Configuring Authentication Order and Priority

Users can set the authentication order and priority for the 802.1X802.1X is an IEEE standard for port-based network access control designed to enhance 802.11 WLAN security. 802.1X provides an authentication framework that allows a user to be authenticated by a central authority. and MACMedia Access Control. A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on a network. authentication methods for each port. The switch attempts to authenticate a client based on the authentication order and priority settings.

• If both 802.1X and MAC authentication are enabled on the same port without configuring authentication order and priority , then both the authentication methods are triggered in parallel and might cause issues for the clients.
• If authentication order and priority are configured, then authentication requests are processed sequentially and authentication method with high priority is used to access the client. If both 802.1X and MAC authentication are enabled on the same port, and 802.1X authentication is set as the first authentication method and MAC authentication is set as the first authentication priority , then MAC authentication is used to authenticate the clients.
• If only one authentication method is enabled on the port, then the switch will not consider authentication order and priority for authentication.

To configure the authentication order and priority, complete the following steps:

1. In the Network Operations app, select one of the following options:
   • To select a switch group in the filter:
     1. Set the filter to a group containing at least one switch.
        The dashboard context for the group is displayed.
     2. Under Manage, click Devices > Switches.
     3. Click the Config icon to view the switch configuration dashboard.
   • To select a switch in the filter:
     1. Set the filter to Global or a group containing at least one switch.
     2. Under Manage, click Devices > Switches.
        A list of switches is displayed in the List view.
     3. Click a switch under Device Name.
        The dashboard context for the switch is displayed.
     4. Under Manage, click Device.
        The tabs to configure the switch is displayed.
2. Click Security > Authentication. The Authentication page is displayed.
3. Expand the Authentication Order and Priority accordion. The Ports Settings table displays the Authentication Order and Authentication Priority specified for the ports.
4. Click + to add ports with authentication order and priority. The Add Ports window is displayed.
5. Configure the following parameters:
   • Ports—Select one or more ports for setting authentication order and priority.
   • Authentication Order—Select either 802.1X or MAC as the first method for authentication. For example, if you select 802.1X as the first authentication method, then 802.1X is used first for authenticating clients on the port.
   • Authentication Priority—Select either 802.1X or MAC as the first priority for authentication. Authentication priority takes precedence over authentication order, and the authentication method with higher priority is used to access clients.
6. Click Save.

Editing the Authentication Order and Priority

To edit the authentication order and priority, select one or more ports for which you want to modify authentication order and priority, and click the edit icon.

Deleting the Authentication Order and Priority

To delete the authentication order and priority, select one or more ports for which you want to delete authentication order and priority, and click the delete icon.