SFP switch, such as the R8N86A model, is a non-PoE switch; the PoE-capable version is identified separately as the CX 6000 48G Class 4 PoE 4SFP 740W switch. Even when using a PoE-capable CX 6000 model, Class 4 PoE provides up to 30W per port, while the AP requires 802.3bt Class 6 or AC power for normal operation. Therefore, if the AP has no lights, the most likely cause from the options is insufficient or unavailable PoE power from the switch port. A wrong VLAN, missing STP configuration, or failure to connect to HPE Aruba Networking Central would not normally prevent the AP from receiving power and showing LEDs.

The correct answer is A. Disable SSH and HTTPS in the data plane. After connecting the out-of-band management, or OOBM, interface, management access should be restricted to the management plane rather than left available through user/data-plane interfaces. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX hardening guidance explains that the default VRF is associated with non-management interfaces, while the management VRF is associated with the dedicated management interface. It also lists SSH on TCP 22 and HTTPS/Web UI on TCP 443 as management services enabled by default. For hardening, if OOBM is being used, management services such as SSH and HTTPS should be disabled or restricted from the default/data VRF so users cannot manage the switch through production-facing ports. Option B is incorrect because disabling SSH and HTTPS in the management plane would remove the secure OOBM management path. Option C is incorrect because Telnet and HTTP are insecure protocols. Option D is incorrect because enabling SSH and HTTPS in the data plane increases the exposed management surface.

The correct answer is B. RESTful API is a secure way to monitor CX switches. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX supports a REST API as a management and automation interface. The REST API is accessed through HTTPS, which provides encrypted communication for management operations. This makes it a secure monitoring and automation option for a customer using an open-source network management platform that can integrate through APIs. Option A is incorrect because RMON is a monitoring feature, but it is not the best answer for secure modern monitoring access. Option C is not the best answer because using a dedicated out-of-band management port improves management-plane isolation, but it is not itself a monitoring protocol or method. Option D is incorrect because SNMPv2 is not considered secure; HPE Aruba hardening guidance recommends SNMPv3 instead of older SNMP versions because older versions lack authentication and encryption protections. Therefore, from the listed options, RESTful API is the best secure monitoring method for CX switches. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

The correct answer is D. When 10.1.251.2 is no longer in the routing table. The configuration shows two static default routes to the same destination, 0.0.0.0/0. The first route uses the default administrative distance, while the second route has a higher administrative distance of 10, making it a floating static route. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for static routing states that the distance option sets the administrative distance associated with a static route, with a default of 1 and a range of 1–255. Because lower administrative distance is preferred, the route through 10.1.251.2 remains active as long as it is valid in the routing table. The backup route through 10.1.252.2 becomes active only when the preferred route is removed or no longer installed. A remote upstream fiber break might not remove the directly reachable next hop from the routing table, which explains why failover did not occur. BFD tracking could improve failure detection, but the condition for this configured floating static route to take over is loss of the primary route from the routing table.

The correct answer is C. Automates root cause analytics. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation describes the Network Analytics Engine, or NAE, as a framework within AOS-CX switches that automates the detection of issues and automates root cause analysis. NAE agents monitor switch resources, events, configuration, protocol states, and other operational data to help identify issues faster. This helps administrators move from manual troubleshooting to analytics-driven troubleshooting directly on the switch. Option A is not the best answer because NAE is not simply a feature that automatically creates tech-support diagnostic files. Option B is incorrect because automated configuration backups are not the main purpose of NAE. Option D is incorrect because NAE does not primarily create support events in the HPE Aruba Networking Support Portal. Its purpose is local switch analytics, issue detection, and root cause analysis. Therefore, the best description is that NAE automates root cause analytics.

The correct answer is D. By default, all VLAN traffic is tagged to traverse a trunk link except the native VLAN. In HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX, a trunk interface can carry traffic for multiple VLANs, and VLAN tagging is used to identify traffic from different VLANs across the trunk. However, the native VLAN is the exception. HPE Aruba Networking documentation explains that the native VLAN is the VLAN to which incoming untagged traffic is assigned, and by default VLAN 1 is assigned as the native VLAN for trunk interfaces. This means normal trunk behavior is that VLAN traffic is tagged, while native VLAN traffic can be untagged unless configured otherwise. Option A is incomplete because it ignores native VLAN behavior. Option B is incorrect because the native VLAN concept applies to trunk interfaces generally, not only when a port is part of a LAG. Option C is incorrect because VLAN trunking applies to Layer 2 interfaces, not routed ports. Therefore, the default trunk behavior is tagged VLAN traffic except for the native VLAN.

