Upgrading From A Previous Software Release - Cisco Catalyst 3550 series Software Configuration Manual

Chapter 9 Configuring 802.1X Port-Based Authentication
•
•
•

Upgrading from a Previous Software Release

In Cisco IOS Release 12.1(14)EA1, the implementation for 802.1X changed from the previous release.
Some global configuration commands became interface configuration commands, and new commands
were added.
If you have 802.1X configured on the switch and you upgrade to Cisco IOS Release 12.1(14)EA1 or
later, the configuration file will not contain the new commands, and 802.1X will not operate. After the
upgrade is complete, make sure to globally enable 802.1X by using the dot1x system-auth-control
global configuration command. If 802.1X was running in multiple-hosts mode on an interface in the
previous release, make sure to reconfigure it by using the dot1x host-mode multi-host interface
configuration command.
Enabling 802.1X Authentication
To enable 802.1X port-based authentication, you must enable AAA and specify the authentication
method list. A method list describes the sequence and authentication methods to be queried to
authenticate a user.
The software uses the first method listed to authenticate users; if that method fails to respond, the
software selects the next authentication method in the method list. This process continues until there is
successful communication with a listed authentication method or until all defined methods are
exhausted. If authentication fails at any point in this cycle, the authentication process stops, and no other
authentication methods are attempted.
To allow per-user ACLs and VLAN assignment, you must enable AAA authorization to configure the
switch for all network-related service requests.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure 802.1X port-based authentication.
This procedure is required.
Command
Step 1
configure terminal
Step 2 aaa new-model
78-11194-09
You can configure any VLAN, except RSPAN VLANs or voice VVIDs, as an 802.1X guest VLAN.
The guest VLAN feature is not supported on internal VLANs (routed ports) or trunk ports; it is
supported only on access ports.
When 802.1X is enabled on a port, you cannot configure a port VLAN that is equal to a voice VLAN.
The 802.1X with VLAN assignment feature is not supported on trunk ports, dynamic ports, or with
dynamic-access port assignment through a VMPS.
Purpose
Enter global configuration mode.
Enable AAA.
Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide
Configuring 802.1X Authentication
9-11