Uplink Preferences and Switching

This section describes the following topics:

• Enforcing Uplinks
• Setting an Uplink Priority
• Enabling Uplink Pre-emption

Enforcing Uplinks

The following conditions apply to the uplink enforcement:

• When an uplink is enforced, the Instant Access Points (IAP) uses the specified uplink regardless of uplink pre-emption configuration and the current uplink status.
• When an uplink is enforced and multiple EthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. ports are configured and uplink is enabled on the wired profiles, the IAP tries to find an alternate Ethernet link based on the priority configured.
• When no uplink is enforced and pre-emption is not enabled, and if the current uplink fails, the IAP tries to find an available uplink based on the priority configured.
• When no uplink is enforced and pre-emption is enabled, and if the current uplink fails, the IAP tries to find an available uplink based on the priority configured. If current uplink is active, the IAP periodically tries to use a higher priority uplink and switches to the higher priority uplink even if the current uplink is active.

To enforce a specific uplink on an IAP, complete the following steps:

1. In the Network Operations app, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

   The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

   A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

3. Click the Config icon.

   The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

4. Click Show Advanced.
5. Click the Interfaces tab.

   The Interfaces page is displayed.

6. Expand the Uplink accordion.
7. Under Management > Enforce Uplink, select the type of uplink from the drop-down list. If Ethernet uplink is selected, the Port field is displayed.
8. Specify the Ethernet interface port number.
9. Click Save Settings.

The selected uplink is enforced on the IAP.

Setting an Uplink Priority

To set an uplink priority, complete the following steps:

1. In the Network Operations app, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

   The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

   A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

3. Click the Config icon.

   The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

4. Click Show Advanced.
5. Click the Interfaces tab.

   The Interfaces page is displayed.

6. Click the Uplink accordion.
7. Under Management > Uplink Priority List, select the uplink to increase or decrease the priority. By default, the Eth0 uplink is set as a high priority uplink.
8. Click Save Settings.

The selected uplink is prioritized over other uplinks.

Enabling Uplink Pre-emption

The following configuration conditions apply to uplink pre-emption:

• Pre-emption can be enabled only when no uplink is enforced.
• When pre-emption is disabled and the current uplink fails, the IAP tries to find an available uplink based on the uplink priority configuration.
• When pre-emption is enabled and if the current uplink is active, the IAP periodically tries to use a higher priority uplink, and switches to a higher priority uplink even if the current uplink is active.

To enable uplink pre-emption, complete the following steps:

1. In the Network Operations app, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

   The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

   A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

3. Click the Config icon.

   The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

4. Click Show Advanced.
5. Click the Interfaces tab.

   The Interfaces page is displayed.

6. Click the Uplink accordion.
7. Under Management, ensure that the Enforce Uplink is set to None.
8. Select the Pre-emption check-box.
9. Specify value for Pre-emption Interval.
10. Click Save Settings.

Switching Uplinks based on the Internet Availability

You can configure Aruba Central to switch uplinks based on the Internet availability.

When the uplink switchover based on Internet availability is enabled, the IAP continuously sends ICMPInternet Control Message Protocol. ICMP is an error reporting protocol. It is used by network devices such as routers, to send error messages and operational information to the source IP address when network problems prevent delivery of IP packets. packets to some well-known Internet servers. If the request is timed out due to a bad uplink connection or uplink interface failure, and the Internet is not reachable from the current uplink, the IAP switches to a different connection.

To configure uplink switching, complete the following steps:

1. In the Network Operations app, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

   The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

   A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

3. Click the Config icon.

   The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

4. Click Show Advanced.
5. Click the Interfaces tab.

   The Interfaces page is displayed.

6. Click the Uplink accordion.
7. Under Management, specify a value for Failover Internet IP.
8. Select the Internet Failover check-box.
9. Specify values for Failover Internet Packet Send Frequency, Failover Internet Packet Lost Count, and Internet Check Count.
10. Click Save Settings.

Configuring Preferred Uplink on AP-318 and 370 Series APs

The AP-318 and 370 Series APs have an ethernet port for Eth0 and a fibreport for Eth1. Either of these ports can be configured as the uplink port as required. By default, Eth1 port is configured as the uplink for these AP platforms. All functionality of the Eth0 port is supported by Eth1 port with exception to the following:

• Eth0 bridging feature is not supported when the Eth1 port is configured as preferred uplink.
• If LACPLink Aggregation Control Protocol. LACP is used for the collective handling of multiple physical ports that can be seen as a single channel for network traffic purposes. is enabled, the Eth1 port cannot be configured as the preferred uplink.