HP 5120 EI Switch Series Configuration Manual page 151

MAC learning control—Includes two modes, autoLearn and secure. MAC address learning is

permitted on a port in autoLearn mode and disabled in secure mode.
Authentication—Security modes of this category use MAC authentication, 802.1X authentication, or

their combinations to implement authentication.
Upon receiving a frame, the port in a security mode searches the MAC address table for the source MAC
address. If a match is found, the port forwards the frame. If no match is found, the port learns the MAC
address or performs authentication, depending on the security mode. If an illegal frame or event is
detected, the port takes the pre-defined NTK, intrusion protection, or trapping action.
Table 10 describes the port security modes and the security features.
Table 10 Port security modes
On the port, if you want
to...
Turn off the port security feature
Control MAC address learning
Perform 802.1X authentication
Perform MAC authentication
Perform a combination of MAC
authentication and 802.1X
authentication
TIP:
These security mode naming rules may help you remember the modes:

userLogin specifies 802.1X authentication and port-based access control.

macAddress specifies MAC address authentication.

Else specifies that the authentication method before Else is applied first. If the authentication fails, whether
to turn to the authentication method following Else depends on the protocol type of the authentication
request.

In a security mode with Or, the authentication method to be used depends on the protocol type of the
authentication request.

userLogin with Secure specifies 802.1X authentication and MAC-based access control.

Ext indicates allowing multiple 802.1X users to be authenticated and serviced at the same time. A security
mode without Ext allows only one user to pass 802.1X authentication.
Control MAC address learning
autoLearn
1.
Use the security mode...
noRestrictions (the default mode)
In this mode, port security is disabled on the port
and access to the port is not restricted.
autoLearn
secure
userLogin
userLoginSecure
userLoginSecureExt
userLoginWithOUI
macAddressWithRadius
macAddressOrUserLoginSecure
Or
macAddressOrUserLoginSecureExt
macAddressElseUserLoginSecure
Else
macAddressElseUserLoginSecureExt
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Features that can
be triggered
—
NTK/intrusion
protection
—
NTK/intrusion
protection
NTK/intrusion
protection
NTK/intrusion
protection