Practice Free HPE6-A86 HPE Network Switching Associate Exam Exam Questions Answers With Explanation

The correct answer is A. Connect using the RJ-45 console port. To perform initial configuration on an HPE Aruba Networking CX 6200M switch, especially when configuring an SVI static IP address for in-band management, you need direct CLI access before the switch has reachable IP connectivity. The HPE Aruba Networking CX 6200 installation documentation identifies the RJ-45 console port as the local serial console connection used for direct management. HPE Aruba Networking fundamentals documentation also explains that initial configuration can be performed through the console port or management port, while VLAN 1 static IP configuration can be used for in-band management. The RJ-45 management port is for out-of-band management, but it requires management interface IP settings to be usable remotely. The Aruba mobile app and Bluetooth adapter can help with some initial setup workflows, but the question asks how to connect to configure an SVI static IP address. The most direct and expected method is to use the console connection and configure the SVI through the CLI. ( hpe.com , arubanetworking.hpe.com )

The correct answer is C. In-band management uses the production switching network rather than the dedicated out-of-band management port. For an HPE Aruba Networking CX 4100i switch, HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation states that configuring the in-band management interface begins by entering interface vlan 1. The guide then shows that the in-band management interface can be configured with DHCP or with a static IP address. Therefore, assigning ip address 10.10.10.10/24 under interface vlan 1 is the correct in-band management configuration from the choices. Option A is incorrect because interface mgmt is the out-of-band management interface, not in-band management. Option D is also out-of-band for the same reason. Option B is not the best answer because routing is not required under the VLAN interface for this in-band management IP configuration. The essential configuration is the VLAN interface with the static IP address

The correct answer is A. On HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX switches, the out-of-band management interface is configured under interface mgmt. For a static IPv4 address on the management interface, the correct command is ip static, not ip address. HPE Aruba Networking documentation shows the management interface configuration using interface mgmt, then ip static < address/prefix > , followed by default-gateway < gateway-address > when a gateway is required. The default-gateway command assigns the IPv4 or IPv6 default gateway to the management interface, and HPE documentation notes that an IPv4 default gateway can only be configured if a static IPv4 address has been assigned to the management interface. Option B is incorrect because ip address is used on routed interfaces or VLAN interfaces, not the CX management interface command syntax. Option C is incorrect for the same reason and because vrf attach mgmt is not required here. Option D includes unnecessary VRF configuration and the invalid vrf attach mgmt

The correct matches are based on how SNMP monitoring works in an HPE Aruba Networking environment. A managed device is the network device being monitored, such as a switch, router, firewall, controller, or access point. HPE Aruba Networking documentation describes SNMP as a protocol used by network management systems to monitor network-attached devices. The SNMP agent is the software function on the managed device that collects local device information and communicates status, statistics, and configuration-related information to the management system. The SNMP manager is the network management system that queries devices, receives information, and may modify supported device parameters. The Management Information Base, or MIB, is the structured database of object identifiers used to represent device status, counters, statistics, and configuration information. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX monitoring documentation points administrators to the SNMP/MIB Guide for configuring SNMP so a device can be monitored from a network management system.

The correct answer is A. 10G-DAC. The limiting device in this connection is the CX 6200. HPE Aruba Networking CX 6200 models use built-in high-speed uplinks, and the CX 6200 product listings identify models with 4SFP+ uplinks. SFP+ uplinks support 10G, not 25G, 50G, or 100G single-port connectivity. HPE Aruba Networking transceiver guidance also notes that CX 6200 switches support split-side SFP connections only in available 10G-capable SFP ports, and that 50G transceivers can only be used in ports capable of 50G speeds, such as SFP56-capable ports. Therefore, even though the CX 8100 supports higher-speed connectivity options, the shared validated single-port option between the two switch families is 10G over DAC for a short 3-meter connection. Option B is incorrect because the CX 6200 does not have 100G ports. Option C is incorrect because 25G-LR is not the best validated 3-meter option and exceeds the CX 6200 SFP+ port capability. Option D is incorrect because 50G-DAC requires 50G-capable ports.

The correct answer is C. Commands - show interface error-statistics. Because the users and the document management server are in the same subnet, traffic is switched locally rather than routed across multiple Layer 3 hops. If packet loss is suspected during file uploads, the most useful verification is to inspect interface error counters on the switch ports involved. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation includes the show interface < IFNAME > error-statistics command, which displays interface error statistics such as receive and transmit errors, CRC/FCS errors, drops, runts, giants, and related counters. HPE Aruba Networking Central documentation states that the Commands tab can run troubleshooting commands on managed devices and show the output in the Device Output section. A cable test may help detect physical cabling faults, but it does not directly confirm packet loss counters. Traceroute is less useful within the same subnet. Ping can show reachability loss, but interface error statistics provide better evidence of switch-port packet errors causing performance problems.