The correct answer is B. CX 6200. The feature being described is the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX Network Analytics Engine, or NAE. HPE Aruba Networking documentation states that NAE uses Python scripts to define which switch resources to monitor and optionally what actions to take when certain conditions are true. The NAE guide specifically applies to the CX 6200, 6300, 6400, 8xxx, 9300, and 10000 switch series, and the supported maximums page lists the CX 6200 as supporting up to 10 scripts and 10 agents. This makes the CX 6200 the correct choice from the available options. The CX 6000, CX 6100, and CX 4100i are lower access platforms and are not listed in the NAE guide’s supported product set for onboard NAE scripting. Therefore, for a customer with Python skills who wants to use self-made or Aruba-provided onboard analytics scripts, the CX 6200 is the appropriate recommendation.

The correct answer is D. UDP 162. SNMP monitoring commonly uses two different UDP ports depending on direction and purpose. SNMP polling requests and responses use UDP 161, while SNMP traps and notifications are sent to a monitoring or management station on UDP 162. The question specifically asks about sending monitoring alerts using SNMP, which refers to SNMP traps or notifications from the switch to the Network Monitoring System. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX SNMP documentation states that the snmp-server host command configures a trap or inform receiver to which the SNMP agent sends SNMP traps or informs. The same documentation identifies the UDP port parameter for notifications and lists the default as 162. Therefore, the required firewall allowance for SNMP alert notifications from CX switches to the NMS is UDP 162. Option A is incorrect because TCP 161 is not the standard SNMP polling transport. Option B and option C use incorrect ports and protocols for SNMP alert delivery.

The correct answer is D. To configure a physical interface as a Layer 3 routed port on an HPE Aruba Networking CX 6300 switch, the interface must be placed in routing mode and assigned an IP address directly. This creates a routed interface rather than a bridged Layer 2 port. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX examples show routed physical interfaces configured with routing, followed by an ip address, and then no shutdown. The same examples contrast this with Layer 2 ports, which use no routing and VLAN commands such as vlan access or vlan trunk. Option A is incorrect because no routing makes the interface a Layer 2 interface, so assigning an IP address directly is not the correct routed-port configuration. Options B and C are incorrect because vlan access 1 configures the port as a bridged access port. The requirement specifically says the switch should be configured without a bridged port, so the correct CX configuration is a routed physical interface using routing with the IP address configured directly on the port.

The correct answers are A and F. Valid RADIUS authentication responses include Access-Accept and Access-Reject. HPE Aruba Networking documentation explains that a RADIUS server responds to an authentication request with an Access-Accept response when authentication succeeds, or an Access-Reject response when the user is not authorized. In the answer choices, these are represented as ACCEPT and REJECT. The other options are not valid RADIUS response names in this context. “ALLOW” and “PERMIT” may describe an access-control result in plain language, but they are not the RADIUS authentication response messages used by the protocol. “DENY” and “BLOCK” are also not the listed RADIUS response types in HPE Aruba Networking documentation. In an HPE Aruba Networking environment, RADIUS is commonly used for authentication, authorization, and accounting workflows, including administrative login and network access authentication. The important exam distinction is that the RADIUS server returns Access-Accept for successful authentication and Access-Reject for failed or unauthorized authentication.

The correct answer is C. The contents of Flash survive when a device reboots or powers down. In HPE Aruba switch operation, the active configuration used by the device while it is running is the running configuration. The startup configuration is the saved configuration that is preserved and used after reboot. HPE Aruba documentation explains that saving the running configuration writes it to the startup configuration file in Flash memory, allowing the configuration to remain after the switch reboots. This confirms that Flash is nonvolatile storage. HPE Aruba AOS-CX documentation also describes eMMC or SSD switch storage as nonvolatile memory used for persistent storage of configurations, files, databases, and scripts. Option A is incorrect because switch Flash storage is not normally expanded by adding extra Flash for configuration storage. Option B is incorrect because the running configuration is held as the active operating configuration, not simply “Flash.” Option D is incorrect because show running-config displays the current running configuration, not the saved startup configuration stored in Flash.

The correct answer is A. The VSF feature is enabled by default. The key difference is between the older AOS-Switch VSF behavior used by the 2930F and the AOS-CX VSF behavior used by the CX 6200. In AOS-Switch 2930F manual VSF configuration, each switch must be configured individually for VSF before joining the stack. In contrast, HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX VSF documentation for CX switches states that users cannot disable VSF and that a factory-default switch boots as a VSF-enabled device with member ID 1. Therefore, when replacing 2930F switches with CX 6200 switches, the important stacking difference is that VSF is inherently enabled on the CX 6200 platform. Option B is incorrect because VSF MAD is not automatically enabled on each LAG simply because LACP active mode is configured. Option C is incorrect because it states the opposite of the CX 6200 behavior. Option D is not the key difference for CX 6200; it more closely resembles manual AOS-Switch VSF setup behavior where switches are individually prepared for VSF participation.

