HP HPE6-A86 HPE Network Switching Associate Exam Exam Practice Test

The correct answer is A. Must be manually configured. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation states that static routes are manually configured in the routing table. A static route defines a destination network and the next-hop address or exit interface that the switch should use to forward traffic. Static routes are useful in small, simple, or predictable networks because they are straightforward and do not require a dynamic routing protocol to exchange route information. Option B is incorrect because automatically learned routes are associated with dynamic routing protocols, such as OSPF or BGP, not static routing. Option C is incorrect because static routes usually have low processing overhead compared to dynamic routing protocols, since the switch does not need to run neighbor discovery, exchange routing updates, or calculate topology changes. Option D is incorrect because static routes do not automatically respond to network topology changes unless supported by an additional tracking mechanism or manually changed by an administrator. Therefore, the defining characteristic of a static route is manual configuration.

The correct answer is B. Light. Multi-mode cable refers to multi-mode fiber-optic cabling. In fiber-optic transmission, data is carried using light through the fiber core. HPE Aruba Networking’s transceiver documentation explains that multimode fibers have thicker fiber cores and can transport light in multiple modes. The same HPE Aruba Networking transceiver guidance discusses optical transceivers transmitting light pulses and managing light loss across fiber-optic cabling. Therefore, in the context of multi-mode fiber, the signal being modulated to represent data is light. Option A is incorrect because radio is used in wireless transmission, not fiber-optic cabling. Option C is incorrect because voltage is associated with electrical copper cabling, such as twisted-pair Ethernet, rather than optical fiber. Option D is incorrect because pressure is not used as the signaling method for standard Ethernet fiber links. This question is focused on Layer 1 media behavior, and multi-mode fiber is a Physical Layer medium that transports optical signals between network transceivers.

The correct answer is C. It shares the same network path as user data. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation explains that in-band management traffic uses the same network infrastructure as user data. In-band management typically occurs through normal switch data ports using protocols such as SSH or SNMP. Because it uses the data plane and the production network, in-band management can be affected by congestion, outages, misconfiguration, or other issues impacting the user network. Option A is not the best answer because implementation complexity depends on the design, and HPE’s key distinction is not that in-band is more complex. Option B is incorrect because out-of-band management is usually preferred for better management isolation and resiliency. Option D is incorrect because if the main production network path is unavailable, in-band management can also fail. Out-of-band management uses a dedicated console, USB console, or management port path separate from the production data network.

The correct answer is B. Configure an IP helper for the DHCP server. The IoT device is connected to VLAN 100, whose Layer 3 SVI is 10.100.1.1/24. The DHCP server is 10.200.1.51, which is in a different subnet. DHCP clients initially use broadcast messages to discover a DHCP server, and those broadcasts do not cross Layer 3 boundaries by default. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation explains that DHCP relay forwards DHCP client requests to configured DHCP servers, and that the ip helper-address command defines the address of a remote DHCP server or relay agent. The documentation also states that IP helper addresses can be configured on Layer 3 interfaces, Layer 3 VLAN interfaces, and LAG interfaces. Therefore, the correct fix is to configure ip helper-address 10.200.1.51 under interface vlan100. Disabling STP is not appropriate and could create Layer 2 loop risk. A static route may be needed for reachability in some designs, but it does not relay DHCP broadcasts. Broadcast-to-unicast conversion is not the required AOS-CX DHCP relay configuration.

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 D. A DHCP server needs to be configured with the required options. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the 4100i, 6000, and 6100 switch series states that ZTP supports standards-based Zero Touch Provisioning and that the DHCP server must be configured to provide the required ZTP server information. The documentation lists supported DHCP options, including vendor-specific option 43, and explains that the switch contacts a DHCP server when it boots from a factory-default configuration. HPE Aruba documentation also explains that a trusted-network ZTP setup uses a TFTP server for configuration and image files, with the DHCP server providing the required information for the switch to find those files. Therefore, DHCP options are the required foundation for ZTP. Option A is misleading because ZTP is tied to a factory-default boot state, not simply being enabled on the management interface. Option B is incorrect because SCP is not the documented ZTP download method here. Option C is incorrect because the guide describes TFTP, not SFTP, for this ZTP workflow.

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 A. A link between members 1 and 3 needs to be disconnected. The output shows that the current three-member VSF stack is built as a ring: member 1 connects to member 2, member 2 connects to member 3, and member 3 connects back to member 1. To insert an additional member into an existing physical ring, one of the ring links must be opened so the new switch can be cabled between the two existing members. In this case, disconnecting the link between members 1 and 3 allows the new member to be added between those members, preserving the ring topology after the new connections are made. HPE Aruba Networking VSF documentation states that VSF supports 6200F stacks in chain and ring topologies, with ring topology recommended for resiliency because each member has VSF link connectivity to two other members. Option B is incorrect because changing to chain topology is not required or preferred. Option C is incorrect because the existing VSF links are already being used for the ring. Option D is incorrect because the standby role is determined within the stack; the new member is not pre-provisioned as standby.

