7-10
Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-9639-06
Chapter 7 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication
Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+
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 7-10
• TACACS+ Operation, page 7-12
• Configuring TACACS+, page 7-12
• Displaying the TACACS+ Configuration, page 7-17
Understanding TACACS+
TACACS+ is a security application that provides centralized vali dation 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.
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 7-1.