Radius Authentication And Authorization; How Radius Authentication Works; Configuring Radius On The Switch - Juniper EX2500 Configuration Manual

RADIUS Authentication and Authorization

The EX2500 switch supports the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User
Service) method
the switch. This method is based on a client/server model. The Remote Access
Server (RAS)—the switch—is a client to the back-end database server. A remote
user (the remote administrator) interacts only with the RAS, not the back-end
server and database.
RADIUS authentication consists of the following components:
The EX2500 switch—acting as the RADIUS client—communicates to the RADIUS
server to authenticate and authorize a remote administrator using the protocol
definitions specified in RFCs 2138 and 2866. Transactions between the client and
the RADIUS server are authenticated by a shared key that is not sent over the
network. In addition, the remote administrator passwords are sent encrypted
between the RADIUS client (the switch) and the back-end RADIUS server.

How RADIUS Authentication Works

1. The remote administrator connects to the switch and provides username and
2. Using Authentication/Authorization protocol, the switch sends request to
3. The authentication server checks the request against the user ID database.
4. Using RADIUS protocol, the authentication server instructs the switch to grant

Configuring RADIUS on the Switch

Use the following procedure to configure RADIUS authentication on your switch:
1. Configure the Primary and Secondary RADIUS servers, and enable RADIUS
2. Configure the RADIUS secret.
to authenticate and authorize remote administrators for managing
A protocol with a frame format that utilizes UDP over IP (based on RFC 2138
and RFC 2866)
A centralized server that stores all the user authorization information
A client, in this case, the switch
password.
authentication server.
or deny administrative access.
authentication.
ex2500(config)# radius-server primary-host 10.10.1.1
ex2500(config)# radius-server secondary-host 10.10.1.2
ex2500(config)# radius-server enable
ex2500(config)# radius-server primary-host 10.10.1.1 key <1-32 character
secret>
ex2500(config)# radius-server secondary-host 10.10.1.2 key <1-32 character
secret>
Chapter 1: Accessing the Switch
Securing Access to the Switch
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