KTI Networks KGS-2404 manual 4-2-8, Supplicant

4-2-8. 802.1X

802.1x port-based network access control provides a method to restrict users to access network resources via authenticating user’s information. This restricts users from gaining access to the network resources through a 802.1x-enabled port without authentication. If a user wishes to touch the network through a port under 802.1x control, he (she) must firstly input his (her) account name for authentication and waits for gaining authorization before sending or receiving any packets from a 802.1x-enabled port.

Before the devices or end stations can access the network resources through the ports under 802.1x control, the devices or end stations connected to a controlled port send the authentication request to the authenticator, the authenticator pass the request to the authentication server to authenticate and verify, and the server tell the authenticator if the request get the grant of authorization for the ports.

According to IEEE802.1x, there are three components implemented. They are Authenticator, Supplicant and Authentication server shown in Fig. 4-13.

Supplicant:

It is an entity being authenticated by an authenticator. It is used to communicate with the Authenticator PAE (Port Access Entity) by exchanging the authentication message when the Authenticator PAE request to it.

Authenticator:

An entity facilitates the authentication of the supplicant entity. It controls the state of the port, authorized or unauthorized, according to the result of authentication message exchanged between it and a supplicant PAE. The authenticator may request the supplicant to re-authenticate itself at a configured time period. Once start re-authenticating the supplicant, the controlled port keeps in the authorized state until re-authentication fails.

A port acting as an authenticator is thought to be two logical ports, a controlled port and an uncontrolled port. A controlled port can only pass the packets when the authenticator PAE is authorized, and otherwise, an uncontrolled port will unconditionally pass the packets with PAE group MAC address, which has the value of 01-80-c2-00-00-03 and will not be forwarded by MAC bridge, at any time.

Authentication server:

A device provides authentication service, through EAP, to an authenticator by using authentication credentials supplied by the supplicant to determine if the supplicant is authorized to access the network resource.

The overview of operation flow for the Fig. 4-13 is quite simple. When Supplicant PAE issues a request to Authenticator PAE, Authenticator and Supplicant exchanges authentication message. Then, Authenticator passes the request to RADIUS server to verify. Finally, RADIUS server replies if the request is granted or denied.

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