Configuring Aaa; Overview - HP 6600 Security Configuration Manual

Configuring AAA

Overview

Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) provides a uniform framework for implementing
network access management. It provides the following security functions:
• Authentication—Identifies users and determines whether a user is valid.
Authorization—Grants user rights and controls user access to resources and services. For example,
•
a user who has successfully logged in to the device can be granted read and print permissions to
the files on the device.
Accounting—Records all network service usage information, including service type, start time, and
•
traffic. The accounting function provides information required for charging, and allows for network
security surveillance.
AAA typically uses a client/server model, as shown in
server (NAS), which is also called the access device. The server maintains user information centrally. In
an AAA network, the NAS is a server for users but a client for AAA servers.
Figure 1 AAA application scenario
Remote user
The NAS uses the authentication server to authenticate any user who tries to log in, use network resources,
or access other networks. The NAS transparently transmits authentication, authorization, and accounting
information between the user and the servers. The RADIUS and HWTACACS protocols define how a
NAS and a remote server exchange user information.
The network shown in
different servers to implement different security functions. For example, you can use the HWTACACS
server for authentication and authorization, and the RADIUS server for accounting.
You can implement any of the three security functions provided by AAA as needed. For example, if your
company wants employees to be authenticated before they access specific resources, configure an
authentication server. If network usage information is needed, you must also configure an accounting
server.
Network
NAS
Figure 1 comprises a RADIUS server and an HWTACACS server. You can use
Figure 1. The client runs on the network access
RADIUS server
HWTACACS server
7
Internet