MDNS Profile

Multicast DNS (mDNS) helps users discover servers, such as printers and Apple TV, across VLANs. It uses a reflection mechanism to enable service discovery between VLANs. With this mechanism, the mDNS packets received in one VLAN are reflected to all other mDNS gateway‑enabled VLANs based on filters.

Filters are used to control service discovery both within and across VLANs. If a profile is configured for a VLAN, the filter rules in the profile will be applied to packets transmitted out of the VLAN interface.

You can configure the profile only for the Aggregation Switch and Core Switch device functions.

Creating an mDNS Profile

To create an mDNS 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 MDNS 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.

    • Devices—If you create profiles at the Device level, then the profiles have device 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 Network Services card, click MDNS.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Network Services card, click Manage.

    2. On the MDNS card, click Manage.

    The MDNS list view is displayed.

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

  5. Enter the mDNS 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.

    • Name—Enter the name of the mDNS profile.

    • Description—Enter the description for the mDNS profile.

    • MDNS Enable—Select the checkbox to enable mDNS.

  6. To add a service discovery profile, click the add + icon in the Service Discovery Profiles section, configure the following parameters and click Add.

    • Name—Enter the name of the service discovery profile.

    • To add a service discovery rule, click the add + icon in the Service Discovery Rules table and configure the following parameters:

      • Sequence Number—Specify a unique sequence number for the service discovery profile.

      • Action—Select Permit to allow the matched mDNS packet or Deny to block it.

      • Service Group—Select the service group from the drop-down list to categorize and apply the discovery rule to a specific set of related services.

      • Service Name—Enter the name of the service.

      • Instance NameEnter a unique service instance name to distinguish this instance on the network in the format InstanceName.tcp. For example, scanner.tcp.

  7. Click Add.

    The newly created service discovery profile is listed in the Service Discovery Profiles table.

  8. To add a service discovery, click the add + icon in the Services table, configure the following parameters and click Add.

    • SD Name—Enter the name of the service discovery.

    • Description—Enter a description for the service discovery.

    • Custom Identifiers—Specify one or more custom identifiers for the service discovery in the format identifier.tcp. For example, printer1.tcp.

    • Identifiers—Select the pre‑defined identifiers from the drop‑down list available for service discovery.

  9. Click Create.

    The newly created mDNS profile is listed in the MDNS table.

  10. To delete a profile, hover over the profile row, and click the delete icon.

  11. To search for a profile, type the profile name in the search bar.

    The search bar displays dynamic results as soon as you start typing.

Modifying an mDNS Profile

To edit a profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the MDNS table, hover over the row you want to edit and click the edit icon.

  2. Edit the parameters as required.

  3. Click Update.

Assigning Scope to an MDNS Profile

You must assign a scope and device function to an mDNS 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 Network Services card, click MDNS.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Network Services card, click Manage.

    2. On the MDNS card, click Manage.

    The MDNS 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 MDNS 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 MDNS profile list, click the Customize Columns icon.