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Chapter5 Configuring Switch-Ba sed Authentication
Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+
Controlling Switch Access with TACACS+
This section describes how to enable and configure TACACS+, which provides detailed accounting
information and flexible administrative control over authentication and authorization processes.
TACACS+ is facilitated through authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) and can be enabled
only through AAA commands.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this section, see the Cisco IOS
Security Command Reference for Cisco IOS Release 12.1.
This section contains this configuration information:
•Understanding TACACS+, page 5-9
•TACACS+ Operation, page 5-11
•Configuring TACACS+, page 5-11
•Displaying the TACACS+ Configuration, page 5-16

Understanding TACACS+

TACACS+ is a security application that provides centralized validation of users attempting to gain
access to your switch. TACACS+ services are maintained in a database on a TACACS+ daemon
typically running on a UNIX or Windows NT workstation. You should have access to and should
configure a TACACS+ server before the configuring TACACS+ features on your switch.
TACACS+ provides for separate and modular authentication, authorization, and accounting facilities.
TACACS+ allows for a single access control server (the TACACS+ daemon) to provide each
service—authentication, authorization, and accounting—independently. Each service can be tied into its
own database to take advantage of other services available on that server or on the network, depe nding
on the capabilities of the daemon.
The goal of TACACS+ is to provide a method for managing multiple network access points from a single
management service. Your switch can be a network access server along with other Cisco routers a nd
access servers. A network access server provides connections to a single user, to a network or
subnetwork, and to interconnected networks as shown in Figure 5-1.