Port Access Control
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Port Access Control
In port-based authentication mode, when 802.1X is enabled globally and on the port, successful
authentication of any one supplicant attached to the port results in all users being able to use the port
without restrictions. At any given time, only one supplicant is allowed to attempt authentication on a
port in this mode. Ports in this mode are under bidirectional control. This is the default authentication
mode.
The 802.1X network has three components:
Authenticators: Specifies the port that is authenticated before permitting system access.
Supplicants: Specifies host connected to the authenticated port requesting access to the system
services.
Authentication Server: Specifies the external server, for example, the RADIUS server that per-
forms the authentication on behalf of the authenticator, and indicates whether the user is autho-
rized to access system services.
Port Access Control Configuration
Use this page to configure the global Port Access Control settings on the device. The port-based
access control feature uses IEEE 802.1X to enable the authentication of system users through a local
internal server or an external server. Only authenticated and approved system users can transmit and
receive data. Supplicants (clients connected to authenticated ports that request access to the network)
are authenticated using the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Also supported are PEAP, EAP-
TTL, EAP-TTLS, and EAP-TLS.
To display the Port Access Control Configuration page, click
Security
>
Port Access Control
in the
navigation pane, and ensure that the
Configuration
tab is selected.