1-1
1 802.1x Configuration
The sample output information in this manual was created on the WX3024. The output information on
your device may vary.
Introduction to 802.1x
The 802.1x protocol (802.1x for short) was developed by IEEE802 LAN/WAN committee to address
security issues of wireless LANs. It was then used in Ethernet as a common access control mechanism
for LAN ports to address mainly authentication and security problems.
802.1x is a port-based network access control protocol. It authenticates and controls devices
requesting for access in terms of the ports of LAN access devices. With the 802.1x protocol employed,
a user-side device can access the LAN only when it passes the authentication. Those fail to pass the
authentication are denied when accessing the LAN.
Architecture of 802.1x Authentication
As shown in Figure 1-1, 802.1x adopts a client/server architecture with three entities: a supplicant
system, an authenticator system, and an authentication server system.
Figure 1-1 Architecture of 802.1x authentication
z The supplicant system is the entity seeking access the LAN. It resides at one end of a LAN
segment and is authenticated by the authenticator system at the other end of the LAN segment.
The supplicant system is usually a user terminal device. 802.1x authentication is triggered when a
user launches an 802.1x-capable client program on the supplicant system. Note that the client
program must support the extensible authentication protocol over LAN (EAPoL).