In this guide, I will share the most critical commands I use daily to diagnose and maintain Aruba OS-CX switches (such as the Aruba 6000 series). These commands will help you verify system status, check interface configurations, and troubleshoot network connectivity.
Before making changes, it is crucial to verify the hardware model, serial number, and firmware version.
show systemThis command displays the hostname, product name (e.g., Aruba 6000), serial number, MAC address, uptime, and CPU utilization.
To see the complete current configuration of the switch, use the following command. This output can be copied and saved as a backup text file to restore the switch later if needed.
show running-configUnderstanding port status is fundamental to network troubleshooting.
Use the "brief" modifier to get a clean summary table of all ports, their status (up/down), speed, and assigned VLANs.
show interface briefTo see all configured VLANs and which ports are assigned to them:
show vlanUse LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) to identify neighboring devices such as other switches, access points, or IP phones.
show lldp neighbor-infoThis reveals what is connected to specific ports (e.g., Port 14 connects to Switch 198).
You can test Layer 3 connectivity directly from the switch CLI to verify if a remote IP is reachable.
ping 10.70.0.198If you are troubleshooting devices like Access Points or Cameras that are not powering on, check the PoE budget and power draw per port.
show power-over-ethernet briefFor fiber connections, verify the status and type of inserted SFP/SFP+ modules.
show interface transceiversIf you ever forget a command or want to see available parameters, type a question mark ?. For example, typing boot ? will show you all available boot options.