HPE2-W07 Selling Aruba Products and Solutions Questions and Answers

A key Aruba Instant On advantage that you should point out is that Instant On solutions can seamlessly grow into Aruba ESP solutions, while Meraki limits growth. Aruba Instant On is a simple and affordable solution for small businesses that provides reliable wired and wireless connectivity with easy management from an app or web portal. Instant On solutions can scale up to support more devices and features by transitioning to Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform), a cloud-native platform that enables customers to harness the power of data at the edge using AI and automation. Meraki solutions are more expensive and complex than Instant On solutions, and they do not offer a smooth migration path to ESP solutions.

RFProtect is an Aruba security feature that you should discuss with a customer who is concerned about rogue Aps and wireless denial of service (DoS) attacks2. RFProtect is a feature that provides wireless intrusion protection system (WIPS) capabilities to detect and prevent unauthorized access points, clients, ad-hoc networks, spoofing attacks, interference sources, etc., from compromising the wireless network2. It also provides spectrum analysis tools to monitor and troubleshoot RF issues.

According to Aruba’s website1, Aruba Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions are solutions that allow customers to consume Aruba’s technology as a service with HPE GreenLake for Aruba. This means that customers can access Aruba’s entire portfolio of networking, security, and edge services without having to own or manage any hardware or software.

What distinguishes an Aruba SaaS solution from a simple subscription-based solution is that with the SaaS solution, Aruba handles maintaining and updating the software2. This means that customers do not have to worry about software patches, upgrades, or licenses. They also get access to the latest features and innovations from Aruba.

https://www.arubanetworks.com/solutions/naas/

The Aruba mobile engagement solution is designed for large public-facing enterprises that want to engage with their guests by offering them high-performance Wi-Fi access via a custom-branded web portal, as well as through location-aware mobile apps that deliver onsite search, indoor wayfinding and personalized push-notifications based on their opt-in preferences34. A customer statement that indicates an ideal opportunity for selling this solution is one that expresses a desire to enhance the guest experience by providing them with useful information and services based on their location within the venue5. Therefore, option A is correct because it shows how an airport can use the Aruba mobile engagement solution to improve the traveler’s journey by helping them find parking spots, navigate through the terminal, and discover deals at nearby shops or restaurants. Option B is incorrect because it does not relate to guest engagement, but rather to network performance and quality of service for educational purposes. Option C is incorrect because it does not relate to guest engagement, but rather to network troubleshooting and optimization for application development. Option D is incorrect because it does not relate to guest engagement, but rather to network management and visibility for device inventory.

Aruba AIOps provides insights for network health and connectivity performance1. It uses AI and analytics to identify root causes, auto-remediate issues, proactively monitor user experience, and optimize the network23.

Aruba NetEdit is a software tool that helps network administrators avoid configuration errors by validating consistency and compliance across multiple devices12.

A branch office that needs a simple deployment is a scenario for which Aruba Instant APs are the recommended wireless solution12. Aruba Instant APs are controllerless APs that can form a self-organizing and self-healing mesh network with one AP acting as a virtual controller (VC) that automatically configures and manages other APs12. This simplifies the deployment and operation of branch networks without requiring additional hardware or software licenses12. A home office that needs a simple way to connect to a corporate office is not a scenario for which Aruba Instant APs are the recommended wireless solution; rather it is a scenario for which Aruba Remote APs (RAPs) are the recommended wireless solution. RAPs are controller-based APs that can establish secure VPN tunnels with an Aruba Mobility Controller (MC) located at the corporate office and provide seamless access to corporate resources for remote workers3. An enterprise that needs automation and centralized management is not a scenario for which Aruba Instant APs are the recommended wireless solution; rather it is a scenario for which ArubaOS 10 (AOS 10) APs are the recommended wireless solution. AOS 10 APs are distributed network operating system (DNOS) devices that can be managed by Aruba Central, a cloud-based platform that provides automation, AI-powered optimization, and unified wired and wireless management24. An enterprise that needs bluetooth for location-based services is not a scenario for which Aruba Instant APs are the recommended wireless solution; rather it is a scenario for which Aruba Beacons or Tags are the recommended wireless solution. Beacons and Tags use Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) technology to provide indoor location data for mobile apps that can enhance user engagement, wayfinding, asset tracking, and analytics56.

The two Aruba features that you should emphasize in your discussions with this customer are AirMatch and Dynamic segmentation. AirMatch is a feature that optimizes network performance by quickly adapting to system-wide RF conditions using AI machine learning principles12. It automates RF optimization across the entire network by adjusting channel, bandwidth and transmit power settings34. Dynamic segmentation is a feature that simplifies network access and security by dynamically enforcing policies based on user roles, device types and applications5. It enables consistent policy enforcement across wired and wireless networks by tunneling traffic from access switches to mobility controllers.

The Silver Peak acquisition enhances Aruba’s SD-WAN capabilities by adding a self-driving WAN edge platform that delivers secure access to cloud applications. This enables enterprises to simplify their WAN operations and reduce costs.

Listen for opportunities to refresh servers or to increase speed at the top of the rack, then extend the conversation to enhancing automation and visibility1. Aruba data center solutions are designed to simplify and automate network operations, improve performance and reliability, and enable cloud-native applications1.

Aruba Central provides simple cloud-based management and Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for Aruba switches and APs12. This simplifies deploying and managing the infrastructure devices for SMBs.

