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Aruba Associate practice questions

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Question 1WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which IEEE 802.11 amendment first introduced operation in the 5 GHz band alongside the original 2.4 GHz design?

  1. 802.11g
  2. 802.11b
  3. 802.11a Correct answer.
  4. 802.11n

Explanation

802.11a defined OFDM operation in the 5 GHz UNII bands with data rates up to 54 Mbps. The 2.4 GHz amendments (b and g) came separately, and 802.11n later added MIMO across both bands.

Question 2WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

In the 2.4 GHz ISM band, which set of center frequencies is used by the three non-overlapping 20 MHz channels commonly recommended in North America?

  1. Channels 1, 5, and 9
  2. Channels 3, 8, and 13
  3. Channels 2, 7, and 12
  4. Channels 1, 6, and 11 Correct answer.

Explanation

2.4 GHz channels are spaced 5 MHz apart, so a 20 MHz channel overlaps its four neighbors on each side. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are separated by 25 MHz and therefore do not overlap.

Question 3WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A client reports a strong signal but very low throughput near the edge of a coverage cell. Which RF condition most directly explains a high signal level combined with poor data rates?

  1. Excessive transmit power on the AP
  2. Use of WPA2 encryption
  3. Channel width set to 20 MHz
  4. High noise floor reducing SNR Correct answer.

Explanation

Throughput depends on SNR, not absolute signal strength. A high noise floor can leave a strong received signal with a poor SNR, forcing a low MCS rate. Encryption and channel width do not create this symptom.

Question 4WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which term describes the loss of RF signal strength as it travels through free space and physical obstructions?

  1. Fresnel zone clearance
  2. Multipath
  3. Path loss Correct answer.
  4. Antenna gain

Explanation

Path loss is the attenuation of a radio wave between transmitter and receiver, increasing with distance and frequency. Multipath is the arrival of reflected copies, not bulk attenuation.

Question 5WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

An AP is configured for 80 MHz channel width in a dense 5 GHz deployment. What is the primary operational trade-off of this choice?

  1. Increased 2.4 GHz capacity with no impact on 5 GHz
  2. Fewer available non-overlapping channels and higher susceptibility to interference Correct answer.
  3. Elimination of adjacent channel interference
  4. Reduced peak throughput but improved co-channel reuse

Explanation

Wide channels bond multiple 20 MHz sub-channels, consuming more spectrum and leaving fewer clean channels for neighboring APs. That raises the chance of co-channel and adjacent-channel interference in dense areas.

Question 6WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which antenna type radiates energy roughly equally in all horizontal directions and is typically used for ceiling-mounted APs?

  1. Omnidirectional Correct answer.
  2. Sector
  3. Parabolic dish
  4. Yagi

Explanation

An omnidirectional antenna produces a doughnut-shaped pattern with broad horizontal coverage, suitable for covering an open floor area. Directional types concentrate energy in a narrower beam.

Question 7WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A wireless survey shows received power of -67 dBm at the client. Which statement about this reading is accurate?

  1. It indicates the client is transmitting at 67 mW
  2. It is a ratio comparing two identical signals
  3. It is expressed in dBi and reflects antenna gain
  4. It is a negative dBm value representing a power level below 1 mW Correct answer.

Explanation

dBm is an absolute power unit referenced to 1 mW, so values below 0 dBm represent less than 1 mW. A -67 dBm reading is a typical usable client signal level.

Question 8WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement correctly describes the difference between co-channel interference and adjacent channel interference?

  1. Co-channel occurs only in 5 GHz; adjacent occurs only in 2.4 GHz
  2. Co-channel involves APs on the same channel; adjacent involves APs on neighboring overlapping channels Correct answer.
  3. Co-channel affects only uplink; adjacent affects only downlink
  4. Co-channel is caused by antenna gain; adjacent is caused by path loss

Explanation

Co-channel interference comes from transmitters sharing the same channel and requires CSMA/CA sharing or physical separation. Adjacent channel interference arises when partially overlapping channels leak energy into each other.

