How to Configure Radius Server on Cisco Switch

In this article we will go over the steps on how to configure a Radius Server on a Cisco Switch. The switch that we will be using is a Cisco Catalyst 2960 and the radius server is Windows Server 2012 R2. Before we get started, there are a few things that need to be in place for this to work.

First, you need to have an Active Directory Domain Controller with the Network Policy Server role installed. Second, you need to create a user group in Active Directory for the users that will be authenticating against the radius server. Lastly, you should have at least one client machine that is configured to use the radius server for authentication.

Table of Contents

Configure a Cisco Router to Access a AAA RADIUS Server

  • Enable AAA on the switch: a) Go to Global Configuration mode: enable b) Enter configuration mode for AAA: aaa new-model 2
  • Configure TACACS+ or RADIUS authentication for console and vty access: a) In Global Configuration mode, enter the line con 0 and line vty 0 4 subconfiguration modes
  • b) In each of these subconfiguration modes, enter the login authentication command using either TACACS+ or RADIUS c) If you are using TACACS+, also enter the tacacs-server host command to specify the IP address of the TACACS+ server 3
  • Configure web authentication if you want to use the switch’s web interface: a) In Global Configuration mode, enter the http server enable command b) Enter configuration mode for AAA authentication and authorization: aaa authentication http console c) Specify that local database users can authenticate via HTTP by entering the localauth command d) Exit back to Global Configuration mode 4
  • Configure port-based 802
  • 1X authentication if you want to use it on individual switch ports: a) In Global Configuration mode, enter interface configuration mode for the interface or interfaces on which you want to enable 802
  • 1X Authentication e
  • , int gi 1/0/1 b) Enter dot1x port-control auto c) Enter dot1x pae authenticator d) Exit back to Global Configuration mode 5
  • (Optional): If you want allswitch ports to be in an unauthenticated state initially so that only authorized users can access them, configure this setting in global configuration mode with the dot1x system-auth-controlcommand

Cisco 2960 Radius Configuration

Cisco 2960 switches support authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services through the use of RADIUS. This allows the switch to communicate with a RADIUS server in order to authenticate users and determine what level of access they should have. In order to configure a Cisco 2960 switch for RADIUS authentication, you will need to specify the IP address of the RADIUS server as well as a shared secret key.

This key will be used to encrypt communications between the switch and the server. Once this is configured, you can then create user accounts on the server which can be used to log into the switch. When configuring AAA on a Cisco 2960 switch, it is important to keep in mind that by default only 15 user accounts can be active at any given time.

If more than this are needed, you will need to increase the license level on the switch. For more information on how to do this, please consult your Cisco documentation.

Configure Nps for Cisco Radius Authentication

If you’re looking to configure NPS for Cisco RADIUS authentication, there are a few things you’ll need to do. First, open the NPS console and select the Policies tab. Next, create a new policy with the following settings:

Type = Unencrypted Authentication (PAP, SPAP) Service Type = NAT-Tunneled Protected EAP (PEAP) or Protected EAP (PEAP) Framed Protocol = PPP

NAS Port Type = Virtual (VPN) Under Conditions, add the following condition: Client Friendly Name – Matches – [Your VPN Client]

Finally, under Settings, add the Cisco RADIUS Vendor Specific Attributes (VSAs): cisco-avpair = “leap:version=1” If you’re using MSCHAPv2 for authentication, you’ll also need to add the following VSA:

Cisco Ios 15 Radius Server Configuration

If you’re looking to configure a RADIUS server on your Cisco IOS device, there are a few things you’ll need to do. First, you’ll need to create a server object for your RADIUS server. You can do this by going to Configuration > Objects > Servers and selecting “Add.”

Once you’ve created the server object, you’ll need to specify the IP address of your RADIUS server and the shared secret that will be used for authentication. Once you’ve done this, you can apply the changes by going to Configuration > System > Management and selecting “Save Changes.” Now that the server object has been created, you’ll need to bind it to an interface.

This can be done by going to Configuration > Interfaces and selecting the interface you want to bind the server to. Once you’re in the interface configuration menu, select “RADIUS Server” from the list of options and enter in the name of the server object you created earlier. Finally, if you want your Cisco IOS device to act as a RADIUS client, you’ll need to go into Configuration > AAA and select “RADIUS Client” from the list of options.

Enter in the IP address of your RADIUS server as well as the shared secret that will be used for authentication. Save your changes and reboot your device for these settings to take effect.

Cisco Switch Radius And Local Authentication

If you’re looking to add an extra layer of security to your Cisco switch, you may be wondering if you should use RADIUS or local authentication. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at both options and help you decide which one is right for your needs. RADIUS is a centralized authentication system that allows you to manage users and permissions from a single location.

This can be helpful if you have a large network with multiple switches, as it makes it easy to keep track of who has access to what. Additionally, RADIUS provides additional features like accounting and auditing, which can be useful for compliance purposes. Local authentication, on the other hand, is managed directly on the switch itself.

