The ideal access switch for a large hospital with distribution racks of over 400 ports in a single VSF stack is the CX 6300. This switch provides the following benefits:

The CX 6300 supports up to 48 ports per switch and up to 10 switches per VSF stack, allowing for a total of 480 ports in a single stack. This meets the requirement of having over 400 ports in a single VSF stack.

The CX 6300 supports high-performance switching with up to 960 Gbps of switching capacity and up to 714 Mpps of forwarding rate. This meets the requirement of having high throughput and low latency for mobile equipment and patient data.

The CX 6300 supports advanced features such as dynamic segmentation, policy-based routing, and role-based access control. These features enhance the security and flexibility of the network by applying different policies and roles to different types of devices and users.

The CX 6300 supports Aruba NetEdit, a network configuration and orchestration tool that simplifies the management and automation of the network. This reduces the complexity and human errors involved in network configuration and maintenance.

The other options are not ideal because:

OCX 6400: This switch is designed for data center applications and does not support VSF stacking. It also does not support dynamic segmentation or policy-based routing, which are useful for network security and flexibility.

OCX 6200: This switch is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and does not support VSF stacking. It also has lower switching capacity and forwarding rate than the CX 6300, which may affect the performance of the network.

OCX 6100: This switch is designed for edge applications and does not support VSF stacking. It also has lower switching capacity and forwarding rate than the CX 6300, which may affect the performance of the network.

References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_CX6300Series.pdf https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_OC6400Series.pdf https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_OC6200Series.pdf https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_OC6100Series.pdf

MSTP Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol. MSTP is an IEEE standard protocol for preventing loops in a network with multiple VLANs. MSTP allows multiple VLANs to be mapped to a reduced number of spanning-tree instances. configuration ID consists of two parameters: name and revision. The name is a 32-byte ASCII string that identifies the MSTP region, which is a group of switches that share the same configuration ID and VLAN-to-instance mapping. The revision is a 16-bit number that indicates the version of the configuration ID. By default, the MSTP configuration ID name is set to the switch IMC address, which is a unique identifier derived from the MAC address Media Access Control address. MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment. of the switch.References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/mstp/mstp.htm

QoS Quality of Service (QoS) is a set of techniques that manage network resources and provide different levels of service to different types of traffic based on their requirements. QoS can improve network performance, reduce latency, increase throughput, and prevent congestion. concept and its definition. Here is my answer:

QoS Concept:

Best Effort Service

Class of Service

Differentiated Services

WMM ====================== Definition:

d) A method where traffic is treated equally in a first-come, first-served manner a) A method for classifying network traffic at Layer 2 by marking 802.1Q VLAN Ethernet frames with one of eight service classes b) A method for classifying network traffic at Layer 3 by marking packets with one of 64 different service classes c) A method for classifying network traffic using access categories based on the IEEE 802.11e QoS standard

Short But Comprehensive Explanation of Correct Answer Only: The correct match between QoS concept and its definition is as follows:

Best Effort Service: This is a method where traffic is treated equally in a first-come, first-served manner without any prioritization or differentiation. This is the default service level for most networks and applications that do not have specific QoS requirements or guarantees. Best Effort Service does not provide any assurance of bandwidth, delay, jitter, or packet loss.

Class of Service: This is a method for classifying network traffic at Layer 2 by marking 802.1Q VLAN Ethernet frames with one of eight service classes (0 to 7). These service classes are also known as IEEE 802.1p priority values or PCP Priority Code Point (PCP) is a 3-bit field in the 802.1Q VLAN tag that indicates the priority level of an Ethernet frame . Class of Service allows network devices to identify and handle different types of traffic based on their priority levels. Class of Service is typically used in LAN Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that connects devices within a limited geographic area, such as a home, office, or building environments where Layer 2 switching is predominant.

Differentiated Services: This is a method for classifying network traffic at Layer 3 by marking packets with one of 64 different service classes (0 to 63). These service classes are also known as DiffServ Code Points (DSCP) DiffServ Code Point (DSCP) is a 6-bit field in the IP header that indicates the service class of a packet . Differentiated Services allows network devices to identify and handle different types of traffic based on their service classes. Differentiated Services is typically used in WAN Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that connects devices across a large geographic area, such as a country or continent environments where Layer 3 routing is predominant.

WMM: This is a method for classifying network traffic using access categories based on the IEEE 802.11e QoS standard. WMM stands for Wi-Fi Multimedia and it is a certification program developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to enhance QoS for wireless networks. WMM defines four access categories (AC): Voice, Video, Best Effort, and Background. These access categories correspond to different priority levels and contention parameters for wireless traffic. WMM allows wireless devices to identify and handle different types of traffic based on their access categories.

