Configuring Username and Password Security

Saving Security Credentials in a Config File

802.1X Port-Access Credentials

802.1X authenticator (port-access) credentials can be stored in a configuration file. 802.1X authenticator credentials are used by a port to authenticate supplicants requesting a point-to-point connection to the switch. 802.1X supplicant credentials are used by the switch to establish a point-to­ point connection to a port on another 802.1X-aware switch. Only 802.1X authenticator credentials are stored in a configuration file. For information about how to use 802.1X on the switch both as an authenticator and a supplicant, see “Configuring Port-Based and Client-Based Access Control (802.1X)” in this guide.

The local password configured with the password command is no longer accepted as an 802.1X authenticator credential. A new configuration command (password port-access)is introduced to configure the local operator username and password used as 802.1X authentication credentials for access to the switch.

The password port-accessvalues are now configured separately from the manager and operator passwords configured with the password manager and password operator commands and used for management access to the switch. For information on the new password command syntax, see “Password Command Options” on page 2-13.

After you enter the complete password port-accesscommand syntax, the password is set. You are not prompted to enter the password a second time.

TACACS+ Encryption Key Authentication

You can use TACACS+ servers to authenticate users who request access to a switch through Telnet (remote) or console (local) sessions. TACACS+ uses an authentication hierarchy consisting of:

■Remote passwords assigned in a TACACS+ server

■Local manager and operator passwords configured on the switch.

When you configure TACACS+, the switch first tries to contact a designated TACACS+ server for authentication services. If the switch fails to connect to any TACACS+ server, it defaults to its own locally assigned passwords for authentication control if it has been configured to do so.

For improved security, you can configure a global or server-specific encryption key that encrypts data in TACACS+ packets transmitted between a switch and a RADIUS server during authentication sessions. The key configured on the switch must match the encryption key configured in each

2-15