Mac Authentication Configuration; Mac Authentication Overview; User Account Policies; Authentication Approaches - HP 5120 SI Series Security Configuration Manual

MAC authentication configuration

This chapter includes these sections:

MAC authentication overview

•
Using MAC authentication with other features
•
Basic configuration for MAC authentication
•
• Specifying an authentication domain for MAC authentication users
Configuring a MAC authentication guest VLAN
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Configuring a MAC authentication critical VLAN
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Displaying and maintaining MAC authentication
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MAC authentication configuration examples
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MAC authentication overview
MAC authentication controls network access by authenticating source MAC addresses on a port. It does
not require client software. A user does not need to input a username and password for network access.
The device initiates a MAC authentication process when it detects an unknown source MAC address on
a MAC authentication enabled port. If the MAC address passes authentication, the user can access
authorized network resources. If the authentication fails, the device marks the MAC address as a silent
MAC address, drops the packet, and starts a quiet timer. The device drops all subsequent packets from
the MAC address within the quiet time. This quiet mechanism avoids repeated authentication during a
short time.
NOTE:
If the MAC address that has failed authentication is a static MAC address or a MAC address that has
passed any security authentication, the device does not mark it as a silent address.

User account policies

MAC authentication supports the following user account policies:
• One MAC-based user account for each user. The access device uses the source MAC addresses in
packets as the usernames and passwords of users for MAC authentication. This policy is suitable for
an insecure environment.
One shared user account for all users. You specify one username and password, which are not
•
necessarily a MAC address, for all MAC authentication users on the access device. This policy is
suitable for a secure environment.

Authentication approaches

You can perform MAC authentication on the access device (local authentication) or through a Remote
Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server.
Suppose a source MAC unknown packet arrives at a MAC authentication enabled port.
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