7-17
Catalyst 2360 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-19808-01
Chapter 7 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication
Controlling Switch Access with RADIUS
Controlling Switch Access with RADIUS
This section describes how to enable and configure the RADIUS, which provides detailed accounting
information and flexible administrative control over authentication and authorization processes.
RADIUS is facilitated through AAA and can be enabled only through AAA commands.
Note
For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this section, see the
Cisco IOS
Security Command Reference, Release 12.2
.
These sections contain this configuration information:
•
Understanding RADIUS, page 7-17
•
•
•
Displaying the RADIUS Configuration, page 7-30
Understanding RADIUS
RADIUS is a distributed client/server system that secures networks against unauthorized access.
RADIUS clients run on supported Cisco routers and switches. Clients send authentication requests to a
central RADIUS server, which contains all user authentication and network service access information.
The RADIUS host is normally a multiuser system running RADIUS server software from Cisco (Cisco
Secure Access Control Server Version 3.0), Livingston, Merit, Microsoft, or another software provider.
For more information, see the RADIUS server documentation.
Use RADIUS in these network environments that require access security:
•
Turnkey network security environments in which applications support the RADIUS protocol, such
as in an access environment that uses a
smart card
access control system. In one case, RADIUS has
been used with Enigma’s security cards to validates users and to grant access to network resources.
•
Networks already using RADIUS. You can add a Cisco switch containing a RADIUS client to the
network. This might be the first step when you make a transition to a server. See
•
Network in which the user must only access a single service. Using RADIUS, you can control user
access to a single host or to a single utility such as Telnet.
•
Networks that require resource accounting. You can use RADIUS accounting independently of
RADIUS authentication or authorization. The RADIUS accounting functions allow data to be sent
at the start and end of services, showing the amount of resources (such as time, packets, bytes, and
so forth) used during the session. An Internet service provider might use a freeware-based version
of RADIUS access control and accounting software to meet special security and billing needs.
RADIUS is not suitable in these network security situations:
•
Multiprotocol access environments. RADIUS does not support AppleTalk Remote Access (ARA),
NetBIOS Frame Control Protocol (NBFCP), NetWare Asynchronous Services Interface (NASI), or
X.25 PAD connections.
•
Switch-to-switch or router-to-router situations. RADIUS does not provide two-way authentication.
RADIUS can be used to authenticate from one device to a non-Cisco device if the non-Cisco device
requires authentication.
•
Networks using a variety of services. RADIUS generally binds a user to one service model.
