HP HP ProCurve Series 6600, Access Security Manual

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13-4
Configuring Port-Based and User-Based Access Control (802.1X)
Overview
■ If the first client authenticates and opens the port, and then one or more
other clients connect without trying to authenticate, then the port config-
uration as determined by the original RADIUS response remains
unchanged and all such clients will have the same access as the authenti-
cated client. When the authenticated client closes the session, the port
will also be closed to any other, unauthenticated clients that may have
also been using the port.
This operation unblocks the port while an authenticated client session is in
progress. In topologies where simultaneous, multiple client access is possible
this can allow unauthorized and unauthenticated access by another client
while an authenticated client is using the port. If you want to allow only
authenticated clients on the port, then user-based access control (page 13-3)
should be used instead of port-based access control.
Using the user-based
method enables you to specify up to 32 authenticated clients.
N o t e
Port-Based 802.1X can operate concurrently with Web-Authentication or
MAC-Authentication on the same port. However, this is not a commonly used
application and is not generally recommended. For more information, refer
to the operating note on page 13-12.
Alternative To Using a RADIUS Server
Note that you can also configure 802.1X for authentication through the
switch’s local username and password instead of a RADIUS server, but doing
so increases the administrative burden, decentralizes user credential admin-
istration, and reduces security by limiting authentication to one Operator
password set for all users.
Accounting
The switches covered in this guide also provide RADIUS Network accounting
for 802.1X access. Refer to chapter 6, “RADIUS-Administered CoS and Rate-
Limiting”.