The correct answer is B. Transport Layer. Data segmentation is a Transport Layer function. At Layer 4, protocols such as TCP divide application data into smaller pieces called segments so that data can be transported between endpoints. The Transport Layer also uses TCP and UDP port numbers to identify application conversations between hosts. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX ACL documentation references TCP/UDP ports as Layer 4 ports, which aligns transport-layer port usage with the Transport Layer. The Application Layer provides user-facing application services, but it does not perform transport segmentation. The Network Layer handles logical IP addressing and routing. The Data Link Layer handles Ethernet framing, MAC addressing, and local delivery on a network segment. Therefore, when the question asks where data segmentation occurs in the OSI model, the correct answer is the Transport Layer. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

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 A. Output of show tech. HPE Aruba Networking support and diagnostics documentation commonly uses technical-support command output as a key troubleshooting artifact for TAC analysis. The documentation specifically states to check physical cabling and generate show tech when opening a TAC case. The purpose of show tech output is to collect a broad set of switch operational details, including configuration, system status, interface information, logs, and other diagnostic data that can help TAC understand the condition of the device at the time of the issue. Option B is incorrect because “generated support keys” are not the standard required item from the listed choices for opening a CX switch TAC case. Option C is incorrect because TAC does not normally require open SSH access over the Internet, and exposing management access publicly would be poor security practice. Option D is incorrect because TAC may ask for software version information, but a copy of the running firmware image itself is not the first diagnostic item to prepare. The best initial evidence is the show tech output.

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 B. Connect the USB Bluetooth adapter to the switch’s USB-A port. HPE Aruba Networking CX 8100 installation documentation states that the Aruba CX mobile app and Aruba USB Bluetooth adapter enable switch configuration from a mobile device. It also identifies the CX 8100 front-panel USB-A auxiliary port as the port used for file management, switch software downloads, or Aruba accessories. Therefore, for an Android mobile setup workflow using the Aruba CX mobile app, the USB Bluetooth adapter connects to the switch’s USB-A auxiliary port. The USB-C port on the CX 8100 is a serial console port, not the port for the USB Bluetooth adapter. Connecting the Android phone directly to the USB-C console port is not the Bluetooth mobile-app method. Connecting the phone to the management port with an RJ-45 adapter is also not the recommended mobile-app setup method. The supported mobile method is the Aruba CX mobile app through the USB Bluetooth adapter.

The correct answer is B. HPE Aruba Networking Central has been manually disabled on the switch. The key line in the output is Central admin state : disabled. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the show aruba-central command provides an example of a switch when Aruba Central is disabled, showing Central admin state : disabled, Central connection values as N/A, and Central support mode as disabled. This indicates that the switch’s Central administrative state is disabled, so it is not attempting to connect to HPE Aruba Networking Central. Option A is incorrect because the VRF for connection : N/A value is a result of Central being disabled, not proof that the management VRF does not exist. Option C is incorrect because this command output does not report support-contract validity. Option D is incorrect because the factory-default Central behavior is not what is being shown; the output specifically reflects Central being disabled. Therefore, the correct interpretation is that Central has been manually disabled on the switch. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

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. Request to issue the command no shutdown on the port the DAC cable is connected to. On HPE Aruba Networking CX 8100 and similar data center switch platforms, interfaces are Layer 3 and disabled by default. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX IP Services documentation states that, by default, all interfaces on these platforms are Layer 3 and disabled, and its examples explicitly enable the interface with no shutdown. Therefore, even if a supported 10Gb DAC cable is physically attached and the peer switch port is monitored, the link will remain down until the CX 8100 interface is administratively enabled. Option A is not the best answer because the symptom is not that the DAC is in the wrong port; the default shutdown state explains the link-down condition. Option C is incorrect because switching enable is not the AOS-CX command used to bring the port online. Option D is incorrect because DAC cables do not require manual Tx/Rx polarity swapping like separate fiber strands might. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

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 C. No, SSH and HTTPS are enabled by default. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX hardening documentation states that, in the factory-default state, AOS-CX switches have SSH enabled on TCP port 22 and Web UI/read-write REST API enabled on TCP port 443. For the CX 6200 switch series, these services are enabled on both the default and management VRFs. These are secure management protocols because SSH encrypts CLI sessions and HTTPS encrypts web-management sessions. The same HPE Aruba guidance also notes that connections to TCP port 80 are automatically redirected to TCP port 443, which means HTTP is not used as the insecure management method. Option A is incorrect because Telnet is insecure and is not the correct default secure management protocol. Option B is incorrect because Telnet is not the default management method. Option D is incorrect because HTTP connections are redirected to HTTPS. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