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_service https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/qos_dfsrv/configuration/xe-16/qos-dfsrv-xe-16-book/qos-dfsrv-overview.html https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/quality-of-service-qos/qos-packet-marking/10103-dscpvalues.html https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/81831-qos-wlan.html https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-certified-wmm

The advantage of Layer 2 MAC authentication is that it does not require any setup or configuration on the client device. The network devices (like switches or access points) perform the authentication automatically based on the MAC address of the device when it tries to connect to the network.

EAP-TEAP is a tunnel-based authentication method that supports both device and user authentication within a single RADIUS session. ClearPass 6.9 supports EAP-TEAP as an authentication method for Windows 10 clients.References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ClearPass/6.9/Guest/Content/CPPM_UserGuide/EAP-TEAP/EAP-TEAP.htm

For the requirement to authorize both device and user credentials within one Radius session, the correct solution would be ClearPass 6.9 with EAP-TEAP (EAP-Tunneled Extensible Authentication Protocol). EAP-TEAP is a tunneling protocol that creates a secure communication channel between the client and the server, allowing for the transmission of multiple authentication transactions within a single session. This capability is particularly useful in scenarios where both user and device credentials need to be verified before granting access to network resources, providing an additional layer of security and ensuring that both the user and the device are authorized to access the network.

The 802.1x authentication process begins after the client device completes the 802.11 association with the access point but before the WPA 4-Way Handshake. This is part of the EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) process, which authenticates the device before allowing full network access.

Using the provided topology and show command output, it can be determined that L3-SW-2 in the Branch Office does not have a route to reach the subnet where PC1 resides (192.168.1.0/24 in the HQ Office). L3-SW-1 in the HQ Office has a route to the Branch Office subnet (172.16.1.0/24), but without the reciprocal route on L3-SW-2, traffic from the Branch Office will not be able to reach the HQ Office subnet, hence PC1 cannot ping PC2.

The part of WPA Key Hierarchy that is used to encrypt and/or decrypt data is Pairwise Temporal Key (PTK). PTK is a key that is derived from PMK Pairwise Master Key (PMK) is a key that is derived from PSK Pre-shared Key (PSK) is a key that is shared between two parties before communication begins , ANonce Authenticator Nonce (ANonce) is a random number generated by an authenticator (a device that controls access to network resources, such as an AP) , SNonce Supplicant Nonce (SNonce) is a random number generated by supplicant (a device that wants to access network resources, such as an STA) , AA Authenticator Address (AA) is MAC address of authenticator , SA Supplicant Address (SA) is MAC address of supplicant using Pseudo-Random Function (PRF). PTK consists of four subkeys:

KCK Key Confirmation Key (KCK) is used for message integrity check

KEK Key Encryption Key (KEK) is used for encryption key distribution

TK Temporal Key (TK) is used for data encryption

MIC Message Integrity Code (MIC) key

The subkey that is specifically used for data encryption is TK Temporal Key (TK). TK is also known as Pairwise Transient Key (PTK). TK changes periodically during communication based on time or number of packets transmitted.

The other options are not part of WPA Key Hierarchy because:

PMK: PMK is not part of WPA Key Hierarchy, but rather an input for deriving PTK.

KCK: KCK is part of WPA Key Hierarchy, but it is not used for data encryption, but rather for message integrity check.

Nonce: Nonce is not part of WPA Key Hierarchy, but rather an input for deriving PTK.

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access#WPA_key_hierarchy_and_management https://www.cwnp.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/WPA2.pdf

A solid amber radio status LED on an Aruba Access Point (AP) typically indicates a power issue, specifically that not enough Power over Ethernet (PoE) is being provided from the switch to fully power all functionalities of the AP, including both of its radios. In environments where APs are powered via PoE, it is crucial to ensure that the switch supplying the power is capable of delivering sufficient power for the AP's requirements. If the AP does not receive enough power, it may disable certain features or radios to conserve energy, which is indicated by the solid amber LED. This situation is common in scenarios where the switch provides only 802.3af PoE rather than the more powerful 802.3at PoE+ needed by some high-performance APs to operate all features, including dual radios, at full capacity.

