Building an ArubaOS-CX Libvirt Box

Aruba AOS-CX 10 is supported by the netlab libvirt package command. To build it:

  • Create an empty directory on a Ubuntu machine with libvirt and Vagrant.

  • Download the Aruba_AOS-CX_Switch_Simulator (see below) OVA image into that directory.

  • Starting with the netlab release 1.8.2, execute netlab libvirt package arubacx ova-file-name

  • If you’re using a netlab release older than 1.8.2, unpack the OVA file with tar xvf ova-file-name and execute netlab libvirt package arubacx vmdk-disk-file-name

  • Follow the instructions given by the netlab libvirt package script

Warning

If you’re using a ‌netlab release older than 1.8.2, or if you’re using a Linux distribution other than Ubuntu, please read the box-building caveats first.

Aruba AOS-CX download notes

The Aruba AOS-CX 10 Switch Simulator image can be downloaded from the Aruba Support Portal (requires user registration). Search for the Aruba_AOS-CX_Switch_Simulator. For example, the release 10.13 can be downloaded from here.

Initial Device Configuration

You’ll have to copy-paste the initial device configuration during the box-building process. The netlab libvirt config arubacx command displays the build recipe:

Creating initial configuration for ArubaOS-CX
=============================================

* Wait for the 'login' prompt
* Login as 'admin' (no password)
* Set the new 'admin' password as 'admin'
* Save the initial configuration with 'write memory'
* Reload the device with 'boot system'
* Login as 'admin' password 'admin'
* Copy-paste the following configuration

=============================================

configure
!
user netlab group administrators password plaintext netlab
user netlab authorized-key ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAABIwAAAQEA6NF8iallvQVp22WDkTkyrtvp9eWW6A8YVr+kz4TjGYe7gHzIw+niNltGEFHzD8+v1I2YJ6oXevct1YeS0o9HZyN1Q9qgCgzUFtdOKLv6IedplqoPkcmF0aYet2PkEDo3MlTBckFXPITAMzF8dJSIFo9D8HfdOV0IAdx4O7PtixWKn5y2hMNG0zQPyUecp4pzC6kivAIhyfHilFR61RGL+GPXQ2MWZWFYbAGjyiYJnAmCP3NOTd0jMZEnDkbUvxhMmBYSdETk1rRgm+R4LOzFUGaHqHDLKLX+FIPKcF96hrucXzcWyLbIbEgE98OHlnVYCzRdK8jlqm8tehUc9c9WhQ==
!
ntp vrf mgmt
ssh server vrf mgmt
!
interface mgmt
  no shutdown
  ip dhcp
!
https-server vrf mgmt
!
end

=============================================

* Save the configuration with 'write memory'
* Reload the device with 'boot system'
* Verify that the startup- and running config contain the above configuration
  commands. Repeat the 'configure, write, reboot' cycle if needed
* Check that the management interface is up and has an IP address 
* Disconnect from console (ctrl-] usually works).
* Shutdown the VM, if needed

NOTE: It seems impossible to create a user called vagrant on AOS-CX, so the configuration creates a netlab user (with password: netlab).

Ansible Galaxy for Aruba AOS-CX

You must install the Ansible modules for Aruba AOS-CX with the ansible-galaxy collection install arubanetworks.aoscx command.