Question 9WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A point-to-point bridge must span 3 km between two buildings. Which antenna choice best supports this link?

  1. Internal AP antennas mounted indoors
  2. A single sector antenna at one end only
  3. Low-gain omnidirectional antennas on both ends
  4. High-gain directional antennas aligned on both ends Correct answer.

Explanation

Long-distance links require concentrated energy and a clear line of sight, which high-gain directional antennas provide. Omnidirectional or indoor antennas waste energy and cannot sustain the link budget.

Question 10WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which factor most strongly determines the maximum supported MCS rate for a single Wi-Fi client?

  1. Authentication method and RADIUS server count
  2. SSID name length and VLAN assignment
  3. Channel width, MIMO spatial streams, and SNR Correct answer.
  4. DHCP lease duration and DNS settings

Explanation

The achievable PHY rate depends on channel width, the number of spatial streams, guard interval, and the modulation/coding scheme selected from SNR. Layer 3 and authentication settings do not set the RF rate.

Question 11WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which 802.11 feature allows an AP to serve multiple clients simultaneously on the same channel by using multiple antennas and spatial streams?

  1. WMM
  2. DFS
  3. Band steering
  4. MU-MIMO Correct answer.

Explanation

MU-MIMO uses multiple antennas to transmit to several clients concurrently within the same channel, improving aggregate throughput. DFS, WMM, and band steering address different problems.

Question 12WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement about the 5 GHz UNII bands is correct?

  1. UNII channels are spaced 5 MHz apart like 2.4 GHz channels
  2. Some UNII channels require DFS and transmit power control to protect radar systems Correct answer.
  3. UNII-1 is reserved exclusively for outdoor bridging
  4. All UNII channels are restricted to indoor use only

Explanation

Portions of the 5 GHz spectrum overlap radar allocations, so regulators require DFS and often TPC on those channels. Other UNII channels are unrestricted for indoor and outdoor use as permitted.

Question 13WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

An AP shows a channel utilization of 85 percent with only a few active clients. Which conclusion is most reasonable?

  1. Interference or management/control overhead is consuming airtime Correct answer.
  2. The DHCP pool is exhausted
  3. The clients are all transmitting at the highest MCS rate
  4. The AP is operating on a 20 MHz channel

Explanation

High channel utilization with low client traffic points to airtime consumed by interference, retries, or management frames. It is not explained by high data rates or DHCP behavior.

Question 14WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which mechanism does 802.11 use to reduce the hidden node problem in a basic service set?

  1. Beacon interval adjustment
  2. Fragmentation threshold increase
  3. WPA3-SAE handshake
  4. RTS/CTS exchange Correct answer.

Explanation

RTS/CTS reserves the medium by having the AP respond to a client's request, alerting other stations that the channel is in use. This mitigates collisions caused by stations that cannot hear each other.

Question 15WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement best describes the role of the basic service set identifier (BSSID) in a WLAN?

  1. It identifies the Layer 3 subnet used by clients
  2. It encrypts management frames
  3. It identifies a specific AP radio instance within an SSID Correct answer.
  4. It defines the regulatory domain of the AP

Explanation

The BSSID is the MAC address of an AP's radio and uniquely identifies one basic service set. Multiple BSSIDs can share a single SSID in an ESS.

Question 16WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A client roams between two APs and experiences a brief outage. Which factor most affects how quickly the client can reassociate?

  1. The color of the AP enclosure
  2. The SSID broadcast setting on both APs
  3. The time required for scanning and the security handshake Correct answer.
  4. The number of VLANs configured on the switch

Explanation

Roaming latency is dominated by channel scanning and key exchange with the new AP. Fast roaming features such as 802.11r shorten the security portion of that delay.

Question 17WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement about EIRP is correct?

