Loopback Profile

A Loopback profile is a crucial virtual interface within a network that remains active, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 address configurations. When configuring the loopback address, it is essential to set it at the device scope as a LOCAL object, ensuring proper functionality and management within the network environment.

Creating a Loopback Profile

To create a loopback 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 a Loopback 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, Device, 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 Loopback Profile.
   Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

   1. On the Interfaces card, click Manage.

   2. On the Loopback Profile card, click Manage.
      

   The Loopback Profile list view is displayed.

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

5. Enter the Loopback 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, Devices, and Device Groups levels. It is not available at the Library level.

   • Loopback ID—Enter the loopback ID

   • Description—Enter the description for the Loopback profile.

   • IPv4 Address—Enter the loopback IPv4 address. This parameter is displayed only if Create as a local profile checkbox is selected at the Devices level.

6. Select the Switch-Specific Parameters to configure the following parameters.The switch-specific parameters are displayed only if Create as a local profile checkbox is selected at the Devices level. :

   • IPv4 Prefix—Specify the IPv4 prefix on the loopback interface to uniquely identify the switch for routing and management. The default value is 32.

7. To add the secondary IPv4 address, click + in the Secondary IPv4 Address table and configure the following parameters:

   • IPv4 Address—Enter the secondary loopback IPv4 address. This parameter is displayed only if Create as a local profile checkbox is selected at the Devices level.

   • IPv4 Prefix—Specify the IPv4 prefix on the loopback interface to uniquely identify the switch for routing and management.

8. To add the IPv6 address, click + in the IPv6 address table and configure the following parameters:

   • IPv6 Address—Specify the IPv6 address for the interface.

   • IPv6 Prefix—Specify the IPv6 prefix on the loopback interface to uniquely identify the switch for routing and management.

   • Tag—Specify a tag value to associate with the IPv6 address.

9. Additionally, configure the following parameters:

   • URPF Mode—Select the Unicast Reverse Path Forwarding (URPF) mode to validate the source IP address of incoming packets from the drop-down list. The following are the available options:

     • Disable—Disables the URPF validation.

     • Loose—Validates that the source IP address is reachable through any interface in the routing table.

     • Strict—Validates that the source IP address is reachable through the same interface on which the packet was received.

   • VRF—Select the VRF instance from the drop-down list.

10. Under PIM Mode, configure the following parameters:

    Note:

    PIM4 and PIM6 options are enabled only when the corresponding IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are configured.

    • For PIM4, select Mode from the drop-down list. The available options are:

      • None—Disables Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) for IPv4 on the interface.

      • Sparse—Enables sparse mode, where traffic is forwarded only when explicitly requested by receivers.

      • BIdIr—Enables bidirectional mode, allowing multicast traffic to flow in both directions over a shared distribution path. If this option is selected, you must configure the following additional parameters:

        • LAN Prune Delay—Enables the LAN prune delay option on the current interface. When enabled, the router informs downstream neighbors how long it will wait before pruning a flow after receiving a prune request.

        • Override Interval—Specifies how long a router waits to allow other routers to override a prune message by sending a join.

        • Propagation Delay—Specifies the estimated time it takes for messages to travel across the network segment.

      • For PIM6, select the Enable PIM6 Sparse Mode checkbox to enable multicast routing using the sparse mode protocol for IPv6 networks.

11. Click Create.

    The newly created network policy is displayed in the Loopback list view.

12. To edit a Loopback profile, complete the following steps:

    2. Click anywhere on the row of the profile in the list view.

    The Edit Profile view is displayed in the side panel.

    2. Edit the required parameters.

    3. Click Update.

13. To delete a Loopback profile network policy, hover on the profile name, and click the delete icon.

Assigning Scope to a Loopback Profile

You must assign a scope and device function to an Loopback 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 Loopback Profile.
   Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

   1. On the Interfaces card, click Manage.

   2. On the Loopback Profile card, click Manage.
      

   The Loopback 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.

   • Devices—Select the devices 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 Loopback 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 Loopback profile list, click the Customize Columns icon.