802.1X - Dell S6100 Configuration Manual

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802.1X is a port-based Network Access Control (PNAC) that provides an authentication mechanism to devices wishing to attach to a LAN

or WLAN. A device connected to a port that is enabled with 802.1X is disallowed from sending or receiving packets on the network until its

identity is verified (through a username and password, for example).

802.1X employs Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to transfer a device's credentials to an authentication server (typically RADIUS)

using a mandatory intermediary network access device, in this case, a Dell Networking switch. The network access device mediates all

communication between the end-user device and the authentication server so that the network remains secure. The network access

device uses EAP-over-Ethernet (EAPOL) to communicate with the end-user device and EAP-over-RADIUS to communicate with the

The Dell Networking Operating System (OS) supports 802.1X with EAP-MD5, EAP-OTP, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAPv0,

PEAPv1, and MS-CHAPv2 with PEAP.

The following figures show how the EAP frames are encapsulated in Ethernet and RADIUS frames.

Figure 3. EAP Frames Encapsulated in Ethernet and RADUIS

802.1X