Dell PowerConnect 8024 - Ieee 802.1 X; What Is IEEE 802.1 X

470 Configuring Port and System Security
IEEE 802.1X
What is IEEE 802.1X?
The IEEE 802.1X standard provides a means of preventing unauthorized
access by supplicants (clients) to the services the switch offers, such as access
to the LAN.
The 802.1X network has three components:
• Supplicant — The client connected to the authenticated port that
requests access to the network.
•
Authenticator — The network device that prevents network access prior to
authentication.
•
Authentication Server — The network server (such as a RADIUS server)
that performs the authentication on behalf of the authenticator, and
indicates whether the user is authorized to access system services.
Figure 20-1 shows the 802.1X network components.
Figure 20-1. IEEE 802.1X Network
Authenticator
Supplicant
Authentication
Server
LAN