Allied Telesis AT-S63 - Manual (Page 720)

Chapter 31: 802.1x Port-based Network Access Control
720 Section VII: Port Security
IEEE 802.1x Port-based Network Access Control Overview
The AT-S63 management software offers you several different methods
for protecting your network and its resources from unauthorized access.
For instance, Chapter 30, “MAC Address-based Port Security” on page
709, explains how you can restrict network access using the MAC
addresses that belong to the end nodes of your network.
This chapter explains yet another way. This method, referred to as 802.1x
port-based network access control, uses the RADIUS protocol to control
who can send traffic through and receive traffic from a switch port. The
switch does not allow an end node to send or receive traffic through a port
until the user of the node has logged on by entering a username and
password that the RADIUS server has validated.
The benefit of this type of network security is obvious. You can use it to
prevent unauthorized individuals from connecting a computer to a switch
port or using an unattended workstation to access your network
resources. Only those users to whom you have assigned valid usernames
and passwords will be able to use the switch to access the network.
This port security method uses the RADIUS authentication protocol. The
AT-S63 management software is shipped with RADIUS client software. If
you have already read Chapter 36, “TACACS+ and RADIUS Protocols” on
page 825, then you know that you can use the RADIUS client software on
the switch, along with a RADIUS server on your network, to create new
manager accounts that control who can manage and change the AT-S63
parameter on the switch.
Note
RADIUS with Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) extensions
is the only supported authentication server for this feature. This
feature is not supported with the TACACS+ authentication protocol.
The switch supports only one authentication protocol at a time.
Therefore, if you want to implement IEEE 802.1 port access control
and also create new manager accounts as explained in Chapter 36,
“TACACS+ and RADIUS Protocols” on page 825, you must use the
RADIUS protocol.
Following are several terms to keep in mind when you use this feature.
ˆ Supplicant - A supplicant is an end user or end node that wants to
access the network through a switch port. A supplicant is also referred
to as a client.
ˆ Authenticator - The authenticator is a port on the switch that prohibits
network access by a supplicant until the network user has entered a
valid username and password.