  1. EIRP combines transmit power with antenna gain minus cable loss Correct answer.
  2. EIRP is measured only at the receiver
  3. EIRP is independent of regulatory limits
  4. EIRP equals the noise floor of the channel

Explanation

Effective isotropic radiated power is the total power radiated in the strongest direction, calculated from radio transmit power plus antenna gain minus feedline loss. Regulators cap EIRP per band and channel.

Question 18WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which condition indicates that an outdoor point-to-point link may suffer from insufficient Fresnel zone clearance?

  1. Both antennas are mounted at the same height above ground
  2. The link uses WPA2-PSK
  3. The link uses 80 MHz channel width
  4. The line of sight clears the ground but terrain intrudes into the ellipsoid around the path Correct answer.

Explanation

The Fresnel zone is an ellipsoid around the direct path that must be mostly unobstructed for a stable link. Terrain or obstacles intruding into it cause diffraction loss even when the geometric line of sight is clear.

Question 19WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

What is the main purpose of band steering on a dual-radio AP?

  1. To encourage capable clients to associate on 5 GHz Correct answer.
  2. To increase the AP's transmit power
  3. To disable DFS channels
  4. To convert 2.4 GHz clients into 5 GHz-only hardware

Explanation

Band steering uses probe suppression or delayed responses on 2.4 GHz so dual-band clients prefer the less congested 5 GHz radio. It does not modify client hardware or power settings.

Question 20WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which two factors determine the free-space path loss between two isotropic antennas?

  1. Channel utilization and retry rate
  2. Encryption type and SSID
  3. Distance and frequency Correct answer.
  4. Antenna color and cable length

Explanation

Free-space path loss grows with the square of distance and the square of frequency, so both separation and operating frequency set the loss. Other listed items are unrelated to the propagation model.

Question 21WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A network designer observes that a 5 GHz signal attenuates more than a 2.4 GHz signal over the same interior path. Which explanation is most accurate?

  1. 5 GHz uses narrower channels
  2. Higher frequency experiences greater free-space loss and material absorption Correct answer.
  3. 2.4 GHz signals travel through walls without any loss
  4. 5 GHz radios always transmit at lower power by regulation

Explanation

Path loss increases with frequency, and building materials absorb higher frequencies more strongly. This is why 5 GHz coverage cells are generally smaller than 2.4 GHz cells at similar power.

Question 22WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement about a wireless client's data rate versus its actual throughput is correct?

  1. Throughput is higher than the PHY rate due to compression
  2. Throughput always equals the negotiated PHY rate
  3. Throughput is determined solely by the SSID
  4. Throughput is lower than the PHY rate because of overhead, contention, and retries Correct answer.

Explanation

The PHY rate is the raw modulation rate, while goodput is reduced by preambles, interframe spacing, acknowledgments, contention, and retransmissions. Real throughput is typically a fraction of the negotiated rate.

Question 23WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which 802.11 mechanism allows an AP to transmit to a client that is in power-save mode without losing frames?

  1. Buffering frames and delivering them after beacon TIM indications Correct answer.
  2. Using a narrower channel for that client
  3. Disabling encryption for that client
  4. Sending frames only during the association handshake

Explanation

Power-save clients sleep and wake for beacons; the AP buffers frames and signals pending traffic in the traffic indication map. The client then polls or waits for delivery.

Question 24WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement best explains why 2.4 GHz networks often show more interference than 5 GHz networks in the same building?

  1. 5 GHz uses only DFS channels
  2. 5 GHz channels cannot overlap
  3. The 2.4 GHz band is narrower and shared with many non-Wi-Fi devices Correct answer.
  4. The 2.4 GHz band has more non-overlapping channels

Explanation

The 2.4 GHz ISM band offers only three non-overlapping 20 MHz channels and is used by Bluetooth, cordless phones, and microwaves. The wider 5 GHz band provides many more non-overlapping channels.

