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Option implementation
- 1: Option implementation
- 2: AOS-10
- 3: AOS-8 unified
- 4: AOS-8 campus
- 5: AOS-8 instant
1 - Option implementation
Vendor class identifier
All HPE Aruba Networking Access Points implement DHCP option 60 vendor class identifier (RFC 2132) to sends a specific identifying string to the DHCP server in discovery and request packets. The string value that is forwarded to the DHCP server is dependent on the AP mode.
| Type | Vendor Class Identifier |
|---|---|
| AOS-10 AP | ArubaAP |
| AOS-8 Instant AP | ArubaInstantAP |
| AOS-8 Campus AP | ArubaAP |
| AOS-8 Unified AP | ArubaInstantAP |
Option 60 can be used in both directions: from the AP to the DHCP server to identify the device, and from the DHCP server to the AP to set the expected mode of operation.
Vendor-specific options
HPE Aruba Networking access points support vendor-specific options that can be provided in offer and acknowledgement packets. The type of vendor-specific option that is supported by an AP is dependent on the AP mode. For example an AOS-8 instant Mode AP or an AOS-10 AP can be supplied with HTTP Proxy server information (option 148) while an AOS-8 campus mode AP or an AOS-8 unified AP can be supplied mobility controller information (option 43).
For an AP to implement the supplied vendor-specific option, the correct option 60 string value must be returned. If the correct option 60 value is not present in the DHCP offer and acknowledgement with the vendor-specific option, the AP will ignore it.
2 - AOS-10
Standard forwarded options
The standard options that are supplied by AOS-10 based APs to a DHCP server in discovery and request packets can be used by the DHCP server to supply specific return options.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Client Identifier | The base MAC address of the AP. Example: 8c:9c:d8:ca:73:20 |
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | The option 60 value sent by AOS-10 based APs. Example: ArubaAP |
The standard and vendor-specific DHCP options that are requested by AOS-10 based APs in discovery and request packets tell the DHCP server which options are supported and can be returned to the APs.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Parameter Request List |
|
Standard return options
The standard DHCP options that can be returned to AOS10-based APs from a DHCP server in offer and acknowledgement packets:
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subnet Mask | IP Address | The subnet mask assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 255.255.255.0 |
| 3 | Router | IP Address | The default gateway assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 10.0.2.1 |
| 6 | Domain Name Server | IP Address | A list of DNS servers assigned by the DHCP server (in order of preference). Example: 10.0.2.2 |
| 15 | Domain Name | String | The domain name assigned by the DHCP server. Example: arubanetworks.local |
| 42 | Network Time Protocol Servers | String | IP addresses or FQDNs of one or more NTP servers. Example: 10.0.2.50 |
By default, the AP tries to connect to pool.ntp.org to synchronize time. The NTP server can also be provisioned through the DHCP option 42. If the NTP server is configured, it takes precedence over the DHCP option 42 provisioned value. The NTP server provisioned through the DHCP option 42 is used if no server is configured. The default server pool.ntp.org is used if no NTP server is configured or provisioned through DHCP option 42.
Vendor-specific return options
The Vendor-Specific DHCP option 148 can be returned to AOS10-based APs for Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) via an HTTP proxy server when Activate or Central are accessible through the proxy.
HTTP Proxy
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 148 | Proxy Server Information | String | HTTP proxy server IP/FQDN, Port, Username and Password.
|
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | String | Must be applied with option 148. Mandatory Value: ArubaAP |
3 - AOS-8 unified
Vendor-specific options are supported by HPE Aruba Networking Unified Access Points using the factory defaulted configuration.Unified Access Points are shipped with a special manufacturing image (reduced functionality) and follow a specific discovery process to connect to a controller-based or controller-less network.
When a unified AP first initializes, it behaves in the same way as an AP operating in instant mode. The standard and vendor-specific DHCP options that are supported mirror what has been captured in the AOS-8 Instant section. Likewise if a Unified AP has been converted into campus mode, the standard and vendor-specific DHCP options that are supported mirror what has been captured in the AOS-8 Campus section. The operating mode determining the DHCP options that are supported.
