Advanced AOS-CX Switching (AAXSTS)

Advanced AOS-CX Switching (AAXSTS) is the expert-level switching course in the HPE Aruba Networking training path. It builds on professional-level skills and covers advanced configuration and management of enterprise switching and routing on AOS-CX switches using open-standards technologies, with Virtual Switching Extension (VSX), MSTP, LACP, and Dynamic Segmentation among its key topics.

Advanced AOS-CX Switching training runs over five instructor-led days, with approximately half the time spent in hands-on labs. Learners design wired networks, troubleshoot them methodically, monitor and automate with the Network Analytics Engine and REST API, and implement policy-based routing, OSPF, BGP, route redistribution, VRFs, multicast, QoS and network security features, including Control Plane Policing and MACsec. The course is the recommended preparation for the HPE Aruba Networking Certified Expert – Switching (ACX – Switching) certification.

Course Structure and Key Details

AAXSTS is a five-day, instructor-led course available in classroom and online formats. Authorised partners describe it as approximately 50% lecture and 50% hands-on lab exercises, organised into 12 modules.

The course begins with wired network design, covering requirements analysis, two-tier and three-tier designs, and switching and routing principles. Troubleshooting follows, with a methodology, logging and debugging, diagnostic commands, traffic analysis, and troubleshooting with HPE Aruba Networking Central. The monitoring and automation module introduces AOS-CX automation, the REST API, including sending requests, and the Network Analytics Engine.

Layer 2 work centres on VSX fundamentals, best practices and troubleshooting. Routing modules then cover policy-based routing, single-area OSPF troubleshooting and multi-area OSPF; BGP connections, advertisements, metrics, tuning and route control; redistribution of static routes into OSPF and OSPF into BGP; and VRFs with route leaking.

The last four modules cover multicast routing (IGMP, PIM-SM, static and dynamic rendezvous points, VSX with PIM and deployment), Quality of Service (ingress, prioritisation, DSCP remarking, queuing, scheduling and active queue management), Dynamic Segmentation (user-based tunnelling and downloadable user roles) and network security (ACLs, classifier policies, Control Plane Policing, user group management, TACACS+ management access, DHCP snooping and ARP inspection, and MACsec).

The prerequisite is to attend Implementing AOS-CX Switching (ICXS) or pass the ACP – Switching certification exam. The ACX – Switching certification uses two exams, HPE7-A09 (written) and HPE4-A53 (practical), which are taken separately from the course.

Course Objectives

On completion, learners will be able to:

• Design optimised network architectures with AOS-CX switches.
• Troubleshoot and monitor networks using the CLI, port mirroring, the Network Analytics Engine, IP SLA, and HPE Aruba Networking Central.
• Configure and troubleshoot VSX and other Layer 2 features.
• Optimise routing with policy-based routing, OSPF, and BGP.
• Implement VRFs and route redistribution for controlled routing.
• Apply QoS for efficient traffic handling.
• Use Dynamic Segmentation for security and management.
• Improve security with ACLs, Control Plane Policing, and MACsec.