CLI Command Cheat-sheet for Aruba OS Wi-Fi

I recently put together a cheat-sheet for Aruba OS CLI commands which would be useful for a network team operating a new Aruba Wi-Fi network that I deployed, and thought to share this out.

Feel free to print out or PDF this post, it’s useful if you don’t have access to Internet and need a few quick reminders of what to type like I do. Yes, damn-what-is-that-command-itis is a thing.

CLI Tips and Tricks

<cmd> | include <specific string>
• Filter to display only lines that include a specific string
• Can use comma as an OR operator. Useful to include output headers, for example “show user-table | include IP,—,aa:bb:cc:11:22:33” will show column headers as well as the output line for the specific client.

<cmd> | exclude <specific string>
• Filter to display lines without the specific string

In AOS 8.x (Not in AOS 6.x), It is possible to chain include and exclude filters, for example:
<cmd> | include <specific string A> | exclude <specific string B>
<cmd> | include <specific string A> | include <specific string B>
<cmd> | exclude <specific string A> | exclude <specific string B>
The first displays results for (A AND NOT B), the second (A AND B), and the third (NOT A AND NOT B)

<cmd> | begin <specific string>
• Filter to display only lines from the first occurrence of a specific string

<cmd> [tab]
• Auto-completion, will complete a command if there is only one choice available

<cmd> ?
• Provide a list of commands which match the initial part of the <cmd> string
• Provide a list of parameters usable for the command

no paging
• Disable page breaks, useful for getting a huge amount of output for logging without requiring the administrator to hit [enter]. For example show run, show tech-support etc.
• Return to usual operation by typing “paging”

For commands which generate a lot of output, for example “show run” which will have page breaks, you can type “/” to search for a specific word, and “n” to search for the next occurrence. Similar to Linux “less” command.

Generally Useful Commands

show ap database / show ap database long
• shows details on all APs that the controller is aware of
• “long” includes AP Wired MAC and Serial Number

show ap active
• Shows APs which are currently Actively terminated on the controller, and summary of RF operating parameters

show switches (On Master Controller, if using Master-Local architecture)
• Shows if all configuration has been successfully pushed down to the controllers
• Shows OS versions of all of the controllers

show database synchronize (From Master Controller, if using Master-Local architecture)
• Validate that Master has successfully replicated configuration and DBs to the Backup Master

show master-redundancy (From Master Controller, if using Master-Local architecture)
• Show current state of master redundancy, i.e. who’s Master and who’s Backup.

apboot <various parameters, use tab to expand>
• Reboot specific APs or a set of APs.
• Useful if you don’t have access to PoE settings of the switchport
• Applicable only on the controller where AP is terminated

User Diagnostic – To be run on controller where users are present

show user-table (option to add “| include <client MAC>” to drill down)
• Shows general connectivity of the client, including IP address. If a client did not receive DHCP IP address, this entry will NOT exist. Hence…

show station-table mac <client MAC>
• Shows if the client (802.11 parlance calls this a Station or STA) is even associated to the network. If it is associated, but there is no entry on user-table, investigate role policies (Is DHCP blocked?) and DHCP server.

show user mac <client MAC>
• Shows VERBOSE details about a connected client. Use “| include” to narrow down for example:
o show user mac <client MAC> | include VLAN
o show user mac <client MAC> | include ACL
o show user mac <client MAC> | include SNR
o show user mac <client MAC> | include IP
o show user mac <client MAC> | include DHCP

(config) # logging level debugging user-debug aa:bb:cc:11:22:33
• Turns on logging for a specific client in the global configuration mode
• If not specified, and no other user-debugs exist, “show auth-tracebuf” will show for all user entries – Mind that the log buffer is not very long and you could miss what you’re looking for
• If not specified, and other user-debugs exist, will not show output for what is not explicitly specified.
• Remember to remove this (and any other debug commands) at the end of the debug session.

show auth-tracebuf (option to “ | include <client-mac>”)
• Show auth logs for the client (refer logging level debugging user-debug).
• Shows EAP transactions and interaction between client, controller and RADIUS.
• First thing to check if clients cannot connect – Look for Rejects!
• Follow up by checking for client auth failure reason at ClearPass Tracker

show ap remote debug mgmt-frames ap-name <ap-name> client-mac <client-mac>
• Shows the 802.11 management frame exchanges between the client and AP
• Useful to see association/authentication exchanges in the air and complements “show auth-tracebuf” for troubleshooting EAP exchange problems
• Also shows explicit deauthentication/disconnection exchanges

show ap arm history ap-name <AP Name>
• Shows AP ARM history – including channel and power changes over time

show ap arm client-match history client-mac <client MAC>
• Shows Client Match history for a specific client – Answers whether client were moved by ClientMatch (change AP, change radio band), and for what reason.

Data Path / Security Diagnostic

show rights
• Shows summarized list of all user roles in existence

show rights <role name>
• Shows policies, VLANs associated for a specific role

show datapath session table <client IP>
• Shows all concurrent connections and associated flags
• Each session creates two entries – Ingress and Egress entries, with “C” flag indicating the client initiating the connection
• Look out for zero bytes entries, missing return state entries, or “D” flag which could indicate firewall blocking the connections

Miscellaneous

show vrrp
• Shows VRRP information

show ip interface brief
• Shows IP interfaces

show controller-ip
• Shows which is the primary IP used by the controller, usually used by management (Master, AirWave, SNMP, RADIUS etc, unless explicitly specified otherwise.)

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