2 802.1x – PLANET GS-4210-24P2S User Manual

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User’s Manual of GS-4210-24P2S

The page includes the following fields:

Object

Description

Port

The switch port number of the logical port.

Port State

Display the current port state.

Broadcast (16Kbps)

Display the current brocast storm control rate.

Unknown Multicast

(16Kbps)

Display the current unknown multicast storm control rate.

Unknown Unicast

(16Kbps)

Display the current unknown unicast storm control rate.

Display the current action.

Action

4.9.2 802.1X

Overview of 802.1X (Port-based) Authentication

In the 802.1X-world, the user is called the supplicant, the switch is the authenticator, and the RADIUS server is the

authentication server. The switch acts as the man-in-the-middle, forwarding requests and responses between the supplicant

and the authentication server. Frames sent between the supplicant and the switch are special 802.1X frames, known as EAPOL

(EAP Over LANs)

frames. EAPOL frames encapsulate EAP PDUs (RFC3748). Frames sent between the switch and the

RADIUS server are RADIUS packets. RADIUS packets also encapsulate EAP PDUs together with other attributes like the

switch's IP address, name, and the supplicant's port number on the switch. EAP is very flexible, in that it allows for different

authentication methods, like MD5-Challenge, PEAP, and TLS. The important thing is that the authenticator (the switch) doesn't

need to know which authentication method the supplicant and the authentication server are using, or how many information

exchange frames are needed for a particular method. The switch simply encapsulates the EAP part of the frame into the

relevant type (EAPOL or RADIUS) and forwards it.

When authentication is complete, the RADIUS server sends a special packet containing a success or failure indication. Besides

forwarding this decision to the supplicant, the switch uses it to open up or block traffic on the switch port connected to the

supplicant.

Overview of User Authentication

It is allowed to configure the PoE Managed Switch to authenticate users logging into the system for management access using

local or remote authentication methods, such as telnet and Web browser. This PoE Managed Switch provides secure network

management access using the following options:

Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS)

Terminal Access Controller Access Control System Plus (TACACS+)

Local user name and Priviledge Level control

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