Interface Profile

The Interface Profile helps configure and manage interface level configurations for a large number of devices, based on the deployment type, model, and number of ports in SKUs. It uses port profiles within Interface Profiles to configure individual interfaces and apply Link Aggregation Group (LAG) configurations.

Interface Profiles can be applied at different scope levels in HPE Aruba Networking Central. These scope levels determine which interface profile is inherited and applied to the devices.

For more details on scope levels, see Multi-Level Hierarchy.

The system selects and applies only a single Interface Profile per device based on its hierarchy (Device Group > Site > Site Collection > Global).

When applying Interface Profiles, consider the scope hierarchy described above to ensure that configurations are applied at the intended level.

Multi Device Function Support

The system supports applying different interface profiles to the same model devices, even if they belong to different device functions/personas. The device role (function) should allow separate, non-conflicting profiles.

Interface Profile Uniqueness Criteria

To prevent duplicates within a given scope, the following rules apply:

Standalone Interface Profiles

Must be unique based on model, port type, and device function.

Custom Interface Profiles

Must be unique based on model, member count, device function, and member ID: port type mapping.

Automatic Interface Profiles

Must be unique based on model and device function.

Stack Member and LineCard Interface Profiles

No uniqueness constraints apply. Multiple profiles are allowed, as they are associated with Custom or Automatic Stack/Chassis Interface Profiles.

Note:

To maintain the uniqueness and separation of standalone interface profiles and those used for stack members, the following migration process is performed:

  • For stack profiles, only the Stack Member type is applicable and can be referenced by individual stack members.

  • During the migration process, standalone profiles that are used in stack interface profiles are copied.

  • The copied profiles have -v2 appended to their profile names.

  • The original profiles continue to be used and managed for standalone devices, while the copied -v2 profiles are used for stack members going forward.

Stack and Chassis Interface Profile

  • For Stack and Chassis devices, the custom interface profile is given precedence over Automatic interface profile.

  • Both custom and automatic Interface Profiles can be used for pre-formed stacks or new stack creation.

  • For auto-stacks or when adding or joining stack members later, use automatic Interface Profiles.

  • If a custom Interface Profile is applied and the stack topology changes, any further interface profile modifications will no longer be applied automatically. To reapply, delete the previously applied port profiles from device-scope ethernet interfaces.

  • After an Interface Profile is applied to a stack or chassis, individual stack members or types cannot be modified independently.

Override Logic

If a device is onboarded with some existing interface level configurations or if there are pre-configured device-scope interface configuration, Interface Profiles will not be applied to those interfaces. When existing interface configurations are reset to default, the device will inherit the interface profile or port profile from the closest hierarchy.

Creating an Interface Profile

To create an Interface profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. In the left navigation menu, select one of the following options:

    • Library—The default selection. If you create profiles in the Library, then you must assign scope and device functions to the profiles. For more information, see Assigning Scope to an Interface Profile.

    • Global—If you create profiles at the Global level, then the profiles have Global scope assigned by default.

    • Site Collections—If you create profiles at the Site Collections level, then the profiles have site collection scope assigned by default.

    • Sites—If you create profiles at the Site level, then the profiles have site scope assigned by default.

    • Device Groups—If you create profiles at the Device Group level, then the profiles have device group scope assigned by default.

    Note:

    • To create profiles at the Global level, select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list before step 4.
    • To create profiles at the Site Collections, Sites, Devices, and Device Group level, complete the following steps before step 4:
      1. Select Site Collection, Site, or Device Group in the left navigation menu.
      2. Select a Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group from the list view depending on the level where you are creating the profile.
      3. Select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list.

  3. On the Interfaces card, click Interface Profile.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Interfaces card, click Manage.

    2. On the Interface Profile card, click Manage.

    The Interface Profile list view is displayed.

  4. Click Create Profile.
    The Create Profile side panel is displayed.

  5. Enter the Interface profile parameters:

    • Create as a local profile—Select this checkbox if you want to configure this profile as local.

      Note:

      The Create as a local profile checkbox is available at the Global, Site Collections, Sites, and Device Groups levels. It is not available at the Library level.

    • Name—Enter the name of the Interface profile.

    • Description—Enter the description for the Interface profile

To configure an Interface profile for switches, select Switch in the Device Type section, and configure the following parameters:

  • Type—Select the type of switch (Standalone, Linecard, Stack Member, Stack, Chassis, VSX, or VSX Chassis) from the drop-down menu.

  • Model—Select the switch model from the drop-down menu.

    Note:

    Only AOS-CX switches and Aruba gateways are currently supported.

