3Com WX1200 3CRWX120695A Authentication Types, MSS provides the following types of authentication

434CHAPTER 21: CONFIGURING AAA FOR NETWORK USERS

Each authentication rule specifies where the user credentials are stored. The location can be a group of RADIUS servers or the switch’s local database. In either case, if MSS has an authentication rule that matches on the required parameters, MSS checks the username or MAC address of the user and, if required, the password to make sure they match the information configured on the RADIUS servers or in the local database.

The username or MAC address can be an exact match or can match a userglob or MAC address glob, which allow wildcards to be used for all or part of the username or MAC address. (For more information about globs, see “AAA Tools for Network Users” on page 441.)

Authentication Types

MSS provides the following types of authentication:

„IEEE 802.1X — If the network user’s network interface card (NIC) supports 802.1X, MSS checks for an 802.1X authentication rule that matches the username (and SSID, if wireless access is requested), and that uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) requested by the NIC. If a matching rule is found, MSS uses the requested EAP to check the RADIUS server group or local database for the username and password entered by the user. If matching information is found, MSS grants access to the user.

„MAC — If the username does not match an 802.1X authentication rule, but the MAC address of the user NIC or Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone and the SSID (if wireless) do match a MAC authentication rule, MSS checks the RADIUS server group or local database for matching user information. If the MAC address (and password, if on a RADIUS server) matches, MSS grants access. Otherwise, MSS attempts the fallthru authentication type, which can be Web, last-resort, or none. (Fallthru authentication is described in more detail in “Authentication Algorithm” on page 435.)

„Web — A network user attempts to access a web page over the network. The WX switch intercepts the HTTP or HTTPS request and serves a login Web page to the user. The user enters the username and password, and MSS checks the RADIUS server group or local database for matching user information. If the username and password match, MSS redirects the user to the web page she requested. Otherwise, MSS denies access to the user.

„Last-resort—A network user associates with an SSID or connects to a wired authentication port, and does not enter a username or password.