3Com WX3000 operation manual Port Security Configuration, Port Security Overview, Introduction

1 Port Security Configuration

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The term switch used throughout this chapter refers to a switching device in a generic sense or the switching engine of a unified switch in the WX3000 series.

The sample output information in this manual was created on the WX3024. The output information on your device may vary.

Port Security Overview

Introduction

Port security is a security mechanism for network access control. It is an expansion to the current 802.1x and MAC address authentication.

Port security allows you to define various security modes that enable devices to learn legal source MAC addresses, so that you can implement different network security management as needed.

With port security enabled, packets whose source MAC addresses cannot be learned by the device in the security mode are considered illegal packets. The events that cannot pass 802.1x authentication or MAC authentication are considered illegal.

With port security enabled, upon detecting an illegal packet or illegal event, the system triggers the corresponding port security features and takes pre-defined actions automatically. This reduces your maintenance workload and greatly enhances system security and manageability.

Port Security Features

The following port security features are provided:

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NTK (need to know) feature: By checking the destination MAC addresses in outbound data frames on the port, NTK ensures that the device sends data frames through the port only to successfully authenticated devices, thus preventing illegal devices from intercepting network data.

Intrusion protection feature: By checking the source MAC addresses in inbound data frames or the username and password in 802.1x authentication requests on the port, intrusion protection detects illegal packets or events and takes a pre-set action accordingly. The actions you can set include: disconnecting the port temporarily/permanently, and blocking packets with the MAC address specified as illegal.

Trap feature: When special data packets (generated from illegal intrusion, abnormal login/logout or other special activities) are passing through a port on the device, device tracking enables the switch to send Trap messages to help the network administrator monitor special activities.

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