the network. An authentication server contains a database of multiple user name/
password pairs with associated privilege levels for each u ser that req uires
management access to the switch.
RADIUS uses UDP while TACACS+ uses TCP. UDP only offers best effort delivery,
while TCP offers a connection-oriented transport. Also, note that RADIUS encrypts
only the password in the access-request packet from the client to the server, wh ile
TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet.
Command Usage
• By default, management access is always c hecked aga inst the auth entication
database stored on the local switch. If a remote a uthe ntic ation se rv er is used , yo u
must specify the authentication sequence and the corresponding parameters for
the remote authentication protocol. Local and remote logon authentication control
management access via the console port, web browser, or Telnet.
• RADIUS and TACACS+ logon authentication assign a specific privilege level for
each user name/password pair. The user name, password, and privil ege level
must be configured on the authentication server.
• You can specify up to three authentication methods for any us er to indicat e the
authentication sequence. For example, if you select (1) RADIUS, (2) TACACS and
(3) Local, the user name and password on the RADIUS server is verified first. If the
RADIUS server is not available, then authentication is attempted using the
TACACS+ server, and finally the local user name and password is checked.
Command Attributes
•
Authentication
– Select the authentication, or authentication sequence required:
- Local – User authentication is perform ed only local ly by the switc h.
- Radius – User authentication is performed us ing a RADIU S server only.
- TACACS – User authentication is perform ed usin g a TACACS + server only .
- [authentication sequence] – User authenticatio n is perfo rmed by up t o three
authentication methods in the indicated sequence.
• RADIUS Settings
- Global – Provides globall y applicab le RADI US sett ings.
- Server Index – Specifies one of fi ve RA DIU S ser vers t hat m ay be c onfigu red.
The switch attempts authentication using the listed sequence of servers. The
process ends when a server eithe r appr oves or den ies acce ss to a us er.
- Server IP Address – Address of authen ticatio n server. (D efault: 10. 1.0.1)
- Server Port Number – Network (UDP) port of au thenti catio n server us ed for
authentication messages. (Range: 1-65535; Default: 1 812)
- Secret Text String – Encryption key used to authenticate logon access for
client. Do not use blank spaces in the string. (Maximum length: 48 characte rs)
-
Number of Server Transmits
– Number of times the switch tries to authenticate
logon access via the authentication server. (Range: 1-30; Default: 2)
- Timeout for a reply – The number of seconds the swit ch wait s for a rep ly from
the RADIUS server before it resends the request. (Range: 1-65535; Default: 5)
6-3Configuring Local/Remote Logon Authentication
6