• Aruba offers switches that work well on campus and in the datacenter, while Arista is more focused on large datacenters and cloud providers12. Aruba switches provide a consistent operating system, management platform, and feature set across both environments, simplifying operations and reducing costs2.
• Aruba offers several switch families, each specialized for a different purpose, such as core, aggregation, access, or spine-leaf2. Arista only offers one switch line that is mainly designed for spine-leaf architectures in large datacenters13. Aruba switches can provide more flexibility and scalability for customers who have diverse needs and use cases2.
• Aruba can provide this customer with simple unified solutions across the campus and datacenter that leverage cloud-native micro-services architecture, automation, analytics, and security2. Arista focuses more on the needs of large datacenters that require high performance and low latency but may not offer the same level of simplicity and integration as Aruba13.

The Aruba Software Platform is a next-generation, cloud-native architecture that enables you to accelerate digital business transformation through automated network management, Edge-to-cloud security, and predictive AI-powered insights1. It is programmable, with an API-first design that helps to encourage automation and integration1. It does not use proprietary technologies that prevent third-party integration1, nor does it embed the ArubaOS-CX Network Analytics Engine (NAE) into all wired and wireless infrastructure23, nor does it offer exclusive cloud deployment1.

According to Aruba’s Unified Infrastructure Solution Overview document3, two key opportunities that Aruba recommends that you pursue to sell Aruba Unified Infrastructure in the campus are:

• WI-FI 6 upgrades: WI-FI 6 is the latest wireless standard that delivers faster speeds, higher capacity, lower latency, and better power efficiency. It also supports more devices and applications on the same network. Aruba offers a range of WI-FI 6 access points and switches that can help customers upgrade their wireless infrastructure and improve user experience.
• Transitions to Aruba ESP: Aruba ESP is a platform that enables unified infrastructure management, AI-powered insights and automation, security and compliance assurance, and flexible deployment options. It can help customers simplify their network operations, optimize their performance and reliability, enhance their security posture, and reduce their costs.

You should recommend an Aruba virtual gateway for connecting Aruba branch gateways to cloud applications through a virtual private cloud such as Amazon web Services (AWS)12. This allows customers to bring their public cloud infrastructure to the SD-WAN fabric and facilitate connectivity between branches and the public cloud3

The “better than cloud” approach is one of Aruba’s guiding principles that lets customers know that Aruba offers a flexible network architecture that can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud2. The “customer first, customer last” approach is not specific to Aruba but rather a general principle of HPE3.

Aruba Instant On devices automatically update their software to ensure they stay safe without extra customer attention3. This offers security tailored to the needs of small businesses who may not have dedicated IT staff or resources. They do not contact central aruba to receive centrally defined security policies, support dynamic segmentation, or integrate with aruba Clearpass.

Central Aruba offers a single control panel between wired, wireless and SD-WAN networks2. This simplifies management and reduces operational costs for customers who have multiple architectures from different vendors. Dynamic segmentation Unified Policy on Cisco Switches and Aruba Wireless Devices is a feature of Aruba ESP, but not a benefit of moving to a unified infrastructure. Aruba’s dual architectures and built-in management consoles are not advantages over Cisco Meraki solutions.

Aruba Beacons use Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) technology to precisely track the location of mobile users through their mobile devices56. This enables your customers to provide indoor location data for mobile apps that can enhance user engagement, wayfinding, asset tracking, and analytics56. Aruba Asset Tags do not use BLE technology to track the location of mobile users through their mobile devices; rather they use BLE technology to track the location of physical assets such as equipment or inventory. Aruba APs in Air Monitor (AM) mode do not use BLE technology to track the location of mobile users through their mobile devices; rather they use Wi-Fi technology to monitor the air for rogue APs, interference sources, or security threats. Aruba APs in Spectrum Monitor (SM) mode do not use BLE technology to track the location of mobile users through their mobile devices; rather they use Wi-Fi technology to scan the spectrum for non-Wi-Fi interference sources such as microwave ovens or cordless phones.

Aruba Client Match is aware of which clients support Wi-Fi 6 and distributes clients across APs so as to optimize throughput1. Aruba Wi-Fi 6 APs provide high-performance, medium-density connectivity for enterprise networks of any size1. They also support features such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and Target Wake Time for better multi-user performance and improved efficiency1.

IT is concerned about the security implications of moving workloads to the edge because it exposes more data and devices to potential threats. According to a survey by IDC and Lumen Technologies, 72% of IT leaders cited security as their top challenge for edge computing.

The one reason you should recommend the Aruba 2930F rather than the Aruba 2540 at the access layer is option D because it reflects one of the main advantages of the Aruba 2930F: scalability with VSF. The Aruba 2930F supports VSF, which is a feature that allows up to four switches to be logically stacked together and managed as a single entity1. This provides increased performance, redundancy, and simplified management for distributed campus networks1. The Aruba 2540 does not support VSF or any other stacking technology23.

Aruba AI Insight. Aruba AI Insight is a cloud-based service that uses AI and machine learning to analyze network data and provide insights for troubleshooting and optimization.

You need to change the APs’ mode to Campus mode and upgrade to campus software before adding the gateways1. This is because AP-only deployment model does not support gateways2.

One security benefit that the controllers provide is that they can apply role-based firewall policies to wireless and wired traffic3. Role-based access control (RBAC) is a feature that assigns roles to users and devices based on their identity, location, device type, time of day, etc., and enforces granular policies at the edge of the network3. This helps prevent unauthorized access and data leakage across the network.