78 CHAPTER 10: MAKING YOUR NETWORK SECURE
manageable network device is a commonplace security measure. If the 
local Switch database is enabled, the network administrator must have 
local access to each Switch to securely change user name and password 
information. This can be time consuming, tedious and often results in bad 
configurations and lapses in security.
RADIUS authentication provides centralized, secure access and removes 
the need to physically visit each network device. Changes to user names 
and passwords require only a single action on the RADIUS database and 
are reflected immediately.
The Switch 3226 and Switch 3250 are fully compliant with the industry 
standard RADIUS protocol. For further information about RADIUS, see 
“
What is RADIUS?” on page 80.
How 
RADIUS
Authentication
Works
When RADIUS authentication of Switch Management Login is enabled, 
the Switch obtains the user’s name and password and securely sends the 
information to the RADIUS server. The information is authenticated by the 
server and a valid user is allowed to login to the Switch. An invalid user 
will receive a reject response and is not allowed to login to the Switch. 
This process is shown in Figure 20
.