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
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  • 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.



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