Question 25WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A site survey shows a -72 dBm signal at the intended coverage boundary with a -90 dBm noise floor. What is the approximate SNR?

  1. 162 dB
  2. -18 dB
  3. 0.8 dB
  4. 18 dB Correct answer.

Explanation

SNR is the difference between signal and noise in dB: -72 minus -90 equals 18 dB. This value indicates a workable but not strong link for higher MCS rates.

Question 26WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A dual-band AP is configured with a single SSID that is broadcast on both its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios. Which statement describes how a client selects which radio to associate with?

  1. The band is fixed by the SSID name, because each SSID is bound to exactly one radio.
  2. The distribution system decides the band by mapping the client MAC address to a radio at the controller.
  3. The AP assigns the band by refusing association on 2.4 GHz whenever the 5 GHz radio is enabled.
  4. The client scans both bands and typically chooses based on its own preference and the signal it hears, while the AP can influence the choice through band steering. Correct answer.

Explanation

In a standard deployment the SSID is simply a logical name; the client performs scanning and decides which BSS to join based on its own band preference and the beacons and probe responses it receives. The infrastructure can only influence that decision, for example by delaying probe responses on 2.4 GHz or by using band steering features.

Question 27WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

An engineer needs to describe the coverage area of a single AP radio in an office. Which term correctly identifies the set of stations that can communicate directly with that radio?

  1. The independent basic service set
  2. The basic service set Correct answer.
  3. The extended service set
  4. The distribution system

Explanation

A basic service set (BSS) is the fundamental building block of an 802.11 network: the AP radio together with the stations associated to it. Multiple BSSs joined by a distribution system form an extended service set, which is a larger construct than a single radio's coverage.

Question 28WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A wireless design must support VoIP handsets with low latency. Which channel width choice on 5 GHz best balances throughput and channel availability in a dense office?

  1. 160 MHz, because wider channels always reduce per-frame airtime.
  2. 40 MHz, because it doubles throughput with no effect on reuse.
  3. 80 MHz, because it is the widest width supported by all clients.
  4. 20 MHz, because narrower channels increase the number of non-overlapping channels and reduce airtime per transmission. Correct answer.

Explanation

Channel width trades throughput per transmission against spectrum consumption. A 20 MHz channel occupies less spectrum, so more non-overlapping channels exist for reuse and each frame spends less time on air, which lowers contention and latency in dense deployments.

Question 29WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A wireless engineer wants to reduce the chance that a client associates with a distant AP at very low signal. Which configuration most directly addresses this goal?

  1. Increasing the transmit power of all APs to maximum
  2. Setting a minimum basic rate and a receive signal threshold on the AP Correct answer.
  3. Reducing the beacon interval to 50 ms
  4. Enabling 802.11r fast roaming on the controller

Explanation

Sticky clients are usually prevented by making the far AP unattractive: raising the minimum basic rate forces a higher modulation and coding requirement, and a receive signal threshold causes the AP to reject or drop clients below a chosen RSSI. Together these encourage the client to seek a closer AP.

Question 30WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement correctly describes how OFDM subcarriers relate to channel width in an 802.11a/g/n/ac radio?

  1. Subcarrier spacing scales with channel width, so the number of subcarriers stays constant.
  2. Subcarrier spacing is fixed, so a wider channel contains more subcarriers and carries more data per symbol. Correct answer.
  3. Wider channels use fewer subcarriers but each carries more bits through a higher modulation.
  4. Channel width affects only the guard interval and has no effect on the number of subcarriers.

Explanation

OFDM uses a fixed subcarrier spacing (312.5 kHz in legacy 802.11a/g, and 78.125 kHz in 802.11ax), so doubling the channel width roughly doubles the usable subcarriers. More subcarriers per symbol means more data carried per OFDM symbol, which is why wider channels raise the peak rate.

Question 31WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A client reports a strong signal but poor throughput. The AP shows a high retry count and the client is far from the AP but still associated. Which explanation fits best?

