PLANET WGSW-5242 User Manual
Page 98
User’s Manual of WGSW-5242
98
However, if during bootup, the client does not receive an EAP-request/identity frame from the switch, the client can initiate
authentication by sending an EAPOL-start frame, which prompts the switch to request the client's identity
If 802.1X is not enabled or supported on the network access device, any EAPOL frames from the
client are dropped. If the client does not receive an EAP-request/identity frame after three attempts
to start authentication, the client transmits frames as if the port is in the authorized state. A port in
the authorized state effectively means that the client has been successfully authenticated.
When the client supplies its identity, the switch begins its role as the intermediary, passing EAP frames between the client and
the authentication server until authentication succeeds or fails. If the authentication succeeds, the switch port becomes
authorized.
The specific exchange of EAP frames depends on the authentication method being used. “
Figure 4-7-6
” shows a message
exchange initiated by the client using the One-Time-Password (OTP) authentication method with a RADIUS server.
Figure 4-7-6
EAP message exchange
Ports in Authorized and Unauthorized States
The switch port state determines whether or not the client is granted access to the network. The port starts in the unauthorized
state. While in this state, the port disallows all ingress and egress traffic except for 802.1X protocol packets. When a client is
successfully authenticated, the port transitions to the authorized state, allowing all traffic for the client to flow normally.
If a client that does not support 802.1X is connected to an unauthorized 802.1X port, the switch requests the client's identity. In
this situation, the client does not respond to the request, the port remains in the unauthorized state, and the client is not granted
access to the network.