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 C. The port is removed from the switch’s data plane. On HPE Aruba Networking CX switches that support VSF, including the CX 6200 family, VSF ports are dedicated to the VSF stack fabric. HPE Aruba Networking’s AOS-CX VSF documentation explains that when an interface becomes part of a VSF link, no standard network-layer protocol or standard feature can run on that interface because it becomes part of the VSF stack fabric. This means the interface is no longer used like a normal front-panel data port for regular switching or routing traffic. Option A is incorrect because a VSF port does not become a routed port. Option B is incorrect because the statement is not the general rule for CX 6200 VSF ports. Option D is incorrect because ISL LAG terminology is associated with VSX designs, not VSF stacking. VSF uses VSF links to combine supported switches into a single logical switch with one control and management plane.

The correct answer is B. TCP port. The Transport Layer, Layer 4 of the OSI model, is responsible for end-to-end transport services between hosts. TCP and UDP operate at this layer, and TCP/UDP port numbers identify application conversations on a host. A TCP port is therefore a Layer 4 item. Option A is incorrect because an IP address belongs to Layer 3, the Network Layer, where logical addressing and routing occur. Option C is incorrect because a MAC address belongs to Layer 2, the Data Link Layer, where Ethernet switching and local delivery are handled. Option D is incorrect because a physical switch port is associated with the Physical Layer interface and Layer 2 switching behavior, not the Transport Layer. In HPE Aruba Networking CX configurations, ACLs also distinguish between IP addressing and Layer 4 protocol fields such as TCP or UDP ports, reinforcing that TCP port information is transport-layer information.

The correct answer is C. Input errors have occurred. The interface output shows CRC/FCS errors with a value of 1254 under the RX column. CRC/FCS errors are receive-side frame check errors, so they indicate that the switch has received corrupted frames on this interface. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX show interface documentation lists interface statistics including packets, bytes, dropped frames, pause frames, errors, CRC/FCS, collisions, runts, and giants, which confirms that CRC/FCS is part of the interface error statistics. Option A is incorrect because the output says VLAN Mode: access and Access VLAN: 90; an access VLAN is untagged toward the endpoint, not an 802.1Q tagged trunk VLAN. Option B is incorrect because the MTU is shown as 1500, and the Jumbos counter is 0, so the output does not indicate jumbo-frame use. Option D is incorrect because the shown output does not state that PoE is disabled. The key troubleshooting clue is the nonzero receive CRC/FCS counter. ( arubanetworking.hpe.com )

The correct answer is A. operators. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the CX 8400 identifies built-in user groups that exist by default on the switch. These include administrators, operators, and auditors. The operators group has limited privileges, such as basic display-only CLI access and the ability to view nonsensitive switch configuration information. It does not have full switch configuration privileges. The other options—helpdesk, servicedesk, and support—are not listed as built-in default user groups for the CX 8400. Those names could be created manually as custom local user groups in some environments, but they are not default AOS-CX groups. Therefore, from the available choices, the default group is operators.

The correct answer is B. To find the destination MAC address for a specific IP address. ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol, is used on IPv4 Ethernet networks to map a Layer 3 IPv4 address to a Layer 2 MAC address. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation states that ARP maps network addresses assigned to devices to physical addresses, and specifically maps IPv4 network addresses to Layer 2 MAC addresses on Ethernet networks. When a host wants to send traffic to another IPv4 device on the same local network, or to its default gateway, it must know the destination MAC address to build the Ethernet frame. If the MAC address is not already in its ARP table, it sends an ARP request asking which device owns the target IP address. Option A is incorrect because ARP is not used to find a source IP address. Option C is incorrect because the device already knows its own source MAC address. Option D describes reverse mapping, which is not the purpose of a normal ARP request.

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 A. Root bridge. In a switched infrastructure using Spanning Tree Protocol, the root bridge is the central reference point for calculating the loop-free Layer 2 topology. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation explains that device roles, such as root bridge or leaf node, should be planned by adjusting spanning tree instance priority. It also notes that the placement of root bridges is important in a Layer 2 network domain because deterministic root and secondary root bridges provide predictability and protection. Switches calculate their best path toward the root bridge based on spanning tree information such as bridge priority, path cost, and port roles. This calculation determines which ports forward and which ports block to prevent loops. Option B is incorrect because a designated bridge or designated port forwards traffic for a segment but does not define the overall topology reference point. Option C is incorrect because “alternative bridge” is not the entity that defines best path selection. Option D is incorrect because “common bridge” is not the correct STP role.

