User Manual

M4300 Intelligent Edge Series Fully Managed Stackable Switches
Configuration Examples User Manual707
A Port Access Entity (PAE) is able to adopt one of two distinct roles within an access control
interaction:
1. Authenticator: A Port that enforces authentication before allowing access to services
available through that Port.
2. Supplicant:
A Port that attempts to access services offered by the Authenticator.
Additionally, there exists a third role:
3. Authentication server: Performs the authentication function necessary to check the
credentials of the Supplicant on behalf of the
Authenticator.
All three roles are required for you to complete an authentication exchange.
The switch support the Authenticator role only, in which the PAE is responsible for
communicating with the Supplicant.
The Authenticator PAE is also responsible for submitting
the information received from the Supplicant to the Authentication Server in order for the
credentials to be checked, which will determine the authorization state of the Port. The
Authenticator PAE controls the authorized/unauthorized state of the controlled Port
depending on the outcome of the RADIUS-based authentication process.
Figure 1. 802.1X Authentication Roles
802.1X Example Configuration
This example shows how to configure the switch so that 802.1X-based authentication is
required on the ports in a corporate conference room (1/0/5– 1/0/8). These ports are
available to visitors and must be authenticated before granting access to the network. The
authentication is handled by an external RADIUS server. When the visitor is successfully
authenticated, traffic is automatically assigned to the guest VLAN. This example assumes
that a VLAN has been configured with a VLAN ID of 150 and VLAN Name of Guest.
1. From the Port
Authentication page, select ports 1/0/5, 1/0/6, 1/0/7 and 1/0/8.
2. From the Port Control menu, select Unauthorized.