Cisco Systems 3750E manual Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+, Understanding TACACS+

Chapter 9 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication

Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+

Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+

This section describes how to enable and configure Terminal Access Controller Access Control System Plus (TACACS+), which provides detailed accounting information and flexible administrative control over authentication and authorization processes. TACACS+ is facilitated through authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) and can be enabled only through AAA commands.

Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this section, see the Cisco IOS Security Command Reference, Release 12.2.

These sections contain this configuration information:

•Understanding TACACS+, page 9-10

•TACACS+ Operation, page 9-12

•Configuring TACACS+, page 9-12

•Displaying the TACACS+ Configuration, page 9-17

Understanding TACACS+

TACACS+ is a security application that provides centralized validation of users attempting to gain access to your switch. TACACS+ services are maintained in a database on a TACACS+ daemon typically running on a UNIX or Windows NT workstation. You should have access to and should configure a TACACS+ server before the configuring TACACS+ features on your switch.

Note We recommend a redundant connection between a switch stack and the TACACS+ server. This is to help ensure that the TACACS+ server remains accessible in case one of the connected stack members is removed from the switch stack.

TACACS+ provides for separate and modular authentication, authorization, and accounting facilities. TACACS+ allows for a single access control server (the TACACS+ daemon) to provide each service—authentication, authorization, and accounting—independently. Each service can be tied into its own database to take advantage of other services available on that server or on the network, depending on the capabilities of the daemon.

The goal of TACACS+ is to provide a method for managing multiple network access points from a single management service. Your switch can be a network access server along with other Cisco routers and access servers. A network access server provides connections to a single user, to a network or subnetwork, and to interconnected networks as shown in Figure 9-1.

Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Switch Software Configuration Guide

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