136; 802.1X Port-Based And Mac-Based Access Control - D-Link DES-3528 User Manual

xStack DES-3528 Series Layer 2 Stackable Fast Ethernet Managed Switch User Manual
802.1X

802.1x Port-Based and MAC-Based Access Control

The IEEE 802.1x standard is a security measure for authorizing and authenticating users to gain access to various
wired or wireless devices on a specified Local Area Network by using a Client and Server based access control
model. This is accomplished by using a RADIUS server to authenticate users trying to access a network by relaying
Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN (EAPOL) packets between the Client and the Server. The following figure
represents a basic EAPOL packet:
Figure 9- 13. The EAPOL Packet
Utilizing this method, unauthorized devices are restricted from connecting to a LAN through a port to which the user is
connected. EAPOL packets are the only traffic that can be transmitted through the specific port until authorization is
granted. The 802.1x Access Control method holds three roles, each of which are vital to creating and upkeeping a
stable and working Access Control security method.
Figure 9- 14. The three roles of 802.1x
The following section will explain the three roles of Client, Authenticator and Authentication Server in greater detail.

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