Mac-Based Access Control; Notes About Mac-Based Access Control; Mac-Based Access Control Global Settings - D-Link xStack DES-3800 Series User Manual

MAC-Based Access Control

The MAC-Based Access Control feature will allow users to configure a list of MAC addresses, either locally or on a remote
RADIUS server, to be authenticated by the Switch and given access rights based on the configurations set on the Switch of the
target VLAN where these authenticated users are placed.
The Switch will learn MAC addresses of a device through the receipt of ARP packets or DHCP packets and then attempt to match
them on the authenticating list. If the client has not been configured for DHCP or does not have an IP configuration in static mode,
then MAC addresses cannot be discovered and the client will not be authenticated. Ports and MAC addresses awaiting
authentication are placed in the Guest VLAN where the Switch administrator can assign limited rights and privileges.
For local authentication on the Switch, the user must enter a list of MAC addresses to be accepted through this mechanism using
the MAC-Based Access Control Local Database Settings window, as seen below. The user may enter up to 1024 MAC addresses
locally on the Switch but only sixteen MAC addresses can be accepted per physical MAC-Based Access Control enabled port.
Once a MAC addresses has been authenticated by the Switch on the local side, the port where that MAC address resides will be
placed in the previously configured target VLAN, where the rights and privileges are set by the switch administrator. If the VLAN
Name for the target VLAN is not found by the Switch, the Switch will return the port containing that MAC address to the
originating VLAN. If the MAC address is not found and the port is in the Guest VLAN, it will remain in the Guest VLAN, with
the associated rights. If the port is not in the guest VLAN, this MAC address will be blocked by the Switch.
For remote RADIUS server authentication, the user must first configure the RADIUS server with a list of MAC addresses and
relative target VLANs that are to be authenticated on the Switch. Once a MAC address has been discovered by the Switch through
ARP or DHCP packets, the Switch will then query the remote RADIUS server with this potential MAC address, using a RADIUS
Access Request packet. If a match is made with this MAC address, the RADIUS server will return a notification stating that the
MAC address has been accepted and is to be placed in the target VLAN. If the VID for the target VLAN is not found by the
Switch, the Switch will create its own MAC-Based Access Control VLAN, named MBA-xx, where the xx is the VID received
from the RADIUS server. If the MAC address is not found, then if the port is in the Guest VLAN, it will remain in the Guest
VLAN, with the associated rights. If the port is not in the guest VLAN, this MAC address will be blocked by the Switch.

Notes About MAC-Based Access Control

There are certain limitations and regulations regarding the MAC-Based Access Control:
1. Once this feature is enabled for a port, the Switch will clear the FDB of that port.
2. If a port is granted clearance for a MAC address in a VLAN that is not a Guest VLAN, other MAC addresses on that port
must be authenticated for access and otherwise will be blocked by the switch.
3. MAC-Based Access Control is its own entity and is not dependant on other authentication functions on the Switch, such as
802.1X, Web-Based authentication etc...
4. A port accepts a maximum of sixteen authenticated MAC addresses per physical port of a VLAN that is not a Guest VLAN.
Other MAC addresses attempting authentication on a port with the maximum number of authenticated MAC addresses will be
blocked.
5. Ports that have been enabled for Link Aggregation, stacking, 802.1X authentication, 802.1X Guest VLAN, Port Security,
GVRP or Web-Based authentication cannot be enabled for the MAC-Based Authentication.

MAC-Based Access Control Global Settings

The following window is used to set the parameters for the MAC-Based Access Control function on the Switch. Here the user can
set the running state, method of authentication, RADIUS password and view the Guest VLAN configuration to be associated with
the MAC-Based Access Control function of the Switch. To view this window, open the Security folder, then the MAC-Based
Access Control folder and click the MAC-Based Access Control Global Settings link.
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