Comtrol RocketLinx MP1204-XT, User Manual

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78 - Configuration Pages RocketLinx MP1204-XT User Guide : 2000644 Rev. A
Security | Network | NAS
Security | Network | NAS
This page allows you to configure the IEEE 802.1X and MAC-based authentication system and port settings.
The IEEE 802.1X standard defines a port-based access control procedure that prevents unauthorized access
to a network by requiring users to first submit credentials for authentication. One or more central servers, the
backend servers, determine whether the user is allowed access to the network. These backend (RADIUS)
servers are configured on the
Configuration | Security | AAA
page. The IEEE802.1X standard defines port-based
operation, but non-standard variants overcome security limitations as shall be explored below.
MAC-based authentication allows for authentication of more than one user on the same port, and does not
require the user to have special 802.1X supplicant software installed on their system. The MP1204-XT uses
the user's MAC address to authenticate against the backend server. Intruders can create counterfeit MAC
addresses, which makes MAC-based authentication less secure than 802.1X authentication.
The NAS configuration consists of two sections, a system- and a port-wide.