2-1 
2  HABP Configuration 
Introduction to HABP 
With 802.1x enabled, a switch authenticates and then authorizes 802.1x-enabled ports. Packets can be 
forwarded only by authorized ports. For ports with switches attached and are not authenticated and 
authorized by 802.1x, their received packets will be filtered. This means that you cannot manage the 
attached switches. Huawei authentication bypass protocol (HABP) is designed to address this problem. 
An HABP packet carries the MAC addresses of the attached switches with it. It can bypass the 802.1x 
authentications when traveling between HABP-enabled switches, through which management devices 
can obtain the MAC addresses of the attached switches and thus the management of the attached 
switches is feasible. 
HABP is implemented by HABP server and HABP client. Normally, an HABP server sends HABP 
request packets regularly to HABP clients to collect the MAC addresses of the attached switches. HABP 
clients respond to the HABP request packets and forward the HABP request packets to lower-level 
switches. HABP servers usually reside on management devices and HABP clients usually on attached 
switches. 
For ease of switch management, it is recommended that you enable HABP for 802.1x-enabled 
switches. 
HABP Server Configuration 
With the HABP server launched, a management device sends HABP request packets regularly to the 
attached switches to collect their MAC addresses. You need also to configure the interval on the 
management device for an HABP server to send HABP request packets. 
Table 2-1 Configure an HABP server 
Operation  Command  Remarks 
Enter system view
  system-view 
— 
Enable HABP 
habp enable 
Optional 
By default, HABP is enabled. 
Configure the current switch to 
be an HABP server 
habp server vlan vlan-id 
Required 
By default, a switch operates as an 
HABP client after you enable HABP 
on the switch. If you want to use the 
switch as a management switch, you 
need to configure the switch to be an 
HABP server. 
Configure the interval to send 
HABP request packets.
 
habp timer interval 
Optional 
The default interval for an HABP 
server to send HABP request 
packets is 20 seconds.