Configuring MAC authentication

Overview

MAC authentication controls network access by authenticating source MAC addresses on a port. It does not require client software. A user does not need to enter a username and password for network access. The device initiates a MAC authentication process when it detects an unknown source MAC address on a MAC authentication enabled port. If the MAC address passes authentication, the user can access authorized network resources. If the authentication fails, the device marks the MAC address as a silent MAC address, drops the packet, and starts a quiet timer. The device drops all subsequent packets from the MAC address within the quiet time. This quiet mechanism avoids repeated authentication during a short time.

If the MAC address that has failed authentication is a static MAC address or a MAC address that has passed any security authentication, the device does not mark the MAC address as a silent address.

User account policies

MAC authentication supports the following user account policies:

•One MAC-based user account for each user—The access device uses the source MAC addresses in packets as the usernames and passwords of users for MAC authentication. This policy is suitable for an insecure environment.

•One shared user account for all users—You specify one username and password, which are not necessarily a MAC address, for all MAC authentication users on the access device. This policy is suitable for a secure environment.

Authentication methods

You can perform MAC authentication on the access device (local authentication) or through a RADIUS server.

Local authentication:

•If you configure MAC-based accounts, the access device uses the source MAC address of the packet as the username and password to search its local account database for a match.

•If you configure a shared account, the access device uses the shared account username and password to search its local account database for a match.

RADIUS authentication:

•If you configure MAC-based accounts, the access device sends the source MAC address as the username and password to the RADIUS server for authentication.

•If you configure a shared account, the access device sends the shared account username and password to the RADIUS server for authentication.

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