The correct answer is B. CX 8100 Series switches do not support VSF. The error appears because the vsf command is not valid on a platform that does not support Virtual Switching Framework. HPE Aruba Networking documentation identifies VSF as supported on specific access-switch platforms such as the CX 6200 and CX 6300 families. For higher-end aggregation and core platforms, including the CX 8100, HPE Aruba Networking uses Virtual Switching Extension, or VSX, rather than VSF. Official HPE Aruba Networking Central documentation states that VSX is supported on AOS-CX 6400, 8100, 8320, 8325, 8360, 8400, 9300, and 10000 switch series. Other AOS-CX documentation for 8xxx switch families also notes that VSF is not supported on those switches. Option A is incorrect because physical VSF links are not the reason the command is rejected. Option C is incorrect because VSF cannot be globally enabled on CX 8100. Option D is incorrect because this is a platform-support limitation, not a firmware issue.

A new firewall rule has been added = Cause

My email is not working = Symptom

My device says “No Internet” = Symptom

One of the DNS servers is offline = Cause

The switch firmware was upgraded = Cause

Websites are not loading = Symptom

The correct classification separates observed user impact from likely reasons for that impact. A symptom is what users or administrators observe, such as “email is not working,” “No Internet,” or “websites are not loading.” These describe the effect of the problem but do not identify why it is happening. A cause is a condition, change, or failure that could explain the symptom. A newly added firewall rule could block traffic, an offline DNS server could prevent name resolution, and a firmware upgrade could introduce a configuration, compatibility, or service-change issue. HPE Aruba Networking troubleshooting documentation commonly separates symptoms from causes and corrective actions; for example, AOS-CX troubleshooting sections describe a visible symptom, then identify the cause and action needed to resolve it. This method helps avoid guessing and keeps troubleshooting structured: first collect symptoms, then identify recent changes and infrastructure failures that could be possible causes. In this question, the user-facing service failures are symptoms, while the firewall, DNS, and firmware items are possible causes.

The correct answer is C. Customers that do not allow cloud connectivity. HPE Aruba Networking Central On-Premises is intended for organizations that need Aruba Central-style management capabilities but cannot or do not want to place management data in the public cloud. Official HPE Aruba Networking Central On-Premises documentation describes it as a variant of HPE Aruba Networking Central that is deployed in the customer’s own environment, while the Validated Solution Guide states that Central On-Premises is appropriate when security requirements disallow Internet connectivity. This makes it suitable for organizations with strict regulatory, security, data sovereignty, or internal policy requirements that prevent cloud-managed network infrastructure. Option A is incorrect because using hyperscaler-hosted server resources does not, by itself, require Central On-Premises. Option B is incorrect because a SaaS-maintained management platform describes the cloud version of HPE Aruba Networking Central, not the on-premises deployment. Option D is not the best answer because geographical redundancy is not the primary use case described for choosing Central On-Premises.

The correct answer is A. The VSF ports automatically forward the traffic for configured VLANs. In HPE Aruba Networking CX VSF, the VSF link ports are dedicated stack-fabric interfaces between VSF members. They are not configured like normal access or trunk ports for user VLAN forwarding. HPE Aruba Networking Central documentation for AOS-CX ports and LAGs notes that VLAN mode options such as access or trunk are not visible for VSF ports, which confirms that VSF ports are not manually configured as normal VLAN trunks. Once the VSF stack is formed, the stack operates as one logical switch, and the VSF links carry the necessary internal stack traffic automatically, including traffic associated with configured VLANs. Option B is incorrect because you do not configure VSF ports as trunk ports with vlan trunk allowed all. Option C is incorrect because vsf-sync is not required for VLAN forwarding across VSF links. Option D is incorrect because VLAN 4095 is not manually configured on VSF links for this purpose.

The correct answer is D. QoS. Poor call quality during network congestion is commonly caused by delay, jitter, or packet loss affecting real-time voice and video traffic. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX Quality of Service documentation explains that QoS allows administrators to customize how different traffic types are serviced based on their characteristics and importance. QoS helps keep important traffic moving at an acceptable speed regardless of current bandwidth usage. HPE Aruba documentation also states that VoIP traffic is delay and jitter sensitive and should receive priority service for optimum transmission. Microsoft Teams voice and video traffic is latency-sensitive, so configuring QoS is the correct approach to prioritize this traffic when the network is busy. Option A, CoS, is a specific Layer 2 priority marking method that can be part of a QoS design, but the broader feature to configure is QoS. Option B, ZIP, is not relevant. Option C, IGMP, is used for multicast group management and does not solve general Teams call-quality issues.