Cisco WS-C2960-24TC-S Software Guide - Page 192

Understanding IEEE 802.1x Port-Based Authentication Chapter 9 Configuring IEEE 802.1x Port-Based Authentication client access to the network. If authorization fails, the switch assigns the port to the guest VLAN if one is specified. For more information, see the"Using IEEE 802.1x Authentication with MAC Authentication Bypass" section on page 9-16. For more information, see the "Configuring a Guest VLAN" section on page 9-30. Using IEEE 802.1x Authentication with Restricted VLAN You can configure a restricted VLAN (also referred to as an authentication failed VLAN) for each IEEE 802.1x port on a switch to provide limited services to clients that cannot access the guest VLAN. These clients are IEEE 802.1x-compliant and cannot access another VLAN because they fail the authentication process. A restricted VLAN allows users without valid credentials in an authentication server (typically, visitors to an enterprise) to access a limited set of services. The administrator can control the services available to the restricted VLAN. Note You can configure a VLAN to be both the guest VLAN and the restricted VLAN if you want to provide the same services to both types of users. Without this feature, the client attempts and fails authentication indefinitely, and the switch port remains in the spanning-tree blocking state. With this feature, you can configure the switch port to be in the restricted VLAN after a specified number of authentication attempts (the default value is 3 attempts). The authenticator counts the failed authentication attempts for the client. When this count exceeds the configured maximum number of authentication attempts, the port moves to the restricted VLAN. The failed attempt count increments when the RADIUS server replies with either an EAP failure or an empty response without an EAP packet. When the port moves into the restricted VLAN, the failed attempt counter resets. Users who fail authentication remain in the restricted VLAN until the next re-authentication attempt. A port in the restricted VLAN tries to re-authenticate at configured intervals (the default is 60 seconds). If re-authentication fails, the port remains in the restricted VLAN. If re-authentication is successful, the port moves either to the configured VLAN or to a VLAN sent by the RADIUS server. You can disable re-authentication. If you do this, the only way to restart the authentication process is for the port to receive a link down or EAP logoff event. We recommend that you keep re-authentication enabled if a client might connect through a hub. When a client disconnects from the hub, the port might not receive the link down or EAP logoff event. After a port moves to the restricted VLAN, a simulated EAP success message is sent to the client. This prevents clients from indefinitely attempting authentication. Some clients (for example, devices running Windows XP) cannot implement DHCP without EAP success. Restricted VLANs are supported only on IEEE 802.1x ports in single-host mode and on Layer 2 ports. You can configure any active VLAN except an RSPAN VLAN or a voice VLAN as an IEEE 802.1x restricted VLAN. The restricted VLAN feature is not supported on trunk ports; it is supported only on access ports. This feature works with port security. As soon as the port is authorized, a MAC address is provided to port security. If port security does not permit the MAC address or if the maximum secure address count is reached, the port becomes unauthorized and error disabled. Other port security features such as dynamic ARP Inspection, DHCP snooping, and IP source guard can be configured independently on a restricted VLAN. For more information, see the "Configuring a Restricted VLAN" section on page 9-31. 9-12 Catalyst 2960 Switch Software Configuration Guide OL-8603-04