Using Authorized IP Managers

Defining Authorized Management Stations

rized Manager IP column, and leave the IP Mask set to 255.255.255.255. This is the easiest way to use the Authorized Managers feature. (For more on this topic, see “Configuring One Station Per Authorized Manager IP Entry” on page 14-10.)

■Authorizing Multiple Stations: The table entry uses the IP Mask to authorize access to the switch from a defined group of stations. This is useful if you want to easily authorize several stations to have access to the switch without having to type in an entry for every station. All stations in the group defined by the one Authorized Manager IP table entry and its associated IP mask will have the same access level—Manager or Operator. (For more on this topic, refer to “Configuring Multiple Stations Per Authorized Manager IP Entry” on page 14-10.)

To configure the switch for authorized manager access, enter the appropriate Authorized Manager IP value, specify an IP Mask, and select either Manager or Operator for the Access Level. The IP Mask determines how the Authorized Manager IP value is used to allow or deny access to the switch by a manage­ ment station.

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If the management VLAN is configured, access can only be on that VLAN.

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Overview of IP Mask Operation

The default IP Mask is 255.255.255.255 and allows switch access only to a station having an IP address that is identical to the Authorized Manager IP parameter value. (“255” in an octet of the mask means that only the exact value in the corresponding octet of the Authorized Manager IP parameter is allowed in the IP address of an authorized management station.) However, you can alter the mask and the Authorized Manager IP parameter to specify ranges of authorized IP addresses. For example, a mask of 255.255.255.0 and any value for the Authorized Manager IP parameter allows a range of 0 through 255 in the 4th octet of the authorized IP address, which enables a block of up to 254 IP addresses for IP management access (excluding 0 for the network and 255 for broadcasts). A mask of 255.255.255.252 uses the 4th octet of a given Autho­ rized Manager IP address to authorize four IP addresses for management station access. The details on how to use IP masks are provided under “Building IP Masks” on page 14-10.

The IP Mask is a method for recognizing whether a given IP address is authorized for management access to the switch. This mask serves a different purpose than IP subnet masks and is applied in a different manner.

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