LevelOne GSW-4876 - Manual (Page 88)

C HAPTER 4 | Configuring the Switch
Configuring Security
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This switch uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol over LANs (EAPOL)
to exchange authentication protocol messages with the client, and a
remote RADIUS authentication server to verify user identity and access
rights. These backend servers are configured on the AAA menu (see
page 119 ).
When a client (i.e., Supplicant) connects to a switch port, the switch (i.e.,
Authenticator) responds with an EAPOL identity request. The client
provides its identity (such as a user name) in an EAPOL response to the
switch, which it forwards to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server verifies
the client identity and sends an access challenge back to the client. The
EAP packet from the RADIUS server contains not only the challenge, but
the authentication method to be used. The client can reject the
authentication method and request another, depending on the
configuration of the client software and the RADIUS server. The encryption
method used by IEEE 802.1X to pass authentication messages can be MD5
(Message-Digest 5), TLS (Transport Layer Security), PEAP (Protected
Extensible Authentication Protocol), or TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer
Security). However, note that the only encryption method supported by
MAC-Based authentication is MD5. The client responds to the appropriate
method with its credentials, such as a password or certificate. The RADIUS
server verifies the client credentials and responds with an accept or reject
packet. If authentication is successful, the switch allows the client to
access the network. Otherwise, network access is denied and the port
remains blocked.
The operation of 802.1X on the switch requires the following:
◆ The switch must have an IP address assigned (see page 46 ).
◆ RADIUS authentication must be enabled on the switch and the IP
address of the RADIUS server specified. Backend RADIUS servers are
configured on the Authentication Configuration page (see page 119 ).
◆ 802.1X / MAC-based authentication must be enabled globally for the
switch.
◆ The Admin State for each switch port that requires client authentication
must be set to 802.1X or MAC-based.
◆ When using 802.1X authentication:
■
Each client that needs to be authenticated must have dot1x client
software installed and properly configured.
■
When using 802.1X authentication, the RADIUS server and 802.1X
client must support EAP. (The switch only supports EAPOL in order
to pass the EAP packets from the server to the client.)
■
The RADIUS server and client also have to support the same EAP
authentication type - MD5, PEAP, TLS, or TTLS. (Native support for
these encryption methods is provided in Windows 7, Windows Vista,
Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4. To support