Dell PowerSwitch S4112F-ON EMC SmartFabric OS10 User Guide Release 10.5.0 - Page 389

The authentication process involves three devices: • Supplicant - The device attempting to access the network performs the role of supplicant. Regular traffic from this device does not reach the network until the port associated to the device is authorized. Before that, the supplicant can only exchange 802.1x messages (EAPOL frames) with the authenticator. • Authenticator - The authenticator is the gate keeper of the network, translating and forwarding requests and responses between the authentication server and the supplicant. The authenticator also changes the status of the port based on the results of the authentication process. The authenticator executes on the Dell EMC device. • Authentication-server - The authentication-server selects the authentication method, verifies the information the supplicant provides, and grants network access privileges. Port authentication The process begins when the authenticator senses a link status change from down to up: 1. The authenticator requests that the supplicant identify itself using an EAP Request Identity frame. 2. The supplicant responds with its identity in an EAP Response Identity frame. 3. The authenticator decapsulates the EAP response from the EAPOL frame, encapsulates it in a RADIUS Access Request frame, and forwards the frame to the authentication server. 4. The authentication server replies with an Access Challenge frame who requests that the supplicant verifies its identity using an EAP- Method. The authenticator translates and forwards the challenge to the supplicant. 5. The supplicant negotiates the authentication method and provides the EAP Request information in an EAP Response. Another Access Request frame translates and forwards the response to the authentication server. 6. If the identity information the supplicant provides is valid, the authentication server sends an Access Accept frame that specify the network privileges. The authenticator changes the port state to authorize and forwards an EAP Success frame. If the identity information is invalid, the server sends an Access Reject frame. If the port state remains unauthorized, the authenticator forwards an EAP Failure frame. Layer 2 389