AOS-CX Switch Simulator

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  • 1.  Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Feb 02, 2025 08:17 PM

    I've been having really odd issues with AOS CX switches under Eve-NG. 

    I've set up a lab with a VSX cluster, MCLAG to an OPNsense firewall and MCLAGs to some access switches. 

    I can receive DHCP on an Ubuntu client connected to one of the access switches, both through VLAN 1 and VLAN 100. I can successfully ping the gateway, and out to 8.8.8.8. However, I cannot access the gateway over HTTP/HTTPS, nor can I reach DNS at 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1. All interfaces in OPNsense are set up as any/any/allow. I have set up this exact same scenario in GNS3 (Same configs 1:1) without issues. Under Eve, I tried a single AOS switch simply connected to a standard interface on the firewall, also no DNS or HTTP traffic, yet pings work. If I replace the AOS switches with Cisco, I have no issues either, which leads me to believe this odd behaviour is relared to the AOS CX simulator itself. 

    I am running the latest 10.15 version of the AOS CX image.

    Below are the configs currently loaded on the switches. Any insight would be appreciated, thank you!

    Core 1

    hostname Core-SW1
    !
    vrf KA
    !
    vlan 1
    vlan 100
        vsx-sync
    !
    interface mgmt
        no shutdown
        ip dhcp
    interface lag 1 multi-chassis
        description Access-SW1 VSX LAG
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 2 multi-chassis
        description Access-SW2 VSX LAG
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 10 multi-chassis
        description To Firewall
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 256
        description ISL
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed all
        lacp mode active
    interface 1/1/1
        description To Access-SW1
        no shutdown
        mtu 9100
        lag 1
    interface 1/1/2
        description To Access-SW2
        no shutdown
        mtu 9100
        lag 2
    interface 1/1/3
        description To Firewall
        no shutdown
        lag 10
    interface 1/1/7
        description Keepalive
        no shutdown
        vrf attach KA
        ip address 192.168.0.0/31
    interface 1/1/8
        description ISL link
        no shutdown
        mtu 9198
        lag 256
    interface 1/1/9
        description ISL link
        no shutdown
        mtu 9198
        lag 256
    vsx
        system-mac 02:01:00:00:01:00
        inter-switch-link lag 256
        role primary
        keepalive peer 192.168.0.1 source 192.168.0.0 vrf KA
        vsx-sync aaa acl-log-timer bfd-global bgp control-plane-acls copp-policy dhcp-relay dhcp-server dhcp-snooping dns icmp-tcp lldp loop-protect-global mac-lockout mclag-interfaces neighbor ospf qos-global route-map sflow-global snmp ssh stp-global time vsx-global

    Core 2

    hostname Core-SW2
    !
    vrf KA
    !
    ssh server vrf mgmt
    vlan 1
    vlan 100
        vsx-sync
    !
    interface mgmt
        no shutdown
        ip dhcp
    interface lag 1 multi-chassis
        description Access-SW1 VSX LAG
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 2 multi-chassis
        description Access-SW2 VSX LAG
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 10 multi-chassis
        description To Firewall
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface lag 256
        description ISL
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed all
        lacp mode active
    interface 1/1/1
        description To Access-SW1
        no shutdown
        mtu 9100
        lag 1
    interface 1/1/2
        description To Access-SW2
        no shutdown
        mtu 9100
        lag 2
    interface 1/1/3
        description To Firewall
        no shutdown
        lag 10
    interface 1/1/7
        description Keepalive
        no shutdown
        vrf attach KA
        ip address 192.168.0.1/31
    interface 1/1/8
        description ISL link
        no shutdown
        mtu 9198
        lag 256
    interface 1/1/9
        description ISL link
        no shutdown
        mtu 9198
        lag 256
    vsx
        system-mac 02:01:00:00:01:00
        inter-switch-link lag 256
        role secondary
        keepalive peer 192.168.0.0 source 192.168.0.1 vrf KA
        vsx-sync aaa acl-log-timer bfd-global bgp control-plane-acls copp-policy dhcp-relay dhcp-server dhcp-snooping dns icmp-tcp lldp loop-protect-global mac-lockout mclag-interfaces neighbor ospf qos-global route-map sflow-global snmp ssh stp-global time vsx-global

    Access 1

    hostname Access-SW1
    !
    vlan 1,100
    interface mgmt
        no shutdown
        ip dhcp
    interface lag 1
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface 1/1/1
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan access 100
    interface 1/1/8
        description to Core-SW1
        no shutdown
        lag 1
    interface 1/1/9
        description to Core-SW2
        no shutdown
        lag 1

    Access 2

    hostname Access-SW2
    !
    vlan 1,100
    interface mgmt
        no shutdown
        ip dhcp
    interface lag 1
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan trunk native 1
        vlan trunk allowed 100
        lacp mode active
    interface 1/1/1
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan access 100
    interface 1/1/2
        description To Ubuntu Client
        no shutdown
        no routing
        vlan access 100
    interface 1/1/8
        description to SW1
        no shutdown
        lag 1
    interface 1/1/9
        description to SW2
        no shutdown
        lag 1



  • 2.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Feb 03, 2025 03:14 AM
    Edited by mkk Feb 03, 2025 03:18 AM

    First, keep in mind that AOS-CX is a simulator and is not primarily designed for testing with real traffic.

    • Are you running the AOS-CX simulator in GNS3?
    • you might try changing your gateway to use a port other than 80 or 443 to see if that resolves the issue.

    Most likely a EVE-NG issue, I had this before with a Fortigate VM appliance in EVE-NG.
    ------------------------------
    Marcel Koedijk | MVP Expert 2024 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Feb 08, 2025 07:45 PM

    First, keep in mind that AOS-CX is a simulator and is not primarily designed for testing with real traffic.

    Yes, I am aware of this. I am not using the simulator for a real network. I am using it to build out proof of concept network designs, as well as learn the CX platform. The design I am currently working on requires testing web access and restrictions.

    Are you running the AOS-CX simulator in GNS3

    As per my original post, I am running under both EVE NG and GNS3. The issue I am running into is under EVE NG. GNS3 has no issues thus far. I am evaluating both simulation platforms as part of this too, to decide which I want to use long term. EVE NG is much nicer in some points, but this issue I am experiencing may be a blocker.

    you might try changing your gateway to use a port other than 80 or 443 to see if that resolves the issue

    This is affecting more than just HTTP/HTTPS. I also cannot use DNS, queries just time out. Bypassing the Aruba CX switch (Either by directly connecting to the firewall, or by using a Cisco switch) restores this functionality.

    If this is a known issue under EVE NG, then I will make note of this and move forward with GNS3 instead.




  • 4.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Feb 10, 2025 06:00 AM
    I ran into similar issue on EVE-NG. I solved it by changing the type on NIC in the object configuration to E1000 instead. 

    Hope it helps. 

    Best regards
    Stéphane Duchesne





  • 5.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Feb 10, 2025 03:34 PM

    I just gave this a shot, and it worked. Thanks heaps! It's not super quick, but does definitely work, while virtio-net-pci does not.

    I'll continue evaluating both environments, however, this is no longer a hangup on EVE NG.



    ------------------------------
    Trent Hansen | ACMA | ACMP | APS Central | APS Security Services Edge
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Jul 28, 2025 05:50 AM

    I have problems too with CX in VSX configuration on eve-ng.

    The VSX status is ok, i have configured the interface vlan 30 con active gateway like tihis:

    interface vlan 30
        vsx-sync active-gateways
        vrf attach LAB1
        ip address 10.0.30.2/24
        active-gateway ip mac 12:00:00:00:00:30
        active-gateway ip 10.0.30.1

    The other peer has IP 10.0.30.3/24. 
    10.0.30.2 doesn't ping 10.0.30.3 and viceversa. I have connected 2 virtual PC on vlan 30, one on each VSX (10.0.30.10 and 10.0.30.11). The PC can ping the interface vlan on his connected VSX but is not able to ping the physical IP of the other VSX neither the other PC.

    The mac-address table is OK, i see both PC mac-address on both VSX, but the arp table is populated only with the local PC. By looking the captured traffic on the ISL lacp link, i don't see the arp request exiting the interface. 

    Setting the interface as E1000 doesn't solve.




  • 7.  RE: Issues with CX Simulator on Eve-NG

    Posted Jul 28, 2025 06:13 AM

    That's very strange, i have deleted the interface vlan 30 and the vlan 30, configured the same with vlan 300 and now it work. It seem the eve-ng don't like vlan number 30.