Configuring 802.1x Authentication Port Parameters

The 7705 SAR supports network access control of client devices (for example, PCs and STBs) on an Ethernet network using the IEEE 802.1x standard. 802.1x is a standard for authenticating customer devices before they can access the network. Authentication is performed using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) over LAN (EAPOL).

802.1x provides protection against unauthorized access by forcing the device connected to the 7705 SAR to go through an authentication phase before it is able to send any non-EAP packets. Only EAPOL frames can be exchanged between the aggregation device (authenticator; for example, the 7705 SAR) and the customer device (supplicant) until authentication is successfully completed.

Use the following CLI syntax to configure an 802.1x Ethernet port:

CLI Syntax:
port port-id ethernet
    dot1x 
        max-auth-req max-auth-request
        port-control {auto | force-auth | force-unauth}
        quiet-period seconds
        radius-plcy name
        re-authentication
        re-auth-period seconds
        server-timeout seconds
        supplicant-timeout seconds
        transmit-period seconds

The following CLI syntax shows an example of configuring an 802.1x Ethernet port:

Example:
config# port 1/5/2 ethernet dot1x
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# port-control auto
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# radius-plcy dot1xpolicy
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# re-auth-period 3500
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# transmit-period 30
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# quiet-period 50
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# supplicant-timeout 30
config>port>ethernet>dot1x# server-timeout 30

Use the config port info command to display port configuration information.

ALU-A>config>port>ethernet>dot1x# info detail
----------------------------------------------
             port-control auto
             radius-plcy dot1xpolicy
             re-authentication
             re-auth-period 3600
             max-auth-req 2
             transmit-period 30
             quiet-period 60
             supplicant-timeout 30
             server-timeout 30
             no mac-auth
             no mac-auth-wait
----------------------------------------------
ALU-A>config>port>ethernet>dot1x#