Provisioning Devices Using UI-based Workflows

This section describes the important points to consider when assigning devices to UI groups:

• Provisioning APs using UI-based Configuration Method
• Provisioning Switches Using UI-based Configuration Method

Provisioning APs using UI-based Configuration Method

An AP device group may consist of any of the following:

• AP Cluster—Consists of a conductor AP and member APs in the same VLANVirtual Local Area Network. In computer networking, a single Layer 2 network may be partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains, which are mutually isolated so that packets can only pass between them through one or more routers; such a domain is referred to as a Virtual Local Area Network, Virtual LAN, or VLAN..
• VC—A virtual controller. VC provides an interface for the entire cluster. The member APs and conductor APs function together to provide a virtual interface.
• Conductor AP and Member AP—In a typical AP deployment scenario, the first AP that comes up is elected as the conductor AP. All other APs joining the cluster function as the member APs. When a conductor AP is configured, the member APs download the configuration changes. The conductor AP may change as necessary from one device to another without impacting network performance.

Aruba Central (on-premises) allows configuration operations at the following levels for a device group with APs.

Per group configuration—Aruba Central (on-premises) allows you to maintain unique configuration settings for each group. However, these settings are applied to all devices within that group. For example, all VCs within a group can have common SSIDService Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. settings.

Per VC Configuration—Any changes that need to be applied at the AP cluster level can be configured on a VC within a group. For example, VCs within a group can have different VLAN configuration for the SSIDs.

Per Device Configuration—Although devices are assigned to a group, the users can maintain device-specific configuration such as radio, power, or uplink settings for an individual AP within a group.

When the APs that are not pre-provisioned to any group join Aruba Central (on-premises), they are assigned to groups based on their current configuration.

Table 1: Instant AP Provisioning

APs with Default Configuration	APs with Non-Default Configuration
If an AP with factory default configuration joins Aruba Central (on-premises), it is automatically assigned to the default group or an existing group with similar configuration settings.   The administrators can perform any of the following actions: Manually assign them to an existing group. Groups.	If an AP with non-default or custom configuration joins Aruba Central (on-premises), it is automatically assigned to an unprovisioned group.   The administrators can perform any of the following actions: Groupsp for the device and preserve device configuration. Move the device to an existing group and override the device configuration.

In the following illustration, APs from three different geographical locations are grouped under California, Texas, and New York states. Each state has unique SSIDs and can support devices from multiple locations in a state. As shown in Figure 1, the California group has devices from different locations and has the same SSID, while devices in the other states/groups have different SSIDs.

When a device with the factory default configuration connects to Aruba Central (on-premises), it is automatically assigned to the default group. If the device has a custom configuration, it is marked as unprovisioned. If you want to preserve the custom configuration, create a new group for the device. If you want to overwrite the custom configuration, you can assign the device to an existing group.

Figure 1  AP provisioning

Provisioning Switches Using UI-based Configuration Method

Aruba Central (on-premises) allows switches to join UI groups only if the switches are running factory default configuration. Aruba Central (on-premises) assigns switches with a factory default configuration to the default group.

The administrators can either move the switch to an existing group or create a new group.

Aruba Central (on-premises) allows the following configuration operations at the following levels for switches in a UI group: 

• Per group configuration— Aruba Central (on-premises) allows you to maintain unique configuration settings for each group. However, these settings are applied to all devices within that group. For example, all switches within a group can have common VLAN settings.
• Per Device Configuration—Although the Switches inherit group configuration, the users can maintain device-specific configuration, for example, ports or DHCPDynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A network protocol that enables a server to automatically assign an IP address to an IP-enabled device from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network.  pools.