The correct answer is A. CX 6400. The requirement calls for a chassis-based core switch that can scale to a 12U chassis and support 100G speeds toward the aggregation layer. HPE Aruba Networking CX 6400 QuickSpecs identify the CX 6400 as a modular switch family and include the larger CX 6410 chassis option, which is a 10-slot chassis platform. HPE also lists CX 6400 40/100GbE QSFP28 line modules, which provide the required 100G connectivity. This makes CX 6400 the correct fit for a chassis solution that can scale to the requested physical size and provide 100G uplinks. The CX 10000, CX 9300, and CX 8325 are fixed-form-factor platforms, not modular chassis solutions, so they do not match the stated chassis requirement. Therefore, the best initial proposal is the HPE Aruba Networking CX 6400.

The correct answer is D. As a response to the broadcast DHCP query. DHCP clients initially do not have an IP address, so they commonly use broadcast DHCP discovery/request traffic to locate a DHCP server on the local network. HPE Aruba Networking documentation for DHCP relay explains that when a DHCP client broadcasts a request, the DHCP relay agent on the switch receives the packets and forwards them to the DHCP server as unicast requests. In this scenario, the access points are in VLAN 50, and VLAN 50 also contains DHCP servers. Because the DHCP server is on the same local management VLAN as the APs, the APs can obtain addresses through the normal DHCP broadcast process within that VLAN. Anycast and multicast are not used for the basic DHCP address request in this scenario. A unicast DHCP relay message can occur between a relay agent and a DHCP server when the server is on another subnet, but the client-side DHCP discovery begins as broadcast traffic.

The correct matches are based on the high-availability technologies supported by each CX switch family in the answer list. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX VSF documentation states that VSF supports up to 8-member stacks for CX 6200F devices and up to 10-member stacks for CX 6300 devices. That makes CX 6200 match “VSF - 8 members” and CX 6300 match “VSF - 10 members.” HPE Aruba Networking documentation for VSX support lists the CX 8100 as a VSX-supported switch series, so CX 8100 matches “VSX.” The CX 6100 and CX 4100i do not match the listed VSF 8-member, VSF 10-member, or VSX choices. Although AOS-CX VSF documentation lists other VSF limits for some platforms, the choices provided only include VSF-8, VSF-10, VSX, and None; therefore, CX 6100 and CX 4100i map to “None” in this drag-and-drop question.

The correct answer is D. A DHCP server must be configured with the required options. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation explains that ZTP is used to automatically load a switch configuration from a server when the switch boots from a factory-default configuration. The AOS-CX Fundamentals Guide for the 4100i, 6000, and 6100 switch series states that ZTP supports DHCP standards and DHCP options, and that support is limited to the listed DHCP options for ZTP on AOS-CX. The same guide describes setting up ZTP on a trusted network by preparing the configuration, setting up a TFTP server, and configuring DHCP-related information. Option B is incorrect because the guide references TFTP, not SFTP, for the ZTP server workflow. Option C is incorrect because the listed process does not use SCP for the initial template download. Option A is misleading because ZTP is enabled only when the switch is in factory-default configuration; the key requirement is the DHCP-based provisioning environment with the proper options.

The correct answer is D. VSF stacking is supported within the same switch family members. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX VSF documentation states that a VSF stack supports combinations of models only within a supported switch family. For example, supported 6200 family models can stack with other supported 6200 family models, and supported 6300 family models can stack with other supported 6300 family models. The documentation also states that stacking is not supported across switch families. This means a VSF stack cannot mix unrelated platforms, such as chassis and fixed switches, or combine older AOS-S/Provision switches with AOS-CX switches in the same VSF stack. Option A is incorrect because VSF does not use proprietary backplane cabling; it uses supported Ethernet links, and the supported speeds depend on the switch family. Option B is incorrect because chassis and fixed platforms are not mixed in one VSF stack. Option C is incorrect because existing Provision/AOS-S switches cannot simply add CX switches as members in the same VSF stack.

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. 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. The management port is used for multi-active detection. The show vsf output clearly shows Split Detection Method : mgmt, which means the stack is using the management interface as the VSF split-detection method. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX VSF documentation states that VSF split detection provides a mechanism for stack fragments to discover each other if a stack split occurs. Once fragments are discovered, the fragment with the primary member remains active, while the other fragment becomes inactive and its non-VSF interfaces are brought down to avoid duplicate MAC or IP addresses and reduce network disruption. The same guide states that the 6200 and 6300 switch series support split detection through the management interface and that the CLI command to enable it is vsf split-detect mgmt. Option A is incorrect because the output does not show peer-switch-based detection. Option B is incorrect because “Status: No Split” is the current state, not the detection method. Option D is incorrect because a ring changing to a chain is a topology change, but the configured integrity method shown is management-based split detection. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )