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100+ Free Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Practice Questions

Pass your HPE Aruba Networking Certified Expert - Switching (Written, HPE7-A09) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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When configuring MSTP on AOS-CX, what defines which VLANs belong to a given spanning-tree instance?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Exam

70

Exam Questions

HPE7-A09 datacard

68%

Passing Score

About 48 of 70 correct

120 min

Time Limit

Pearson VUE proctored

$350/$195

Exam Fee

Standard / retake

3 yrs

Validity

From issue date

4 domains

Coverage

Install/Configure 32% top weight

The HPE Aruba Networking Certified Expert - Switching (Written, HPE7-A09) is the written exam for the ACX-S expert track, delivered through Pearson VUE. The exam is 70 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions in 120 minutes with a 68% passing score. Fees are $350 standard or $195 for retakes. Install/Configure is the heaviest domain at 32%, followed by Troubleshoot at 28%, Manage/Monitor at 22%, and Planning at 18%. The full ACX-S certification also requires the HPE4-A53 practical lab exam.

Sample Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Aruba Switching Expert (Written) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1When planning a two-tier campus design with AOS-CX, what is the primary reason to deploy a VSX pair at the aggregation layer rather than two independent standalone switches?
A.It merges both switches into a single control plane with one management IP and a shared CPU
B.It removes the need for any first-hop redundancy because VSX uses a single physical default gateway
C.It lets a downstream switch terminate a single multi-chassis LAG across both VSX nodes, eliminating spanning-tree-blocked uplinks
D.It allows the two switches to share a single power supply for cost savings
Explanation: VSX presents a multi-chassis LAG (MC-LAG) so a downstream device can dual-home a single LACP bundle to both nodes. Because both uplinks are active, spanning tree does not block one of them, doubling usable bandwidth while preserving redundancy.
2An architect is choosing between VSX and VSF for a new deployment. Which factor most strongly favors selecting VSF?
A.The need to interconnect data center spine switches such as the 8325
B.A wiring closet using 6300 switches that should be managed as a single logical device for simplicity
C.A requirement for two fully independent control planes that survive a single chassis software crash
D.A design requiring EVPN-VXLAN border gateways
Explanation: VSF (Virtual Switching Framework) stacks 6200/6300 access switches into one logical device with a single management plane, simplifying access-layer operations. VSX is positioned for aggregation/core and keeps two independent control planes.
3In a leaf-spine EVPN-VXLAN fabric design on AOS-CX, what role do the spine switches typically perform?
A.They act as VXLAN tunnel endpoints (VTEPs) terminating all overlay tunnels
B.They host the distributed anycast gateway for all tenant VLANs
C.They run STP to block redundant fabric links
D.They provide the IP underlay transport and commonly serve as BGP EVPN route reflectors
Explanation: Spines provide fast, loop-free IP underlay transport (typically OSPF or eBGP) and frequently act as iBGP EVPN route reflectors to scale the control plane. They do not normally terminate VXLAN tunnels.
4Which AOS-CX data center platform is purpose-built to host distributed firewall and stateful services natively in the switch via integrated AMD Pensando DPUs?
A.CX 6300
B.CX 10000
C.CX 8360
D.CX 6200
Explanation: The CX 10000 (CX 10K) integrates AMD Pensando DPUs, enabling stateful distributed services such as firewalling and telemetry directly in the top-of-rack switch. The other listed platforms do not embed DPUs.
5When sizing a VSF stack of 6300 series switches, what is the maximum number of members supported in a recommended ring topology?
A.4 members
B.10 members
C.8 members
D.16 members
Explanation: AOS-CX VSF supports up to 10 members for the 6300 series in a ring topology (the 6200 series supports up to 8). Ring is recommended because each member has two VSF links, providing a redundant path if one link fails.
6An architect must select an OSPF area design for a campus where stub-area routers should still reach external prefixes via a default route but must not flood Type 5 LSAs. Which area type is most appropriate?
A.Totally stubby area
B.Standard backbone area 0
C.Stub area
D.Not-so-stubby area (NSSA) with no redistribution
Explanation: A stub area blocks Type 5 external LSAs and injects a default route so routers can still reach external destinations. This matches the requirement of suppressing external LSAs while retaining external reachability via a default.
7For a VSX deployment, which connection does Aruba recommend dedicating specifically to detect whether the peer is alive during an ISL failure?
A.An additional VLAN trunked over the ISL
B.A separate Layer 3 keepalive link
C.The out-of-band management network only, with no dedicated link
D.A second data uplink to the spine
Explanation: Best practice is to configure a dedicated Layer 3 keepalive link, separate from the ISL, so that if the ISL goes down the nodes can still determine peer liveness and avoid a split-brain condition. Even a low-speed port suffices for keepalive.
8Which underlay routing approach is commonly recommended for a small-to-medium AOS-CX EVPN-VXLAN fabric because it provides fast convergence and simple any-to-any reachability of loopbacks within a single autonomous system?
A.Static routes between all VTEPs
B.RIPv2 across the fabric
C.OSPF as the underlay IGP
D.PIM sparse mode as the underlay
Explanation: OSPF is a common underlay IGP for AOS-CX fabrics: it converges quickly and advertises VTEP loopbacks for tunnel reachability within one AS. eBGP is the other common choice for larger multi-AS fabrics.
9A design calls for symmetric IRB rather than asymmetric IRB in an AOS-CX VXLAN/EVPN fabric. What is the main scalability advantage of symmetric IRB?
A.It requires every VLAN/VNI to be configured on every VTEP
B.It disables ARP suppression to reduce control-plane state
C.It eliminates the need for VRFs in the overlay
D.Each VTEP need only host the VLANs/VNIs of locally attached endpoints, using an L3VNI for inter-subnet routing
Explanation: Symmetric IRB routes between subnets through a shared L3VNI per VRF, so a VTEP only needs the L2 VNIs for its locally connected hosts. This avoids configuring every VLAN/VNI everywhere, which is why it scales better than asymmetric IRB.
10When planning multicast distribution across an AOS-CX Layer 3 campus, which protocol pairing is standard for sparse multicast with receivers joining specific groups on access VLANs?
A.PIM Dense Mode in the core with IGMP filtering at the edge
B.DVMRP throughout the campus
C.PIM Sparse Mode with a Rendezvous Point in the core and IGMP snooping at the edge VLANs
D.MLD only, with no PIM
Explanation: PIM Sparse Mode uses a Rendezvous Point to build shared trees and is efficient for sparsely distributed receivers, while IGMP snooping at the edge ensures multicast is only sent to ports with interested hosts. This is the standard campus design.

About the Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Exam

The HPE Aruba Networking Certified Expert - Switching (Written, HPE7-A09) is the written component of the ACX-S certification track. It validates expert-level knowledge of complex Aruba wired network design, advanced configuration (VSX, EVPN-VXLAN, enterprise routing), multi-layer troubleshooting, and large-scale management and monitoring with Aruba Central.

Assessment

70 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions covering Planning, Install/Configure, Troubleshoot, and Manage/Monitor for complex wired networks

Time Limit

120 minutes

Passing Score

68%

Exam Fee

$350 / $195 (HPE / Pearson VUE)

Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Exam Content Outline

18%

Plan the Wired Network Solution

Expert-level network architecture design, multi-site deployment planning, technology selection for enterprise environments, high-availability design, and migration strategies.

32%

Install and Configure the Wired Network Solution

Complex AOS-CX deployment including multi-site VSX architectures, EVPN-VXLAN overlays, advanced OSPF/BGP routing, enterprise security policies, QoS optimization, and large-scale Aruba Central configuration.

28%

Troubleshoot the Wired Network Solution

Systematic diagnosis of multi-layer network failures, complex VSX and VSF issues, EVPN-VXLAN control and data plane problems, routing anomalies, and performance degradation analysis.

22%

Manage and Monitor Aruba Networking Solutions

Enterprise-scale Aruba Central management, network automation workflows, advanced analytics and reporting, firmware lifecycle management, and operational best practices.

How to Pass the Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 68%
  • Assessment: 70 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions covering Planning, Install/Configure, Troubleshoot, and Manage/Monitor for complex wired networks
  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Exam fee: $350 / $195

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Aruba Switching Expert (Written) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus heavily on Install and Configure (32%) - master multi-site VSX architectures, EVPN-VXLAN overlay configuration, advanced routing, and enterprise-scale AOS-CX features
2Build expert troubleshooting methodology (28%) - practice systematic diagnosis starting from physical layer through to application layer, focusing on complex multi-technology failure scenarios
3Use the HPE Press study guide (ISBN 9781960058348, March 2025) as your primary reference - it maps directly to the exam domains and provides expert-level scenarios
4Practice with real AOS-CX environments or advanced lab simulations - the scenario-based questions require deep understanding of CLI output and configuration interactions
5Study enterprise-scale Aruba Central management including automation, analytics, and multi-site monitoring for the 22% Manage and Monitor domain
6Plan for the full ACX-S track by preparing for both HPE7-A09 (written) and HPE4-A53 (practical) - the practical exam tests hands-on skills in a live lab environment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HPE7-A09 Aruba Switching Expert exam?

The HPE7-A09 is the written component of the HPE Aruba Networking Certified Expert - Switching (ACX-S) track. It validates expert-level knowledge of complex Aruba wired network design, advanced configuration, multi-layer troubleshooting, and enterprise-scale management with Aruba Central.

How many questions are on the HPE7-A09 exam and how long is it?

The HPE7-A09 contains 70 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions with a 120-minute time limit. The passing score is 68%, meaning you need approximately 48 of 70 correct answers to pass.

What topics carry the most weight on HPE7-A09?

Install and Configure is the largest domain at 32%, followed by Troubleshoot at 28%, Manage and Monitor at 22%, and Plan the Wired Network Solution at 18%. The exam emphasizes hands-on configuration expertise and advanced troubleshooting.

How does the ACX-S certification track work?

The ACX-S (Aruba Certified Expert - Switching) requires passing two exams: the HPE7-A09 written exam and the HPE4-A53 practical hands-on lab exam. The written exam tests knowledge via multiple-choice and scenario questions, while the practical exam tests hands-on skills in a live lab environment.

How much does the HPE7-A09 exam cost?

The HPE7-A09 exam costs $350 USD for a standard attempt and $195 USD for retakes. The full ACX-S certification also requires the HPE4-A53 practical exam, which has a separate fee.

Is there an official study guide for HPE7-A09?

Yes, HPE Press published an official study guide (ISBN 9781960058348) in March 2025. It covers all exam domains and is recommended as a primary study resource alongside hands-on lab experience.

How long is the Aruba Switching Expert certification valid?

The credential is valid for 3 years from the issue date. To renew, candidates must pass the current Expert Switching exams or follow HPE's recertification policy before expiration.