This means that each switch will have its own database of users and permissions, which can be difficult to manage in a large network. However, local authentication does have the advantage of being more resistant to attacks, since an attacker would need to gain access to each individual switch in order to compromise the system. So which option is right for you?

It depends on your needs. If security is your top priority, then local authentication may be the way to go. However, if ease of management is more important, then RADIUS may be the better choice.

Cisco “Asa” Aaa Radius Configuration Example

If you’re looking to configure Cisco ASA AAA RADIUS authentication, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll provide a detailed example of how to do just that. First, let’s take a look at the basic configuration required for AAA RADIUS authentication on a Cisco ASA.

You’ll need to define a few things: The IP address of your RADIUS server(s) The shared secret used between the ASA and RADIUS server(s) The ports used for RADIUS communication (typically 1812 and 1813) The authentication method (e.g., PAP, CHAP, MS-CHAPv2) With that out of the way, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of our example configuration.

We’ll assume that we have two RADIUS servers with IP addresses 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2. We’ll also use the shared secret “ciscoasa”. Here’s what our configuration would look like:

radius-server host 10 . 0 . 0 .

1 key ciscoasa radius-server host 10 . 0 . 0 .

2 key ciscoasa aaa group server radius rad_eap server 10 . 0 . 0 .

1 auth-port 1812 acct-port 1813radius default -group rad_eap nas 192 . 168 .

How to Configure Radius Server on Cisco Switch

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How Does Radius Work on a Cisco Switch?

RADIUS, short for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, is a networking protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting for remote users who access a network. RADIUS was originally developed by Livingston Enterprises, Inc. as an enhancement to their terminal server products. It is now widely used by Internet service providers (ISPs) and enterprises to manage user access to networks and network resources.

When a user tries to connect to a network resource, the RADIUS server is contacted first. The server then authenticates the user’s credentials and determines whether the user should be granted access. If so, the server authorizes the user and allows the connection to be made.

The server also keeps track of all activity by the user while they are connected, in order to generate accounting records. RADIUS uses UDP port 1812 for authentication and authorization, and port 1813 for accounting. It can optionally use TCP port 1645 or 1814 for authentication and authorization as well; however, these are not commonly used outside of legacy implementations.

Cisco switches support RADIUS authentication for console and telnet login sessions as well as 802.1X ports with EAPol start messages sent through those ports. When configuring RADIUS on a Cisco switch you will need to create at least one AAA group that contains your RADIUS servers (typically this will just be one server). You will also need to specify which virtual terminal interfaces should use RADIUS authentication – typically this would be vty 0 4 (for console/telnet logins) plus any other vtys you have configured if using TACACS+.

For 802.1X ports you will need to configure dot1x system-auth-control under global configuration mode – this enables EAPol start messages on all switch ports so that they can trigger an 802.1X session with a supplicant device attached:

How Do I Set Up a Radius Server?

RADIUS servers are used to authenticate remote users against a central database. The server can be configured to allow or deny access to the network based on the user’s credentials. In order to set up a RADIUS server, you will need to install the software on a machine that is connected to the network.

Once the software is installed, you will need to configure it with the IP address of the machine that will be acting as the RADIUS server and the shared secret key. Once the configuration is complete, you will need to add your users to the central database and assign them permissions.

Can a Switch Be a Radius Server?

A switch can not be a RADIUS server. A switch is a device that connects network segments and devices together so that they can communicate with each other. A RADIUS server is a type of security appliance that authenticates and authorizes remote users to access a network.

What is Radius Server in Cisco?

RADIUS is a Cisco proprietary remote access server that provides centralized management of user authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) for Cisco devices. RADIUS uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to communicate with clients and supports a variety of EAP methods. RADIUS servers are typically deployed in enterprise networks as part of an AAA infrastructure.

AAA stands for authentication, authorization, and accounting. An AAA infrastructure provides centralized control over user access to network resources. The RADIUS server authenticates users who want to access the network.

Once authenticated, the RADIUS server authorizes users for specific services they are allowed to use on the network. The RADIUS server also tracks all activity on the network and generates reports detailing who did what and when. The main advantage of using a RADIUS server is that it simplifies AAA management by providing a central point of control.

This can be especially helpful in large organizations with many different types of devices and hundreds or even thousands of users. Another advantage of using a RADIUS server is that it supports multiple EAP methods, which allows organizations to choose the best method for their needs. For example, some organizations might prefer to use EAP-TLS because it supports digital certificates and provides stronger security than other methods like PEAP-MSCHAPv2.

If you’re considering deploying a RADIUS server in your organization, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you’ll need to decide which EAP method you want to use. Second, you’ll need to deploy at least two servers in order to provide redundancy in case one fails.

Finally, you’ll need to configure your network devices to work with the RADIUS servers. RRAS role service installed?

Conclusion

If you want to configure a Radius server on your Cisco switch, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to create a user account on the server. Then, you need to configure the switch to use the Radius server for authentication.

Finally, you need to test the configuration by trying to connect to the switch with the new user account.