  1. The client is using a legacy 802.11b rate that limits the whole cell.
  2. The channel is too wide for the client's radio to tune.
  3. The client is likely at a low MCS with high error rates, so many frames are retried and airtime is wasted. Correct answer.
  4. The AP is using too many spatial streams for the client to decode.

Explanation

A high retry count indicates that frames are failing and being retransmitted, which consumes airtime without delivering payload. A distant client often operates at a low MCS with marginal SNR, so its frames fail frequently even though the reported signal may look adequate.

Question 32WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement about the 2.4 GHz ISM band is accurate for WLAN planning?

  1. It offers three non-overlapping 20 MHz channels (1, 6, and 11) in the common North American plan. Correct answer.
  2. It offers 13 non-overlapping 20 MHz channels in most regulatory domains.
  3. It offers 24 non-overlapping channels because each 5 MHz step is independent.
  4. It offers no non-overlapping channels because all channels overlap completely.

Explanation

The 2.4 GHz ISM band provides roughly 83 MHz of usable spectrum, which fits three 20 MHz channels without overlap in the common plan (1, 6, and 11). Adjacent 5 MHz channel numbers overlap heavily, so they cannot be used as independent cells.

Question 33WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

An AP is mounted on a high ceiling and must cover a roughly circular area below it. Which antenna characteristic is most important for this placement?

  1. High front-to-back ratio for backhaul isolation
  2. A narrow beamwidth pointed straight down
  3. A doughnut-shaped pattern with nulls directly above and below Correct answer.
  4. Circular polarization for multipath rejection

Explanation

A ceiling-mounted AP typically uses a dipole-like pattern that radiates outward horizontally with nulls along the antenna axis. Mounting it so the axis is vertical produces broad horizontal coverage beneath and around the AP, which suits open-ceiling coverage.

Question 34WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Two APs on the same floor are both set to 20 MHz on channel 36. Which effect should the designer expect for clients near the overlap region?

  1. Adjacent channel interference eliminates the overlap region entirely.
  2. The APs automatically merge into one BSS and share a single beacon.
  3. Clients see two BSSs on one channel and contend for the same airtime, so effective throughput drops in the overlap. Correct answer.
  4. Throughput increases because the two APs cooperate on the same channel.

Explanation

Co-channel APs share the same medium and must contend using CSMA/CA, so clients in the overlap area compete for the same airtime. The result is reduced effective throughput per client even though each AP's signal may be strong.

Question 35WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A point-to-point link uses a directional antenna at each end. Which alignment issue most directly reduces received signal even when both antennas are pointed at each other?

  1. A different channel width at each end
  2. A difference in the SSID configured on each radio
  3. A mismatch between the antenna polarization at the two ends Correct answer.
  4. A beacon interval mismatch between the two radios

Explanation

Directional links depend on matched polarization; if one end is vertically polarized and the other horizontally, cross-polarization loss can exceed 20 dB and severely reduce the received signal. The other listed items are configuration or protocol issues that do not cause the same RF loss.

Question 36WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A designer is calculating a link budget for a 5 GHz bridge. Which combination correctly represents the factors that increase received signal at the far end?

  1. Higher transmit power and higher antenna gain at both ends Correct answer.
  2. Higher transmit power and a longer cable run to the antenna
  3. Higher antenna gain and a narrower Fresnel zone
  4. Lower transmit power and a wider channel

Explanation

Received power rises with transmit power and with antenna gain at either end, since gain adds directly in the link budget in dB. Cable loss and path loss reduce it, so longer cable runs or narrower Fresnel clearance work against the link.

Question 37WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A WLAN uses 802.11ac with MU-MIMO. Which condition is required for an AP to send simultaneous downlink streams to multiple clients?

  1. The clients must all be associated to the same BSSID and use 2.4 GHz.
  2. The AP must disable beamforming to avoid interference between streams.
  3. All clients must use the same channel width and the same MCS.
  4. The clients must be spatially separated enough for the AP to form independent beams. Correct answer.