The weakness introduced into WLAN environment when WPA2-Personal is used for security is that PMK Pairwise Master Key (PMK) is a key that is derived from PSK Pre-shared Key (PSK) is a key that is shared between two parties before communication begins , which are both fixed. This means that all users who know PSK can generate PMK without any authentication process. This also means that if PSK or PMK are compromised by an attacker, they can be used to decrypt all traffic encrypted with PTK Pairwise Temporal Key (PTK) is a key that is derived from PMK, ANonce Authenticator Nonce (ANonce) is a random number generated by an authenticator (a device that controls access to network resources, such as an AP), SNonce Supplicant Nonce (SNonce) is a random number generated by supplicant (a device that wants to access network resources, such as an STA), AA Authenticator Address (AA) is MAC address of authenticator, SA Supplicant Address (SA) is MAC address of supplicant using Pseudo-Random Function (PRF). PTK consists of four subkeys: KCK Key Confirmation Key (KCK) is used for message integrity check, KEK Key Encryption Key (KEK) is used for encryption key distribution, TK Temporal Key (TK) is used for data encryption, MIC Message Integrity Code (MIC) key. .

The other options are not weaknesses because:

It uses X 509 certificates generated by a Certification Authority: This option is false because WPA2-Personal does not use X 509 certificates or Certification Authority for authentication. X 509 certificates and Certification Authority are used in WPA2-Enterprise mode, which uses 802.1X and EAP ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol (EAP) is an authentication framework that provides support for multiple authentication methods, such as passwords, certificates, tokens, or biometrics. EAP is used in wireless networks and point-to-point connections to provide secure authentication between a supplicant (a device that wants to access the network) and an authentication server (a device that verifies the credentials of the supplicant). for user authentication with a RADIUS server Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) is a network protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) management for users who connect and use a network service .

The Pairwise Temporal Key (PTK) is specific to each session: This option is false because PTK being specific to each session is not a weakness but a strength of WPA2-Personal. PTK being specific to each session means that it changes periodically during communication based on time or number of packets transmitted. This prevents replay attacks and increases security of data encryption.

It does not use the WPA 4-Way Handshake: This option is false because WPA2-Personal does use the WPA 4-Way Handshake for key negotiation. The WPA 4-Way Handshake is a process that allows the station and the access point to exchange ANonce and SNonce and derive PTK from PMK. The WPA 4-Way Handshake also allows the station and the access point to verify each other’s PMK and confirm the installation of PTK.

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access#WPA_key_hierarchy_and_management https://www.cwnp.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/WPA2.pdf

OSPF Open Shortest Path First. OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses a hierarchical structure to create a routing topology for IP networks. OSPF routers exchange routing information with their neighbors using Hello packets, which are sent periodically on each interface. To establish an adjacency Adjacency is a relationship formed between selected neighboring routers for the purpose of exchanging routing information., OSPF routers must agree on several parameters, including Hello timers, which specify how often Hello packets are sent on an interface. If the Hello timers do not match between neighboring routers, they will not form an adjacency and will not exchange routes. References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/osfp/osfp.htm

When generating a Multiple Pre-Shared Key (MPSK) for headless devices using the ClearPass self-service registration page, the MAC address of the device is required. MPSK associates a unique PSK with the MAC address of a device, providing a way to authenticate devices that may not have a user interface.

When a network technician encounters an issue where a new SSID does not allow internet access despite successful connectivity and DNS resolution, they should verify the firewall policies associated with the new SSID. The firewall policies must include rules that permit traffic to and from the internet and should be correctly ordered to ensure that they are applied as intended. Since the existing SSID functions correctly, comparing the firewall rules between the two can be a useful method of troubleshooting.

dBm is a unit of power that measures the ratio of a given power level to 1 mW. The formula to convert dBm to mW is: P(mW) = 1mW * 10^(P(dBm)/10). Therefore, -20 dBm corresponds to 0.01 mW, as follows: P(mW) = 1mW * 10^(-20/10) = 0.01 mW References:https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/power/dBm_to_mW.html

The dBm is a logarithmic unit of power relative to 1 milliwatt (mW). -20 dBm means that the signal strength is 20 decibels lower than 1 mW. In terms of mW, this is 0.01 mW. Each 10 dB decrease represents a tenfold decrease in power. Therefore, -20 dBm is10−210−2or 0.01 mW.

The client's broadcast domain in ArubaOS can be set with role-based VLAN overrides within the firewall role settings. This allows for dynamic assignment of VLANs to users based on their role, which determines their level of network access, including their broadcast domain.

The command that is used to set a default route to 10.4.5.1 on an Aruba CX switch when in-band management using an SVI is being used is ip route 0.0 0 0/0 10.4.5.1 . This command specifies the destination network address (0.0 0 0) and prefix length (/0) and the next-hopaddress (10.4.5.1) for reaching any network that is not directly connected to the switch. The default route applies to the default VRF Virtual Routing and Forwarding. VRF is a technology that allows multiple instances of a routing table to co-exist within the same router at the same time. VRFs are typically used to segment network traffic for security, privacy, or administrative purposes. , which is used for in-band management traffic that goes through an SVI Switch Virtual Interface. SVI is a virtual interface on a switch that allows the switch to route packets between different VLANs on the same switch or different switches that are connected by a trunk link. An SVI is associated with a VLAN and has an IP address and subnet mask assigned to it12. References: 1 https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10_08/HTML/ip_route_4100i-6000-6100-6200/Content/Chp_StatRoute/def-rou.htm  2 https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10_08/HTML/ip_route_4100i-6000-6100-6200/Content/Chp_VRF/vrf-overview.htm

LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) is commonly used by network devices, including wireless access points, to negotiate PoE (Power over Ethernet) power levels with the switch they are connected to. This allows the access point to communicate its power requirements to ensure it receives the necessary power for optimal operation.

