Port Access Control
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Monitor Mode
The administrative mode of the Monitor Mode feature on the device. Monitor mode is a
special mode that can be enabled in conjunction with port-based access control. Monitor
mode provides a way for network administrators to identify possible issues with the port-
based access control configuration on the device without affecting the network access to the
users of the device. It allows network access even in cases where there is a failure to
authenticate, but it logs the results of the authentication process for diagnostic purposes. If
the device fails to authenticate a client for any reason (for example, RADIUS access reject
from the RADIUS server, RADIUS timeout, or the client itself is 802.1X unaware), the client
is authenticated and is undisturbed by the failure condition(s). The reasons for failure are
logged and buffered into the local logging database for tracking purposes.
EAPOL Flood Mode
The administrative mode of the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) over LAN (EAPOL)
flood support on the device. EAPOL Flood Mode can be enabled when Admin Mode and
Monitor Mode are disabled.
Interface Port Access Control Fields
Interface
The interface associated with the rest of the data in the row.
PAE Capabilities
The Port Access Entity (PAE) role, which is one of the following:
Authenticator – The port enforces authentication and passes authentication information
from a remote supplicant (similar to a client or host) to the authentication server. If the
server successfully authenticates the supplicant, the port allows access.
Supplicant – The port must be granted permission by the authentication server before it
can access the remote authenticator port.
Control Mode
The port-based access control mode configured on the port, which is one of the following:
Auto – The port is unauthorized until a successful authentication exchange has taken
place.
Force Unauthorized – The port ignores supplicant authentication attempts and does not
provide authentication services to the client.
Force Authorized – The port sends and receives normal traffic without client port-based
authentication.
MAC-Based – This mode allows multiple supplicants connected to the same port to each
authenticate individually. Each host connected to the port must authenticate separately
in order to gain access to the network. The hosts are distinguished by their MAC
addresses.
Operating Control Mode
The control mode under which the port is actually operating, which is one of the following:
Auto
Force Unauthorized
Force Authorized
MAC-Based
N/A
If the mode is N/A, port-based access control is not applicable to the port. If the port is in
detached state it cannot participate in port access control. Additionally, if port-based access
control is globally disabled, the status for all ports is N/A.
PAE State
The current state of the authenticator PAE state machine, which is the 802.1X process that
controls access to the port. The state can be one of the following:
Initialize
Disconnected
Connecting
Authenticating
Authenticated
Aborting
Held
ForceAuthorized
ForceUnauthorized
Field
Description