Explanation

Downlink MU-MIMO relies on the AP's ability to steer independent beams toward spatially separable clients, which requires channel state information from sounding. If clients are too close together angularly, the AP cannot isolate the streams and falls back to single-user transmission.

Question 38WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

An engineer compares two APs: one transmits at 20 dBm with a 3 dBi antenna, the other at 17 dBm with a 6 dBi antenna. Assuming equal cable loss, how do their EIRP values compare?

  1. The first AP has 3 dB higher EIRP.
  2. Both have the same EIRP. Correct answer.
  3. The second AP has 3 dB higher EIRP.
  4. The comparison cannot be made without knowing the channel width.

Explanation

EIRP equals transmit power plus antenna gain minus cable loss. The first AP gives 20 + 3 = 23 dBm and the second gives 17 + 6 = 23 dBm, so the two are equal. Channel width affects spectral density and capacity, not the EIRP calculation.

Question 39WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

Which statement correctly explains why a 5 GHz signal generally has a smaller coverage footprint than a 2.4 GHz signal from the same AP?

  1. 5 GHz radios are legally limited to lower transmit power in all regulatory domains.
  2. 5 GHz antennas are always less efficient than 2.4 GHz antennas.
  3. 5 GHz signals are absorbed more by walls and have higher free-space path loss for a given distance. Correct answer.
  4. 5 GHz uses narrower channels, which reduces the radiated energy.

Explanation

Free-space path loss increases with frequency, so at the same distance a 5 GHz signal is weaker than a 2.4 GHz signal. In addition, higher frequencies are attenuated more by common building materials, which further shrinks the practical coverage area.

Question 40WLAN Fundamentals and RF Basics

A controller-based WLAN has APs in a large warehouse. Which design choice best supports seamless roaming for forklift-mounted scanners moving between aisles?

  1. Ensuring overlapping coverage with matched security and fast-roaming support across APs Correct answer.
  2. Disabling 802.11k and 802.11v to avoid client confusion
  3. Configuring each AP with a unique SSID per aisle
  4. Setting every AP to maximum transmit power to eliminate coverage gaps

Explanation

Seamless roaming requires that neighboring APs provide overlapping coverage and share identical security and SSID settings so the client can reassociate quickly. Features such as 802.11k neighbor reports and 802.11r fast transition further reduce the interruption during the move.

Question 41Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

Which Aruba operating system runs on Aruba's controller-managed access points and centralizes configuration and control-plane functions on a Mobility Controller?

  1. ArubaOS Correct answer.
  2. ArubaOS-CX
  3. Aruba Central firmware
  4. ArubaOS-Switch

Explanation

ArubaOS is the software that powers Aruba Mobility Controllers and the campus access points they manage, with the controller handling configuration, RF management, and client termination. ArubaOS-CX and ArubaOS-Switch are switch operating systems, and Central is a cloud management platform rather than an AP operating system.

Question 42Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

In an Aruba controller-based deployment, which component terminates CAPWAP tunnels from access points?

  1. The access layer switch
  2. The ClearPass policy server
  3. The Mobility Controller Correct answer.
  4. The Aruba Central cloud

Explanation

Access points build CAPWAP tunnels to a Mobility Controller, which terminates those tunnels and handles the control plane for the APs it manages. Central, switches, and ClearPass play supporting roles but do not terminate the AP data and control tunnels.

Question 43Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

Which Aruba platform is described as a cloud-native management service for wired, wireless, and SD-WAN devices using a subscription model?

  1. Aruba Mobility Master
  2. Aruba AirWave
  3. Aruba Fabric Composer
  4. Aruba Central Correct answer.

Explanation

Aruba Central is the cloud-native management and analytics platform covering wireless, switching, and SD-WAN under a subscription. AirWave is an on-premises management product, Mobility Master is a controller-based management appliance, and Fabric Composer orchestrates data-center fabrics.

