Enterasys Networks 9034385 manual Inline NAC

Model 3: End-System Authorization with Assessment

server is running or if the HTTP server is out‐of‐date) and client‐side checks (running applications, software configurations, installed operating system patches) provided end‐system administrative credentials are available for remote login to connecting devices. Additionally, the NAC Gatewayʹs local assessment services also include agent‐based assessment using a Java Web Start‐based client application that allows execution of server‐side and client‐side checks without requiring administrative credentials or special host firewall configurations.

The NAC Gatewayʹs remote assessment services include agent‐less and agent‐based assessment on other NAC Gateways deployed on the network and/or third‐party vulnerability scanners such as Nessus and Lockdown Enforcer. As end‐systems connect to the network, assessments can be load‐balanced among all of the configured assessment services or a defined pool. This provides maximum scalability and flexibility, and minimizes the amount of time necessary to complete an end‐system assessment.

Authorization ‐ The NAC Gateway allocates the appropriate network resources to the end‐system based on authentication, location, and/or assessment results. For Enterasys policy‐enabled edge switches, the NAC Gateway formats information in the RADIUS authentication messages that directs the edge switch to dynamically assign a particular policy to the connecting end‐system. For RFC 3580‐capable edge switches, the NAC Gateway formats information in the RADIUS authentication messages in the form of RFC 3580 VLAN Tunnel attributes that directs the edge switch to dynamically assign a particular VLAN to the connecting end‐system. If authentication fails and/or the assessment results indicate a noncompliant end‐system, the NAC Gateway can either deny the end‐system access to the network by sending a RADIUS access reject message to the edge switch or quarantine the end‐system with a highly restrictive set of network resources (or possibly permit network access) by specifying a particular policy or VLAN to assign to the authenticated end‐system on the edge switch.

Inline NAC

For inline Enterasys NAC deployments utilizing the Layer 2 or Layer 3 NAC Controller, the NAC functions are implemented in the following way:

Detection ‐ As described in Model 2.

Authentication ‐ As described in Model 2.

Assessment ‐ The NAC Controller can leverage either local assessment services and/or remote assessment services deployed on the network, as previously described for the NAC Gateway. The NAC Controllerʹs local assessment services include agent‐less assessment which can execute various server‐side checks and client‐side checks. Local assessment services also include agent‐ based assessment using a Java Web Start‐based client application that allows execution of server‐ side and client‐side checks. The NAC Controllerʹs remote assessment services include agent‐less and agent‐based assessment with NAC Gateways and/or third‐party vulnerability scanners such as Nessus and Lockdown Enforcer. As end‐systems connect to the network, assessment can be load‐balanced among all of the configured assessment services to provide maximum scalability and flexibility while minimizing assessment times.

Authorization ‐ The NAC Controller allocates the appropriate network resources to the end‐ system based on authentication and/or assessment results. This is implemented by assigning a policy to traffic sourced from the end‐system locally on the controller. If authentication fails and/ or the assessment results indicate a noncompliant end‐system, the NAC Controller can either deny the end‐system access to the network, quarantine the end‐system with a highly restrictive set of network resources, or permit network access by specifying a particular policy.

Enterasys NAC Design Guide 2-9