Campus mode conversion
The vendor-specific DHCP options can be leveraged to convert AOS-8 unified APs into AOS-8 campus mode. When a unified AP boots up, it sends Option 60 as ArubaInstantAP to the DHCP server for identification. The server can modify the AP’s operating mode to campus by returning option 60 as ArubaAP along with Option 43, which points to a mobility controller.
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Vendor Specific Information | String | Mobility Controller IP Address. Example: 10.0.2.15 |
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | String | Must be supplied with option 43. Mandatory value: ArubaAP |
4 - AOS-8 campus
Standard forwarded options
The standard options that are supplied by AOS-8 campus-based APs to a DHCP server in discovery and request packets can be used by the DHCP server to supply specific return options.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Client Identifier | The base MAC address of the AP. Example: 8c:9c:d8:ca:73:20 |
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | The option 60 value sent by campus-based APs. Example: ArubaAP |
The standard and vendor-specific DHCP options that are requested by AOS-8 campus-based APs in discovery and request packets tells the DHCP server which options are supported and can be returned to the APs.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Parameter Request List |
|
Standard return options
The standard DHCP options that can be returned to AOS-8 campus-based APs from a DHCP server in offer and acknowledgement packets:
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subnet Mask | IP Address | The subnet mask assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 255.255.255.0 |
| 3 | Router | IP Address | The default gateway assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 10.0.2.1 |
| 6 | Domain Name Server | IP Address | A list of DNS servers assigned by the DHCP server (in order of preference). Example: 10.0.2.2 |
| 15 | Domain Name | String | The domain name assigned by the DHCP server. Example: hpe.com |
Vendor-specific return options
The Vendor-Specific DHCP option 43 can be returned to AOS-8 campus-based APs to discovery a mobility controller.
Mobility controller discovery
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Vendor Specific Information | String | Mobility Controller IP Address. Example: 10.0.2.15 |
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | String | Must be supplied with option 43. Mandatory value: ArubaAP |
5 - AOS-8 instant
Standard forwarded options
The standard options that are supplied by AOS-8 instant-based APs to a DHCP server in discovery and request packets can be used by the DHCP server to supply specific return options.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Client Identifier | The base MAC address of the AP. Example: 8c:9c:d8:ca:73:20 |
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | The option 60 value sent by instant-based APs. Example: ArubaInstantAP |
The standard and vendor-specific DHCP options that are requested by AOS-8 instant-based APs in discovery and request packets tells the DHCP server which options are supported and can be returned to the APs.
| Code | Description | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Parameter Request List |
|
Standard return options
The standard DHCP options that can be returned to AOS-8 instant-based APs from a DHCP server in offer and acknowledgement packets:
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subnet Mask | IP Address | The subnet mask assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 255.255.255.0 |
| 3 | Router | IP Address | The default gateway assigned by the DHCP server. Example: 10.0.2.1 |
| 6 | Domain Name Server | IP Address | A list of DNS servers assigned by the DHCP server (in order of preference). Example: 10.0.2.2 |
| 15 | Domain Name | String | The domain name assigned by the DHCP server. Example: hpe.com |
| 42 | Network Time Protocol Servers | String | IP addresses or FQDNs of one or more NTP servers. Example: 10.0.2.50 |
By default, the AP tries to connect to pool.ntp.org to synchronize time. The NTP server can also be provisioned through the DHCP option 42. If the NTP server is configured, it takes precedence over the DHCP option 42 provisioned value. The NTP server provisioned through the DHCP option 42 is used if no server is configured. The default server pool.ntp.org is used if no NTP server is configured or provisioned through DHCP option 42.
Vendor-specific return options
The vendor-specific DHCP option 148 can be returned to AOS-8 instant-based APs for Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) via an HTTP proxy server when Activate or Central are accessible through the proxy.
HTTP Proxy
| Code | Description | Format | Notes/Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 148 | Proxy Server Information | String | HTTP proxy server IP/FQDN, Port, Username and Password.
|
| 60 | Vendor Class Identifier | String | Must be applied with option 148. Mandatory Value: ArubaInstantAP |