The administrative distance is used as a trust rating for route entries (B). It is a metric used by routers to select the best path when there are two or more different routes to the same destination from two different routing protocols. The lower the administrative distance value, the more trustworthy the source of the route. For example, a directly connected network has an administrative distance of 0 because it is the most trusted source of routing information. In contrast, routes learned from different routing protocols have higher administrative distances, reflecting their relative trustworthiness.

When using an Aruba standalone AP, selecting “Native VLAN” for the Client VLAN Assignment means that the clients will get their IP addresses from the same subnet as the access point’s IP address. This is because the access point acts as a DHCP server for the clients in this mode.References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/Instant_86_WebHelp/Content/instant-ug/iap-dhcp/iap-dhcp.htm

Strict queuing is the best scheduling technology for ensuring that voice traffic, which is sensitive to latency, is prioritized above other types of traffic. This method ensures that voice traffic is sent first before other queued traffic, effectively reducing the possibility of delay.

A MAC address is divided into two parts: the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) and the Network Interface Controller (NIC) serial number. The OUI is the first three octets of the MAC address and is unique to the manufacturer. The NIC serial number is the last three octets and is unique to the device itself. Therefore, for the MAC address B8-31-B5-80-41-4F, the OUI is B8-31-B5, and the NIC serial number is 80-41-4F.

 EAP-TLS is an authentication method that requires client certificates when authenticating to the network. It provides mutual authentication between the client and the server using public key cryptography and digital certificates. References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ClearPass/6.9/Guest/Content/CPPM_UserGuide/EAP-TLS/EAP-TLS.htm

EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security) is an EAP method that requires both server-side and client-side certificates for authentication. It is considered one of the most secure EAP methods because it uses a mutual authentication process where both the user and the authentication server must prove their identities to each other through the use of certificates. Implementing user and device certificates via a Group Based Policy (GPO) aligns well with EAP-TLS requirements for client-side certificates.

OAlOps is a feature of Aruba Central that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify recommended steps to resolve network health issues and allows you to share detailed information with support personnel. OAlOps provides insights into network performance, root cause analysis, anomaly detection, proactive alerts, and automated remediation actions. OAlOps also integrates with Aruba User Experience Insight (UXI) sensors to measure and improve user experience across wired and wireless networks. References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_ArubaCentral.pdf

This configuration script will achieve the task as it follows the guidelines given by the Senior Engineer. It creates VLAN 20 with name Mgmt, adds L3 SVI on VLAN 20 with IP address 10.1.1.10/24, creates LAG 1 with LACP mode active for the uplink, uses VLAN 20 as the native VLAN on the LAG, and ensures that the interfaces are all ON.References:https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/AOS-CX/10.04/HTML/5200-6790/GUID-8F0E7E8B-0F4B-4A3C-AE7F-0F1B5A7F9C5D.html

Edge1# conf t

vlan 20

name Mgmt

interface vlan 20

ip address 10.1.1.10/24

no shut

interface lag 1

no shut

vlan trunk native 20

vlan trunk allowed all

lacp mode active

interface 1/1/51

no shut

lag 1

interface 1/1/52

no shut

lag 1

exit

This script correctly creates VLAN 20 with the name 'Mgmt', adds an L3 SVI for management using the specified IP address, and configures LACP for link aggregation (LAG 1) using the active mode. It also sets VLAN 20 as the native VLAN on the LAG and ensures all interfaces are enabled ('no shut' is the command to bring up the interface if it has been administratively shut down).

In an AOS-CX switch, if the QoS trust mode is not configured, it is set to none by default. The VoIP phones will mark their traffic with a local-priority value, which, if the QoS trust mode is none, will correspond to CoS map entry 1 by default. The local-priority value of 1 at the branch office likely indicates that the traffic is not being prioritized correctly compared to the corporate office, where a local-priority of 5 suggests a higher level of prioritization for voice traffic.

ClearPass OnGuard is a component of the ClearPass Policy Manager that performs health and security posture checks on devices to ensure they meet the organization's compliance requirements before allowing access to the network. It operates as an agent on client systems to perform these checks.