Glossary of Terms
Chapter 4 51
4 Glossary of Terms
AAA
Abbreviation for Authentication, Authorization, and
Accounting.
AAA Server
A software application that performs authentication,
authorization, and accounting functions.
Accounting
Logging session and usage information for session
control and billing purposes
Access-Accept
The AAA server returns an Access-Accept to the client
when an Access-Request is valid. The Access-Accept
will contain A-V pairs that specify what services the
authenticated user is authorized to use.
Access-Challenge
The AAA server returns an Access-Challenge to the
client when it is necessary to issue a challenge that the
user must respond to. The client will resubmit the
request with the user-supplied information to the AAA
server.
Access-Reject
The AAA server returns an Access-Reject to the client
when an Access-Request is invalid.
Access-Request
Created by the client, the Access-Request contains A-V
Pairs, such as the user’s name, password, and ID of the
client. The client submits the Access-Request to an
AAA server. If the server can validate the client, the
server will attempt to match a user entry in its
database with information in the Access-Request to
authenticate the user.
