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Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) and Terminal
Access Controller Access Control System Plus (TACACS+) are logon
authentication protocols that use software running on a central server to
control access to RADIUS-aware or TACACS -aware devices on the
network. An authentication server contains a database of multiple user
name/password pairs with associated privilege levels for each user that
requires management access to the switch.
RADIUS uses UDP while TACACS+ uses TCP. UDP only offers best
effort delivery, while TCP offers a connection-oriented transport. Also,
note that RADIUS encrypts only the password in the access-request
packet from the client to the server, while TACACS+ encrypts the entire
body of the packet.
Command Usage
• By default, management access is always checked against the
authentication database stored on the local switch. If a remote
authentication server is used, you must specify the authentication
sequence and the corresponding parameters for the remote
authentication protocol. Local and remote logon authentication
control management access via the console port, web browser, or
Telnet.
• RADIUS and TACACS+ logon authentication assign a specific
privilege level for each user name/password pair. The user name,
password, and privilege level must be configured on the authentication
server.
• You can specify up to three authentication methods for any user to
indicate the authentication sequence. For example, if you select (1)
RADIUS, (2) TACACS and (3) Local, the user name and password on
the RADIUS server is verified first. If the RADIUS server is not
available, then authentication is attempted using the TACACS+ server,
and finally the local user name and password is checked.