Enterasys Networks 9034385 manual Authentication Support on Enterasys Devices

Survey the Network

system at a time, then it is suggested that MAC locking (also known as Port Security) be enabled on the edge switches to restrict the number of connecting devices. If multiple end‐system connection is supported, then the intelligent edge switch must support the authentication and authorization of multiple devices (possibly using multiple authentication methods) concurrently on the network. If this is not supported, then a security hole exists where a noncompliant end‐ system can “piggyback” on the open network connection of a compliant end‐system.

For example, NAC is often deployed on an IP telephony converged network where IP phone handsets are cascaded with PCs connected to a single intelligent edge infrastructure port. If the intelligent edge infrastructure devices do not support the authentication and authorization of both the PC and IP phone connected to the same port, then a noncompliant PC may be allowed network access when the security posture of an IP phone that connected to the network first, is deemed compliant.

Furthermore, if the authentication and authorization of multiple devices connecting to a single port is not supported, certain devices may lose connectivity when NAC is deployed. For example, an IP phoneʹs network connection may be lost when a PC is quarantined on the network.

Authentication Support on Enterasys Devices

Following is information on the authentication support provided by Enterasys devices:

•The Matrix N‐series Multi‐User Authentication (MUA) feature allows the enabling of any combination of authentication methods (802.1X, web‐based, and/or MAC) both globally and per port. While the Matrix N‐series Gold supports the authentication and authorization of two users/devices per port, the Matrix N‐series Platinum supports the authentication and authorization of over 2000 users and devices per port, providing the highest degree of authentication method configuration flexibility.

•The SecureStack C2/C3 and B2/B3 User + IP Phone authentication allows the configuration of multiple authentication methods globally and per port (802.1X, web‐based, and/or MAC) with the limitation of a PC and an IP phone authenticating on a single port.

•The Matrix E1ʹs Hybrid authentication allows the enabling of both 802.1X and MAC authentication on the same port, and supports the authentication of a single end‐system using only one of these authentication methods at a time.

•If web‐based authentication is globally enabled on the Matrix E1 and the Matrix E‐series Generation 2/3 platforms, each port on the switch can only be configured to implement web‐ based authentication.

Authentication Considerations

If authentication is currently deployed on the network, here are considerations that should be reviewed as you plan your NAC deployment:

•Enterasys NAC will seamlessly integrate with deployments where the authenticating and authorization of trusted users is already implemented. Enterasys NAC can be configured to forward the RADIUS Filter‐ID and/or VLAN Tunnel attribute returned from the RADIUS server to the access layer switch during the authentication process.

•If guest access is implemented on the network by assigning a default policy or VLAN on certain ports (assuming guest users will fail authentication on the network), the infrastructure will need to be reconfigured to implement NAC for guest users. Enterasys NAC will not assess or authorize end‐systems that only fail authentication against a backend RADIUS server. To enable Enterasys NAC to interact with guest users on the network, MAC authentication must be enabled on ports where guest users connect to the network, and Enterasys NAC must be configured to locally authorize MAC authentication requests and assign the appropriate guest authorization level. Then, guest users will be successfully MAC

Enterasys NAC Design Guide 4-7