There are a few ways to add devices to Aruba Central.

  1. Using the device’s serial number
  2. Uploading a CSV file
  3. Using a Cloud Activation Key and MAC address

Add a device using serial number and MAC address

Check out the video below for steps to adding a device to Aruba Central using Serial Number and MAC Address.

  1. Login to your Aruba Central Account: https://portal.central.arubanetworks.com/platform/login/user
  2. After logging in, at the top right corner of the screen, click on the Account Home icon
  3. Click on Device Inventory

  4. At the bottom left of the Device Inventory page, click on Add Devices.
    Aruba Central Device Inventory
  5. Copy and paste the serial numbers and MAC addresses of the devices you wish to add. You can add up to 30 devices at once.
    Adding Devices to Aruba Central using Serial Number and MAC address
  6. Click on Done.
    Add up to 30 devices by entering Serial Number and MAC address
  7. The newly added device(s) will now appear on your Device Inventory list, ready for licensing.

Import multiple devices using CSV file

You can import multiple devices using a CSV file.

  1. Login to your Aruba Central Account: https://portal.central.arubanetworks.com/platform/login/user
    Login to Aruba Central
  2. After logging in, at the top right corner of the screen, click on the Account Home icon
  3. Click on Device Inventory
    Aruba Central Account Home
  4. At the bottom left of the Device Inventory page, click on Download sample CSV file to download the template.
    Download CSV File
  5. Open the template file and populate the columns with the devices’ serial numbers and MAC addresses following the format provided.
    Enter Serial Numbers and MAC Addresses to the CSV file
  6. Save the file.
  7. Go back to the Device Inventory screen and upload the file via the Import Via CSV button at the bottom of the screen.
    Import CSV File

Add a device to Aruba Central using Cloud Activation Key

Watch the video below on steps for adding a device to Aruba Central using Cloud Activation Key.

Before adding your device to Aruba Central using the Cloud Activation Key, you’ll first need to retrieve the activation key and a MAC address from one of the devices you are adding to Central.

If you already have them, skip directly to instructions on adding your devices to Central here.

How to retrieve Cloud Activation Key from your switch

  1. Log on to the switch Command Line Interface (CLI)
  2. Type in the command: sh activation provision
    CLI - Show Activate Provision
  3. Copy the activation key
    Retrieve Switch Activation Key from CLI
  4. Retrieve the MAC address by using the command: show system
    CLI - Show System
  5. Copy the MAC address
    Retrieve MAC Address from CLI

How to retrieve Cloud Activation Key from your access point

  1. Login to the IAP management interface from your Aruba Instant access point
    Login to the IAP management interface
  2. From the menu bar on the left of the screen, select Maintenance and About
    Select Maintenance, then About
  3. Copy your Cloud Activation Key
    Copy your Cloud Activation Key

How to retrieve the MAC address of your access point

  1. From the menu bar on the left of the screen, select Access Points under Dashboard
    Virtual Controller Dashboard
  2. Select the access point from the list
    Select the access point
  3. Copy the MAC Address
    Copy the MAC Address of your access point

Now, with your Cloud Activation Keys and MAC addresses, you can add your devices to Aruba Central.

Add a device to Aruba Central using Cloud Activation Key

  1. Login to your Aruba Central Account: https://portal.central.arubanetworks.com/platform/login/user
    Aruba Central Login
  2. After logging in, at the top right corner of the screen, click on the Account Home icon
  3. Click on Device Inventory
    Aruba Central Account Home
  4. At the bottom right of the Device Inventory page, click on Advanced and select add more devices With Cloud Activation Key
    Aruba Central Device Inventory
  5. Copy and paste your Cloud Activation Key and MAC Address into the fields provided.
    Add your device Serial Number and MAC Address
  6. Click on Add
    Add Cloud Activation Key
  7. Refresh the Device Inventory page after a few seconds and you should see your device on the list of devices, along with any other devices that were purchased at the same time.
    Device(s) added to Device Inventory

The Author

Darko Raic

Darko Raic is an Aruba Business Partner Solutions Architect (BPSA) providing technical pre-sales support to Dicker Data resellers for Aruba solutions. With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, Darko offers deep technical expertise in wired and wireless networking solutions. He also shares his knowledge with Dicker Data resellers through regular training and enablement sessions via the Phoenix Pro Club program.