Understanding Ieee 802.1X Port-Based Authentication - Cisco IE 3000 Software Configuration Manual

Configuring IEEE 802.1x Port-Based
Authentication
This chapter describes how to configure IEEE 802.1x port-based authentication on the IE 3000 switch.
IEEE 802.1x authentication prevents unauthorized devices (clients) from gaining access to the network.
For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
Note
reference for this release and the "RADIUS Commands" section in the Cisco IOS Security Command
Reference, Release 12.2 from the Cisco.com page under Documentation > Cisco IOS Software > 12.2
Mainline > Command References.
This chapter consists of these sections:
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Understanding IEEE 802.1x Port-Based Authentication

The IEEE 802.1x standard defines a client-server-based access control and authentication protocol that
prevents clients from connecting to a LAN through publicly accessible ports unless they are
authenticated. The authentication server authenticates each client connected to a switch port before
making available any services offered by the switch or the LAN.
Until the client is authenticated, IEEE 802.1x access control allows only Extensible Authentication
Protocol over LAN (EAPOL), Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
traffic through the port to which the client is connected. After authentication, normal traffic can pass
through the port.
These sections describe IEEE 802.1x port-based authentication:
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OL-13018-01
Understanding IEEE 802.1x Port-Based Authentication, page 10-1
Configuring IEEE 802.1x Authentication, page 10-18
Displaying IEEE 802.1x Statistics and Status, page 10-42
Device Roles, page 10-2
Authentication Process, page 10-3
Authentication Initiation and Message Exchange, page 10-5
Ports in Authorized and Unauthorized States, page 10-7
IEEE 802.1x Host Mode, page 10-7
IEEE 802.1x Accounting, page 10-8
C H A P T E R
Cisco IE 3000 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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