3com 2948-SFP Plus User Guide

C

HAPTER 

4: M

ANAGING

 D

EVICE

 S

ECURITY

Port-based authentication authenticates users on a per-port basis via 
an external server. Only authenticated and approved system users can 
transmit and receive data. Ports are authenticated via the RADIUS 
server using the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Port-based 
authentication includes:

 

Authenticators — Specifies the device port which is 

 

 

authenticated before permitting system access. 

 

  Supplicants — Specifies the host connected to the authenticated  

 

port requesting to access the system services. 

 

 

Authentication Server — Specifies the server that performs  

 

the authentication on behalf of the authenticator, and indicates  

 

whether the supplicant is authorized to access system services.

Port-based authentication creates two access states: 

 

Controlled Access — Permits communication between the  

 

supplicant and the system, if the supplicant is authorized. 

 

 

Uncontrolled Access — Permits uncontrolled communication  

 

regardless of the port state. 

This section includes the following topics:

  Viewing 802.1X Authentication 
  Defining 802.1X Authentication