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8-20
Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-10101-02
Chapter 8 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication
Controlling Switch Access with RADIUS
A method list defines the sequence and methods to be used to authenticate, to authorize, or to keep
accounts on a user. You can use method lists to designate one or more security protocols to be used (such
as TACACS+ or local username lookup), thus ensuring a backup system if the initial method fails. The
software uses the first method listed to authenticate, to authorize, or to keep accounts on users; if that
method does not respond, the software selects the next method in the list. This process continues until
there is successful communication with a listed method or the method list is exhausted.
You should have access to and should configure a RADIUS server before configuring RADIUS features
on your switch.
This section contains this configuration information:
• Default RADIUS Configuration, page 8-20
• Identifying the RADIUS Server Host, page 8-20 (required)
• Configuring RADIUS Login Authentication, page 8-23 (required)
• Defining AAA Server Groups, page 8-25 (optional)
• Configuring RADIUS Authorization for User Privileged Access and Network Services, page 8-27
(optional)
• Starting RADIUS Accounting, page 8-28 (optional)
• Configuring Settings for All RADIUS Servers, page 8-28 (optional)
• Configuring the Switch to Use Vendor-Specific RADIUS Attributes, page 8-29 (optional)
• Configuring the Switch for Vendor-Proprietary RADIUS Server Communication, page 8-30
(optional)
Default RADIUS Configuration
RADIUS and AAA are disabled by default.
To prevent a lapse in security, you cannot configure RADIUS through a network management
application. When enabled, RADIUS can authenticate users accessing the switch through the CLI.
Identifying the RADIUS Server Host
Switch-to-RADIUS-server communication involves several components:
• Host name or IP address
• Authentication destination port
• Accounting destination port
• Key string
• Timeout period
• Retransmission value
You identify RADIUS security servers by their host name or IP address, host name and specific UDP
port numbers, or their IP address and specific UDP port numbers. The combination of the IP address and
the UDP port number creates a unique identifier, allowing different ports to be individually defined as
RADIUS hosts providing a specific AAA service. This unique identifier enables RADIUS requests to be
sent to multiple UDP ports on a server at the same IP address.