The following table lists individual Brocade switches and the Web Authentication features they support.
These features are supported in the Layer 2 and Layer 3 software images, except where explicitly
noted.

Feature

ICX 6430

ICX 6450

FCX

ICX 6610

ICX 6650

FSX 800
FSX 1600

ICX 7750

Enabling and disabling Web
Authentication

08.0.01

Configuring the Web Authentication
mode

08.0.01

Web Authentication options

08.0.01

Web authentication overview

Authentication is important in enterprise networks because the network is considered a secure area: it
contains sensitive data and a finite amount of resources. Unauthorized users must be prevented from
accessing the network to protect the sensitive data and prevent the unnecessary consumption of
resources.

The ideal authentication method blocks unauthorized users at the earliest possible opportunity. For
internal enterprise networks, this can be controlled at the edge switch port. Two popular forms of port-
based security authentication used at the edge switch are multi-device port authentication and 802.1x.
Multi-device port authentication authenticates the MAC addresses of hosts or users that are attempting
to access the network. This type of authentication requires no intervention from the host or user who is
attempting to be authenticated. It is easy to use, but it can only authorize hosts; it cannot be used to
authorize users. 802.1x authentication can authorize users or hosts. It is more flexible than the multi-
device port authentication method; however, it requires more support, configuration, maintenance and
user intervention than multi-device port authentication.

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