Configuring Port-Based Access Control (802.1X)

802.1X Open VLAN Mode

802.1X Open VLAN Mode

802.1X Authentication Commands

page 8-15

802.1X Supplicant Commands

page 8-35

802.1X Open VLAN Mode Commands

 

[no] aaa port-access authenticator [e] < port-list>

page 8-30

[auth-vid < vlan-id>]

 

[unauth-vid < vlan-id>]

 

802.1X-Related Show Commands

page 8-38

RADIUS server configuration

pages 8-20

 

 

This section describes how to use the 802.1X Open VLAN mode to configure unauthorized-client and authorized-client VLANs on ports configured as 802.1X authenticators.

Introduction

Configuring the 802.1X Open VLAN mode on a port changes how the port responds when it detects a new client. In earlier releases, a “friendly” client computer not running 802.1X supplicant software could not be authenticated on a port protected by 802.1X access security. As a result, the port would become blocked and the client could not access the network. This prevented the client from:

Acquiring IP addressing from a DHCP server

Downloading the 802.1X supplicant software necessary for an authen- tication session

The 802.1X Open VLAN mode solves this problem by temporarily suspending the port’s static, tagged and untagged VLAN memberships and placing the port in a designated Unauthorized-Client VLAN. In this state the client can proceed with initialization services, such as acquiring IP addressing and 802.1X software, and starting the authentication process. Following client authentication, the port drops its temporary (untagged) membership in the Unauthorized-Client VLAN and joins (or rejoins) one of the following as an untagged member:

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