Question 44Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

What is the primary role of an Aruba Mobility Master in a controller-based network?

  1. It provides hierarchical management and configuration for subordinate Mobility Controllers Correct answer.
  2. It terminates all client traffic directly as the only data-plane device
  3. It replaces ClearPass as the RADIUS authentication server
  4. It acts as the DHCP server for every VLAN in the network

Explanation

The Mobility Master sits above Mobility Controllers and provides centralized, hierarchical configuration and management, including multi-controller deployments. Data traffic is still handled by the managed controllers, and authentication and DHCP remain separate services.

Question 45Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

An AP is connected to a switch port that must deliver both power and management connectivity. Which Aruba capability lets the switch power the AP over the Ethernet cable?

  1. 802.1X dynamic authorization
  2. CAPWAP data tunneling
  3. Link aggregation
  4. Power over Ethernet on the access switch port Correct answer.

Explanation

Power over Ethernet supplied by the access switch port delivers operating power to the AP over the same cable used for connectivity. CAPWAP, 802.1X, and link aggregation relate to tunneling, access control, and bandwidth respectively, not to power delivery.

Question 46Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

Which Aruba product family is best suited for a small branch that needs wired and wireless access managed through a single cloud dashboard without an on-premises controller?

  1. Aruba Instant APs with Aruba Central Correct answer.
  2. Aruba CX data-center switches with Fabric Composer
  3. Aruba AirWave with dedicated hardware appliances
  4. Aruba Mobility Master with multiple controllers

Explanation

Instant APs run the control functions onboard and can be managed through Aruba Central, making them appropriate for branch sites without an on-premises controller. Mobility Master, Fabric Composer, and AirWave appliance deployments all imply heavier on-premises infrastructure.

Question 47Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

In Aruba's controller-based architecture, what does the term "standby controller" provide?

  1. A second controller used only for guest traffic
  2. A redundant controller that can take over if the active controller fails Correct answer.
  3. A controller dedicated to RF spectrum analysis
  4. A backup DHCP server for the mobility subnet

Explanation

A standby controller is configured for redundancy so that APs and clients can be served if the active controller becomes unavailable. It is not limited to guest traffic, does not perform spectrum analysis, and is not a DHCP role.

Question 48Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

Which Aruba solution enforces role-based network access policy and can act as a RADIUS server for wired and wireless clients?

  1. Aruba Central firmware
  2. Aruba Fabric Composer
  3. ClearPass Policy Manager Correct answer.
  4. Aruba NetEdit

Explanation

ClearPass Policy Manager provides AAA services, including RADIUS, and enforces role- and attribute-based access policy across wired and wireless networks. Fabric Composer, NetEdit, and Central firmware are not policy/RADIUS platforms.

Question 49Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

Which Aruba switch operating system is designed around a microservices-style architecture with a programmable database and REST API for modern campus and data-center switching?

  1. ArubaOS
  2. ArubaOS-Switch
  3. ArubaOS-CX Correct answer.
  4. Aruba Instant

Explanation

ArubaOS-CX is built with a modular architecture and a centralized state database, exposing programmability through REST APIs and NAE. ArubaOS is the controller/AP OS, ArubaOS-Switch is the legacy switch OS, and Instant is the AP virtual controller mode.

Question 50Aruba Product Portfolio and Architecture

An administrator wants to automate configuration of Aruba CX switches using REST-based calls from a scripting tool. Which ArubaOS-CX feature directly supports this?

  1. The Instant AP virtual controller
  2. The AirWave VisualRF module
  3. The CAPWAP control channel
  4. The REST API and NAE framework Correct answer.

Explanation

ArubaOS-CX exposes a REST API and the Network Analytics Engine for programmatic configuration and monitoring. CAPWAP is wireless tunneling, Instant is an AP mode, and VisualRF is a heat-map and location tool.