HP 6120 A3 or, A2 or, Figure 4-1.Example of TACACS+ Operation

TACACS+ Authentication

Overview

Overview

Feature	Default	Menu	CLI	Web
view the switch’s authentication configuration	n/a	—	page 4-9	—
view the switch’s TACACS+ server contact	n/a	—	page	—
configuration			4-10
configure the switch’s authentication methods	disabled	—	page	—
			4-11
configure the switch to contact TACACS+ server(s)	disabled	—	page	—
			4-18

TACACS+ authentication enables you to use a central server to allow or deny access to the switches covered in this guide (and other TACACS-aware devices) in your network. This means that you can use a central database to create multiple unique username/password sets with associated privilege levels for use by individuals who have reason to access the switch from either the switch’s console port (local access) or Telnet (remote access).

	A3 or
	B3
	A2 or
Primary	B2
TACACS+
Server

The switch passes the login requests from terminals A and B to the TACACS+ server for authentication. The TACACS+ server determines whether to allow access to the switch and what privilege level to allow for a given access request.

A4

A1

		Terminal “A” Directly
Switch Configured for	A	Accessing the Switch
TACACS+ Operation		Via Switch’s Console
		Port

B4	B
B1
	Terminal “B” Remotely Accessing The Switch Via Telnet

Access Request	A1 - A4: Path for Request from
	Terminal A (Through Console Port)
TACACS Server	B1 - B4: Path for Request from
Response	Terminal B (Through Telnet)

Figure 4-1. Example of TACACS+ Operation

TACACS+ in the switches covered in this guide manages authentication of logon attempts through either the Console port or Telnet. TACACS+ uses an authentication hierarchy consisting of (1) remote passwords assigned in a TACACS+ server and (2) local passwords configured on the switch. That is, with TACACS+ configured, the switch first tries to contact a designated

4-2