Wireless Access

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

you can, assuming you know the IP address of the you can browse to it and after login you can change the DNS setting. see this screenshot

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

If you are touching your APs, it may be a good moment to move away from static IP and to DHCP. Being on DHCP would have prevented this problem from happening in the beginning; and that's one of the reasons that DHCP is strongly preferred over static. If you want to have devices a fixed IP, create a reservation in your DHCP.

The use of DHCP also increases visibility, allows device profiling as a bonus.

I do understand there are situations where you have to use static IP, but would avoid it as much as possible.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

There are downsides to DHCP security wise. It is not appropriate for our environment.

If you are touching your APs, it may be a good moment to move away from static IP and to DHCP. Being on DHCP would have prevented this problem from happening in the beginning; and that's one of the reasons that DHCP is strongly preferred over static. If you want to have devices a fixed IP, create a reservation in your DHCP.

The use of DHCP also increases visibility, allows device profiling as a bonus.

I do understand there are situations where you have to use static IP, but would avoid it as much as possible.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

you can change it from the console too.  reboot the AP and break the boot process.  At the apboot prompt fill in the follow items with your own addresses 
apboot> setenv ipaddr x.x.x.x
apboot> setenv netmask 255.255.255.0
apboot> setenv gatewayip y.y.y.y
apboot> setenv domainname blah.com
apboot> setenv dnsip 1.1.1.1
apboot>save

There are downsides to DHCP security wise. It is not appropriate for our environment.

If you are touching your APs, it may be a good moment to move away from static IP and to DHCP. Being on DHCP would have prevented this problem from happening in the beginning; and that's one of the reasons that DHCP is strongly preferred over static. If you want to have devices a fixed IP, create a reservation in your DHCP.

The use of DHCP also increases visibility, allows device profiling as a bonus.

I do understand there are situations where you have to use static IP, but would avoid it as much as possible.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

How do I break the boot process? It wont even let me login to do commands until it is fully booted.

you can change it from the console too.  reboot the AP and break the boot process.  At the apboot prompt fill in the follow items with your own addresses 
apboot> setenv ipaddr x.x.x.x
apboot> setenv netmask 255.255.255.0
apboot> setenv gatewayip y.y.y.y
apboot> setenv domainname blah.com
apboot> setenv dnsip 1.1.1.1
apboot>save

There are downsides to DHCP security wise. It is not appropriate for our environment.

If you are touching your APs, it may be a good moment to move away from static IP and to DHCP. Being on DHCP would have prevented this problem from happening in the beginning; and that's one of the reasons that DHCP is strongly preferred over static. If you want to have devices a fixed IP, create a reservation in your DHCP.

The use of DHCP also increases visibility, allows device profiling as a bonus.

I do understand there are situations where you have to use static IP, but would avoid it as much as possible.

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.

Need a console cable to the AP. Establish the connection and then reboot the AP. Watch the boot logs and you'll see a prompt which gives you a moment to press a key to stop the boot and enter apboot.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 25, 2026 11:32 AM
From: jbpritch
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

How do I break the boot process? It wont even let me login to do commands until it is fully booted.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 24, 2026 07:18 PM
From: ariyap
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

you can change it from the console too.  reboot the AP and break the boot process.  At the apboot prompt fill in the follow items with your own addresses 
apboot> setenv ipaddr x.x.x.x
apboot> setenv netmask 255.255.255.0
apboot> setenv gatewayip y.y.y.y
apboot> setenv domainname blah.com
apboot> setenv dnsip 1.1.1.1
apboot>save

------------------------------
If my post was useful accept solution and/or give kudos.
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of HPE or Aruba.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 24, 2026 12:26 PM
From: jbpritch
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

There are downsides to DHCP security wise. It is not appropriate for our environment.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 24, 2026 07:10 AM
From: Herman Robers
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

If you are touching your APs, it may be a good moment to move away from static IP and to DHCP. Being on DHCP would have prevented this problem from happening in the beginning; and that's one of the reasons that DHCP is strongly preferred over static. If you want to have devices a fixed IP, create a reservation in your DHCP.

The use of DHCP also increases visibility, allows device profiling as a bonus.

I do understand there are situations where you have to use static IP, but would avoid it as much as possible.

------------------------------
Herman Robers
------------------------
If you have urgent issues, always contact your HPE Aruba Networking partner, distributor, or Aruba TAC Support. Check https://www.arubanetworks.com/support-services/contact-support/ for how to contact HPE Aruba Networking TAC. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or HPE Aruba Networking.

In case your problem is solved, please invest the time to post a follow-up with the information on how you solved it. Others can benefit from that.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 23, 2026 03:43 PM
From: jbpritch
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

Again, we are not using DHCP. The APs have static IP and DNS set via central originally. They were configured, then disconnected from the network awaiting deployment. Fast forward a few year, we are getting them ready to deploy and when we connect to the network they are unable to contact central since the DNS server IP has changed in that time. Is there no way to manyally set the DNS on the AP?

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 21, 2026 02:32 AM
From: ariyap
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

well if your APs are not managed by Aruba Central then all you need to do is go to the DHCP server and change the DNS setting for that IP pool for the IAPs.

------------------------------
If my post was useful accept solution and/or give kudos.
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of HPE or Aruba.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 20, 2026 04:51 PM
From: jbpritch
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

Is there a way to do this without DHCP? We have APs that have an old DNS sever set and they have not connected to central in a few years. We have since updated our DNS server IPs, so the APs wont connect to central. Is there a way to update these outside of central? Or do we need to factory reset?

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 14, 2025 10:11 AM
From: Herman Robers
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

DNS is recommended to be provided by the DHCP server. So change your DHCP server to provide the DNS servers, where I would provide at least 2 for redundancy to avoid the problem you seem to experience now.

------------------------------
Herman Robers
------------------------
If you have urgent issues, always contact your HPE Aruba Networking partner, distributor, or Aruba TAC Support. Check https://www.arubanetworks.com/support-services/contact-support/ for how to contact HPE Aruba Networking TAC. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or HPE Aruba Networking.

In case your problem is solved, please invest the time to post a follow-up with the information on how you solved it. Others can benefit from that.

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 14, 2025 03:08 AM
From: yeowkm
Subject: change DNS server for central AP

how do i change the DNS server settings for all the AP in Aruba Central ?

for some reason, our main DNS server is having some issue, so we decide to promote the backup DNS server to main.