Chapter 25 AAA

25.1.2 RADIUS and TACACS+

RADIUS and TACACS+ are security protocols used to authenticate users by means of an external server instead of (or in addition to) an internal device user database that is limited to the memory capacity of the device. In essence, RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication both allow you to validate an unlimited number of users from a central location.

The following table describes some key differences between RADIUS and TACACS+.Table 72 RADIUS vs TACACS+

 

RADIUSTACACS+

Transport

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

Protocol

 

 

 

 

 

Encryption

Encrypts the password sent for

All communication between the client (the

 

authentication.

Switch) and the TACACS server is

 

 

encrypted.

 

 

 

25.2 AAA Screens

The AAA screens allow you to enable authentication, authorization, accounting or all of them on the Switch. First, configure your authentication and accounting server settings (RADIUS, TACACS+ or both) and then set up the authentication priority, activate authorization and configure accounting settings.

Click Advanced Application > AAA in the navigation panel to display the screen as shown.

Figure 111 Advanced Application > AAA

25.2.1 RADIUS Server Setup

Use this screen to configure your RADIUS server settings. See Section 25.1.2 on page 203 for more information on RADIUS servers and Section 25.3 on page 211 for RADIUS attributes utilized by the

 

203

ES3500 Series User’s Guide