Operation Manual – 802.1x
Quidway S3100 Series Ethernet Switches
Chapter 2 HABP Configuration
Huawei Technologies Proprietary
2-1
Chapter 2 HABP Configuration
2.1 Introduction to HABP
With 802.1x enabled, a switch authenticates and then authorizes 802.1x-enabled ports.
Packets can be forwarded only by authorized ports. If ports connected to the switch are
not authenticated and authorized by 802.1x, their received packets will be filtered. This
means that users can no longer manage the attached switches. To address this
problem, Huawei authentication bypass protocol (HABP) has been developed.
An HABP packet carries the MAC addresses of the attached switches with it. It can
bypass the 802.1x authentications when traveling between HABP-enabled switches,
through which management devices can obtain the MAC addresses of the attached
switches and thus the management of the attached switches is feasible.
An HABP packet encapsulates the MAC address of the connected switch to a given
port. This allows HABP packets to bypass 802.1x authentication and to be forwarded
between HABP-enabled switches. Therefore, the management devices can get the
MAC addresses of their attached switches to manage them effectively.
HABP is implemented by HABP server and HABP client. Normally, an HABP server
sends HABP request packets regularly to HABP clients to collect the MAC addresses of
the attached switches. HABP clients respond to the HABP request packets and forward
the HABP request packets to lower-level switches. HABP servers usually reside on
management devices and HABP clients usually on attached switches.
For ease of switch management, it is recommended that you enable HABP for
802.1x-enabled switches.
2.2 HABP Server Configuration
With the HABP server launched, a management device sends HABP request packets
regularly to the attached switches to collect their MAC addresses. You need also to
configure the interval on the management device for an HABP server to send HABP
request packets.
Table 2-1
Configure an HABP server
Operation
Command
Description
Enter system view
system-view
—
Enable HABP
habp enable
Required
HABP is enabled by default.