The correct answer is B. PoE is disabled on the interface. If there are no lights on the access point, the first issue to investigate is whether the AP is receiving power. HPE Aruba Networking 550 Series installation documentation identifies Power over Ethernet as a supported power source for the AP, including IEEE 802.3bt or 802.3at PoE. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the CX 6000/6100 PoE command shows that per-interface power distribution can be enabled with power-over-ethernet and disabled with no power-over-ethernet. If PoE is disabled on the switch interface, the AP will not receive power from the Ethernet cable and therefore may show no LEDs. Option A is incorrect because a missing STP configuration would not prevent the AP from powering on. Option C is incorrect because failure to reach HPE Aruba Networking Central would occur after the AP is powered and network-connected. Option D is also incorrect because a wrong VLAN can prevent management or provisioning, but it would not normally stop the AP LEDs from turning on.

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 B. Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation defines AAA as the security framework used to manage user access, enforce privileges, and log user access records. Authentication identifies users and validates their credentials. Authorization determines what authenticated users are allowed to do, such as which commands or services they can access. Accounting records user activity, access events, or resource usage for auditing and tracking. AAA can use local user accounts or remote authentication services such as RADIUS and TACACS+, depending on the switch configuration and security design. Option A is incorrect because AAA does not stand for Aruba Authentication Algorithm. Option C is not the correct expansion of the acronym. Option D uses similar-sounding terms but is not the official meaning. In HPE Aruba Networking documentation, AAA means Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting.

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 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 B. There are more than 8 bits in the host portion. The subnet mask 255.255.254.0 converts to a /23 prefix because the first two octets, 255.255, represent 16 network bits, and the third octet value 254 represents seven more network bits. That gives 23 network bits total. IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, so 32 minus 23 leaves 9 host bits. Since 9 is more than 8, option B is correct. HPE Aruba Networking documentation uses prefix length as CIDR subnet-mask notation and supports IPv4 prefix lengths from 1 to 32, matching the /23 interpretation. Option A is incorrect because “10.64” alone is not the full network portion for a /23 network. The actual network range is 10.64.0.0/23. Option C is incorrect because the broadcast address for 10.64.0.0/23 is 10.64.1.255, not 10.64.0.240. Option D is incorrect because 255.255.254.0 is /23, not /25.

The correct answer is B. You need to specify the mgmt VRF at the end of the ping command. On HPE Aruba Networking CX switches, the out-of-band management interface uses the management VRF. If you issue a normal ping 10.1.50.11 command without specifying the management VRF, the switch attempts to send the ping using the default routing context rather than the out-of-band management interface. HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX documentation for the ping command shows that the command supports the optional vrf < vrfname > parameter. The AOS-CX diagnostics documentation also specifically lists this as a cause of ping failure: the user intended to ping through the management VRF but forgot to add vrf mgmt to the command. The correct command would therefore be similar to ping 10.1.50.11 vrf mgmt. Option A is incorrect because the management interface can reach routed destinations if the management VRF has the proper route. Option C is incorrect because the management VRF already exists. Option D is incorrect because ping is supported.

The correct answer is B. The SNMP service on the Conductor switch will respond to all SNMP queries for the stack. A CX 6200F VSF stack operates as a single logical switch. HPE Aruba Networking VSF documentation explains that one switch in the stack is the Conductor, and the Conductor runs the control-plane software and manages the ASICs of all stack members. The Standby member maintains a synchronized copy of the Conductor’s configuration database and can assume the Conductor role after a failure. HPE Aruba Networking documentation also states that configuration changes are applied on the Conductor switch and then synchronized to the Standby. Since the VSF stack is managed as one logical system, SNMP monitoring is performed against the stack through the active Conductor role, not by independently polling each member as a separate switch. Option A is incorrect because SNMP is not separately enabled per VSF member. Option C is incorrect because SNMP is not enabled by default on each OOBM port for member-specific queries. Option D is incorrect because both Conductor and Standby do not independently answer as separate stacked SNMP endpoints.

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.

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 D. Create VSF on the CX 6200 switches and a LAG between the CX 6200 and 2530 switches. HPE Aruba Networking documentation explains that VSF allows multiple individual switches to operate as a single logical device using standard Ethernet links. The CX 6200 supports VSF stacking, so two CX 6200 aggregation switches can be combined into a single logical aggregation switch. HPE Aruba Networking Layer 2 documentation also describes link aggregation as grouping individual physical interfaces into a single logical link, increasing bandwidth and providing resiliency when links fail. In this design, the 2530 access switch can use two uplink ports in a trunk/LAG toward the aggregation layer, while the CX 6200 side operates as one logical switch because of VSF. Option A is incorrect because a CX 6200 and a 2530 cannot be placed into one common VSF stack. Option B is incorrect for the same reason: the 2530 is not stacked with the CX 6200. Option C is incomplete because a LAG from one access switch to two separate aggregation switches requires the aggregation side to act as one logical switch, which is provided by VSF in option D.

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 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.