Configuring Radius; Information About Radius; Radius Network Environments - Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring RADIUS

This chapter contains the following sections:
•
Configuring RADIUS

Information About RADIUS

The Remote Access Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) distributed client/server system allows you to secure
networks against unauthorized access. In the Cisco implementation, RADIUS clients run on Cisco Nexus
5000 Series switches and send authentication and accounting requests to a central RADIUS server that contains
all user authentication and network service access information.

RADIUS Network Environments

RADIUS can be implemented in a variety of network environments that require high levels of security while
maintaining network access for remote users.
You can use RADIUS in the following network environments that require access security:
• Networks with multiple-vendor network devices, each supporting RADIUS.
• Networks already using RADIUS.
• Networks that require resource accounting.
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For example, network devices from several vendors can use a single RADIUS server-based security
database.
You can add a Nexus 5000 Series switch with RADIUS to the network. This action might be the first
step when you make a transition to a AAA server.
You can use RADIUS accounting independent of RADIUS authentication or authorization. The RADIUS
accounting functions allow data to be sent at the start and end of services, indicating the amount of
resources (such as time, packets, bytes, and so on) used during the session. An Internet service provider
(ISP) might use a freeware-based version of the RADIUS access control and accounting software to
meet special security and billing needs.
C H A P T E R
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide
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