Understanding ArubaOS: Version 6.x

Understanding ArubaOS goes beyond documenting and describing the Aruba controller–based operating system. It focuses on explaining the ArubaOS environment and architecture. The Aruba controller–based operating system is extremely powerful and capable, providing many different features. This book attempts to increase the reader’s understanding of how this powerful tool can improve the security and quality in any size wireless network.

Written by an instructor with over 13 years of Aruba training experience, Understanding ArubaOS will help you understand the different pieces of the Aruba controller–based wireless system, the functions of these pieces, and how they fit together. This book does not just focus on the commands and configuration screens, but gives functional knowledge about the entire Aruba Networks wireless system.

The book takes a very matter-of-fact, straightforward approach to understanding the Aruba Networks architecture and its components. Stories and analogies are used to make it easier to understand complex topics. The book is not intended to be an A through Z, step-by-step user’s guide to configuring ArubaOS; however, it does provide hundreds of graphics and CLI commands, along with the output displayed, describing and showing the steps to perform most of the tasks in the book.

Numerous logic diagrams are provided, along with pages of explanations, describing what occurs at each step in the process. These diagrams include:

• Master/local architecture
• AP forwarding modes
• Role/VLAN derivation flowchart
• Virtual AP (VAP) profile components
• 802.1X VAP
• Captive portal VAP
• PSK VAP
• Captive portal logical flow
• Remote AP (RAP) configuration

If you are new to Aruba Networks Wireless controller platform, this book will provide a good foundation that will make it easier for you to further learn and understand the product through formal Aruba training classes, hands-on experience, conversations with your peers, and through the many other available Aruba resources.

If you are already familiar with Aruba Networks, this book will help you understand concepts that you may not be familiar with, and help you better understand the more advanced features of the ArubaOS by reinforcing the foundation that those advanced subjects are built on. Understanding ArubaOS is truly a resource for an Aruba network administrator at any level.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Wireless Overview
Chapter 2: Understanding the ArubaOS Environment
Chapter 3: Aruba Controller and Software Overview
Chapter 4: Getting Started
Chapter 5: Profiles
Chapter 6: Authentication and Encryption
Chapter 7: Role Derivation
Chapter 8: Policy Enforcement Firewall
Chapter 9: Captive Portal
Chapter 10: Network Expansion
Chapter 11: Access Points
Chapter 12: Adaptive Radio Management
Chapter 13: Network Monitoring
Chapter 14: Wireless Mesh
Chapter 15: Wireless Intrusion Prevention