Chapter 1 802.1X Configuration; Introduction To 802.1X; Architecture Of 802.1X Authentication - H3C S5100-SI Series Operation Manual

Operation Manual – 802.1x and System Guard
H3C S5100-SI/EI Series Ethernet Switches

Chapter 1 802.1x Configuration

When configuring 802.1x, go to these sections for information you are interested in:

Introduction to 802.1x

Introduction to 802.1x Configuration
Basic 802.1x Configuration
Advanced 802.1x Configuration
Displaying and Maintaining 802.1x Configuration
Configuration Example
1.1 Introduction to 802.1x
The 802.1x protocol (802.1x for short) was developed by IEEE802 LAN/WAN
committee to address security issues of wireless LANs. It was then used in Ethernet as
a common access control mechanism for LAN ports to address mainly authentication
and security problems.
802.1x is a port-based network access control protocol. It authenticates and controls
devices requesting for access in terms of the ports of LAN access devices. With the
802.1x protocol employed, a user-side device can access the LAN only when it passes
the authentication. Those fail to pass the authentication are denied when accessing the
LAN.
This section covers these topics:

Architecture of 802.1x Authentication

The Mechanism of an 802.1x Authentication System
Encapsulation of EAPoL Messages
802.1x Authentication Procedure
Timers Used in 802.1x
802.1x Implementation on an S5100-SI/EI Series Switch
1.1.1 Architecture of 802.1x Authentication
As shown in
supplicant system, an authenticator system, and an authentication server system.
Figure 1-1, 802.1x adopts a client/server architecture with three entities: a
1-1
Chapter 1 802.1x Configuration