Configuring 802.1x – GarrettCom Magnum MNS-6K User Manual
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M A G N U M 6 K S W I T C H E S , M N S - 6 K U S E R G U I D E 
 
The Magnum MNS-6K software implements the 802.1x authenticator. It fully conforms to the 
standards as described in IEEE 802.1x, implementing all the state machines needed for port-
based authentication. The Magnum MNS-6K Software authenticator supports both EAPOL and 
EAP over RADIUS to communicate to a standard 802.1x supplicant and RADIUS authentication 
server. 
 
The Magnum MNS-6K software authenticator has the following characteristics: 
• Allows control on ports using STP-based hardware functions. EAPOL frames are
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) link Bridge PDUs (BPDU) with its own bridge multicast 
address. 
• Relays MD5 challenge (although not limited to) authentication protocol to RADIUS
server
• Limits the authentication of a single host per port 
• The Magnum 6K family of switches provides the IEEE 802.1x MIB for SNMP 
management
Configuring 802.1x
On enabling 802.1x ports, make sure the port which connects to the RADIUS servers needs to be 
manually authenticated. To authenticate the port, use the “setport” command. The CLI 
commands to configure and perform authentication with a RADIUS server are 
 
Syntax auth - configuration mode to configure the 802.1x parameters 
 
Syntax show auth 
 
Syntax authserver [ip=
server – use UDP socket number if the RADIUS authentication is on port other than 1812
 
Syntax auth 
 
Syntax setport port=
[control=
port characteristic for an 802.1x network 
 
Syntax backend port=
[maxreq=<1-10>] - configure parameters for EAP over RADIUS
port – [mandatory] – port(s) to be configured 
supptimeout – [optional] This is the timeout in seconds the authenticator waits for the 
supplicant to respond back. Default value is 30 seconds. Values can range from 1 to 240 
seconds. 
servertimeout – [optional] This is the timeout in seconds the authenticator waits for the 
backend RADIUS server to respond back. The default value is 30 seconds. Values can 
range from 1 to 240 seconds. 
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