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Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-9775-02
Chapter10 Configuring IEEE 802.1x Por t-Based Authentication
Configuring IEEE 802.1x Authentication
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You can configure the inaccessible authentication bypass feature and the restricted VLAN on
an IEEE 802.1x port. If the switch tries to re-authenticate a critical port in a restricted VLAN
and all the RADIUS servers are unavailable, switch changes the port state to the critical
authentication state and remains in the restricted VLAN.
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You can configure the inaccessible bypass feature and port security on the same switch port.
•You can configure any VLAN except an RSPAN VLAN or a voice VLAN as an IEEE 802.1x
restricted VLAN. The restricted VLAN feature is not supported on internal VLANs (routed ports)
or trunk ports; it is supported only on access ports.

MAC Authentication Bypass

These are the MAC authentication bypass configuration guidelines:
•Unless otherwise stated, the MAC authentication bypass guidelines are the same as the IEEE 802.1x
authentication guidelines. For more information, see the “IEEE 802.1x Authentication” section on
page 10-23.
•If you disable MAC authentication bypass from a port after the port has been authorized with its
MAC address, the port state is not affected.
•If the port is in the unauthorized state and the client MAC address is not the authentication-server
database, the port remains in the unauthorized state. However, if the client MAC address is added
to the database, the switch can use MAC authentication bypass to re-authorize the port.
•If the port is in the authorized state, the port remains in this state until re-authorization occurs.
Configuring IEEE 802.1x Authentication
To configure IEEE 802.1x port-based authentication, you must enable authentication, authorizati on, and
accounting (AAA) and specify the authentication method list. A method list describes the sequence and
authentication method to be queried to authenticate a user.
To allow per-user ACLs or VLAN assignment, you must enable AAA auth orization to configure the
switch for all network-related service requests.
This is the IEEE 802.1x AAA process:
Step1 A user connects to a port on the switch.
Step2 Authentication is performed.
Step3 VLAN assignment is enabled, as appropriate, based on the RA DIUS server configuration.
Step4 The switch sends a start message to an accounting server.
Step5 Re-authentication is performed, as necessary.
Step6 The switch sends an interim accounting update to the accounting server that is based on the result of
re-authentication.
Step7 The user disconnects from the port.
Step8 The switch sends a stop message to the accounting server.