ZyXEL Communications VSG-1200 Network Router User Manual


 
VSG-1200 User’s Guide
72 Chapter 6 Authentication
3 The guest enters the provided access information.
4 Once authentication is successful, CAS informs VSG to allow Internet access to the
guest.
6.1.3 Accounting Methods
The VSG provides two accounting methods: Accumulation and Time to Finish.
•The Accumulation accounting method allows multiple re-logins until the allocated time
period or until the subscriber account is expired. The VSG accounts for the time the
subscriber logs in for Internet access.
•The Time to Finish accounting method is good for one-time logins. Once a subscriber
logs in, the VSG stores the MAC address of the subscriber’s computer for the duration of
the time allocated. Thus the subscriber does not have to enter the user name and password
again for re-login within the allocated time. Once activated, the subscriber account is
valid until the allocated time is reached even if the subscriber disconnects Internet access
for a certain period within the allocated time. For example, if Joe purchases a one-hour
time-to-finish account. He starts using the Internet for the first 20 minutes and then
disconnects Internet access to go to a 20-minute meeting. Then he only has 20 minutes
left on his account.
6.1.4 Built-in Authentication
The built-in authentication method is useful if you do not have a RADIUS server. You can use
the built-in subscriber database to manage the subscribers. With the built-in authentication, the
VSG provides three sets of preconfigured scenarios that you can choose for easy and simple
setup. For billing, use either a PMS or the built-in billing mechanism to set up accounting
information.
6.1.5 RADIUS
The VSG supports Remote Authentication Dial-In user Service (RADIUS). By integrating
RADIUS with the VSG, you can set up the subscriber database on the RADIUS server. In
addition to subscriber information, the subscriber database may hold the Internet usage time
period each subscriber is allocated. For example, when a subscriber logs in, the RADIUS
server will send the time allocation information (such as session time-out) to the VSG, which
uses this information to control the subscriber’s connection.
6.1.5.1 RADIUS Accounting
The VSG sends “accounting start” and “accounting stop” messages to the RADIUS server,
which uses these messages to accurately track subscriber Internet usage.