  • Number of Ports—Select the number of ports from the drop-down menu. When you select the number of ports, a table is displayed with the SKU (Part Number) and device description. When you hover over the description, it expands to show the full details. Ensure that a valid number of ports is selected for compatibility.

    Note:

    This parameter is displayed only when the switch type is set to Standalone, Stack Member, or Linecard.

  • In the Uplink Port Profile and Downlink Port Profile sections, configure the following parameters:

    • Ports—Enter the uplink and downlink ports in the corresponding text fields.

    • Assigned Port Profile—Select the Port profile or LAG Port profile to be assigned to the corresponding uplink and downlink ports, from the drop-down menu. For more information on Port profiles or LAG Port profiles, see Port Profile for Switches.

    Click the add icon.

    Note:

    This Uplink Port Profile and Downlink Port Profile sections are only displayed when the switch type is set to Standalone, Stack Member, or Linecard.

  • Mode—Set the mode to either Automatic or Custom.

    Note:

    This parameter is only displayed when the switch type is set to either Stack or Chassis.

    If Automatic is selected, configure the following parameters:

    • Linecard Interface Profile—Select the interface profile to be assigned to the linecard switch type from the drop-down menu, and click the add icon.

      Note:

      This parameter is only displayed when the switch type is set to Chassis.

    • Member Interface Profile—Select the interface profile to be assigned to the switch stack member from the drop-down menu, and click the add icon.

      Note:

      This parameter is only displayed when the switch type is set to Stack.

    If Custom is selected and the switch type is set to Chassis, configure the following parameters:

    • Number of Modules—Select the number of modules from the drop-down menu, to display the corresponding number of instances of the Slot, Number of Ports, and Linecard Interface Profile fields.

    • Slot—Select the slot from the drop-down menu.

    • Number of Ports—Select the number of ports from the drop-down menu.

    • Linecard Interface Profile—Select the interface profile to be assigned from the drop-down menu.

    If Custom is selected and the switch type is set to Stack, configure the following parameters:

    • Number of Members—Select the number of members from the drop-down menu, to display the corresponding number of instances of the Member, Number of Ports, and Member Interface Profile fields.

    • Member—Select the stack member from the drop-down menu.

    • Number of Ports—Select the number of ports from the drop-down menu.

    • Member Interface Profile—Select the interface profile to be assigned from the drop-down menu.

Click Create.

To configure an Interface profile for access points, select Access Point in the Device Type section, and configure the following parameters:

  • In the Uplink Profile section, select a profile from the drop-down menu.

  • In the Downlink Profile section, select a profile from the drop-down menu for each of the listed Ethernet ports.

Click Create.

To configure an Interface profile for gateways, select Gateway in the Device Type section, and configure the following parameters:

  • Model—Select the gateway model from the drop-down menu.

  • In the Apply Port Profiles to LAN Ports section, configure the following parameters:

    • Ports—Enter the port number.

    • Assigned Port Profile—Select the Port profile or LAG Port profile to be assigned to the corresponding port from the drop-down menu. For more information on Port profiles or LAG Port profiles, see Port Profile for Switches.

    Click the add icon.

Click Create.

Note:

Consecutive configuration pushes are not allowed when an unexpected number of chassis or stacks are present in a site.

When the interface profile is processed or any devices are excluded from applying the interface profile, the operation is logged on the Audit Trail page. For more information, see Viewing the Audit Trail Page.

For more information on AOS-CX switch models and port mapping, see Interface Profile—AOS-CX Switch Models and Port Mapping.

Assigning Scope to an Interface Profile

You must assign a scope and device function to an Interface profile created in the Library.

To assign scope to a profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. Ensure that the default option Library is selected in the left navigation menu.

  3. On the Interfaces card, click Interface Profile.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Interfaces card, click Manage.

    2. On the Interface Profile card, click Manage.

    The Interface Profile list view is displayed.

  4. Hover on the profile to which you want to assign a scope and click the ellipsis icon.

  5. Select Assign.

    The Assign Profile side panel is displayed.

  6. Select the device types from Device Function list.

  7. To add a scope, click the add icon on the Scopes table.

  8. Select a scope from the following Scope Level options in the drop-down list.

    • Global—Selecting this option assigns the scope at the Global level.

    • Site Collections—Select the site collections from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Sites—Select the sites from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Device Groups—Select the device groups from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

  9. Click Add.

    The Scopes table displays the newly added scopes.

  10. Click Assign.

    The Interface Profile list displays the device functions and number of scopes assigned to the profile.

  11. To unassign a scope from a profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Hover on the profile name and click the ellipsis icon.

    2. Select Unassign.

    3. Select the required scope and click Unassign.

  12. To customize the Interface profile list, click the Customize Columns icon.