Cisco Systems 3750E manual Configuring Radius, Default Radius Configuration

Chapter 9 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication

Controlling Switch Access with RADIUS

Configuring RADIUS

This section describes how to configure your switch to support RADIUS. At a minimum, you must identify the host or hosts that run the RADIUS server software and define the method lists for RADIUS authentication. You can optionally define method lists for RADIUS authorization and accounting.

A method list defines the sequence and methods to be used to authenticate, to authorize, or to keep accounts on a user. You can use method lists to designate one or more security protocols to be used (such as TACACS+ or local username lookup), thus ensuring a backup system if the initial method fails. The software uses the first method listed to authenticate, to authorize, or to keep accounts on users; if that method does not respond, the software selects the next method in the list. This process continues until there is successful communication with a listed method or the method list is exhausted.

You should have access to and should configure a RADIUS server before configuring RADIUS features on your switch.

These sections contain this configuration information:

•Default RADIUS Configuration, page 9-20

•Identifying the RADIUS Server Host, page 9-20(required)

•Configuring RADIUS Login Authentication, page 9-23(required)

•Defining AAA Server Groups, page 9-25(optional)

•Configuring RADIUS Authorization for User Privileged Access and Network Services, page 9-27(optional)

•Starting RADIUS Accounting, page 9-28(optional)

•Configuring Settings for All RADIUS Servers, page 9-29(optional)

•Configuring the Switch to Use Vendor-Specific RADIUS Attributes, page 9-29(optional)

•Configuring the Switch for Vendor-Proprietary RADIUS Server Communication, page 9-30(optional)

Default RADIUS Configuration

RADIUS and AAA are disabled by default.

To prevent a lapse in security, you cannot configure RADIUS through a network management application. When enabled, RADIUS can authenticate users accessing the switch through the CLI.

Identifying the RADIUS Server Host

Switch-to-RADIUS-server communication involves several components:

•Hostname or IP address

•Authentication destination port

•Accounting destination port

•Key string

•Timeout period

•Retransmission value

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

9-20 OL-9775-02