Cisco Catalyst 2960-X User Manual

Port-Based Authentication Initiation and Message Exchange
During 802.1x authentication, the switch or the client can initiate authentication. If you enable authentication
on a port by using the authentication port-control auto interface configuration command, the switch initiates
authentication when the link state changes from down to up or periodically as long as the port remains up and
unauthenticated. The switch sends an EAP-request/identity frame to the client to request its identity. Upon
receipt of the frame, the client responds with an EAP-response/identity frame.
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 authentication 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 sends 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.
Note
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. If the authentication fails, authentication can be retried, the port might
be assigned to a VLAN that provides limited services, or network access is not granted.
The specific exchange of EAP frames depends on the authentication method being used.
This figure shows a message exchange initiated by the client when the client uses the One-Time-Password
(OTP) authentication method with a RADIUS server.
Figure 19: Message Exchange
Catalyst 2960-X Switch Security Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.0(2)EX
266 OL-29048-01
Configuring IEEE 802.1x Port-Based Authentication
Port-Based Authentication Initiation and Message Exchange

Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Specifications

General

Console port	RJ-45
USB 2.0 ports quantity	2
SFP module slots quantity	4
Installed SFP modules quantity	-
Gigabit Ethernet (copper) ports quantity	48
Basic switching RJ-45 Ethernet ports type	Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
Power source	AC
Input current	5 A
AC input voltage	100 - 240 V
Power consumption (typical)	60.9 W
Number of power supply units	1
Redundant power supply (RPS) support	Yes
Operating altitude	0 - 3000 m
Non-operating altitude	0 - 4000 m
Storage temperature (T-T)	-25 - 70 °C
Operating temperature (T-T)	-5 - 40 °C
Operating relative humidity (H-H)	10 - 95 %
Switching protocols	UDP, TCP, RADIUS/TACACS+
Number of VLANs	1023
Networking standards	IEEE 802.1ab, IEEE 802.1D, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1s, IEEE 802.1w, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3ad, IEEE 802.3ae, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3ah, IEEE 802.3at, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3z
Throughput	107.1 Mpps
Jumbo frames	9216
Number of queues	8
MAC address table	16000 entries
Number of static routes	1000
DHCP features	DHCP server
Authentication	MAC-based authentication, Port-based authentication
Security algorithms	802.1x RADIUS, SNMP, SSH
Access Control List (ACL) rules	3
Switch type	Managed
Switch layer	L2/L3
Safety	UL 60950-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1, EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, AS/NZS 60950-1
Form factor	1U
Product color	Black
Total Power over Ethernet (PoE) budget	370 W
Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports quantity	24
Power over Ethernet plus (PoE+) ports quantity	12
Memory type	DRAM
Noise level	39 dB
Flash memory	128 MB
Internal memory	512 MB
Processor frequency	600 MHz
Mean time between failures (MTBF)	276870 h

Weight and Dimensions

Depth	368 mm
Width	445 mm
Height	45 mm
Weight	5800 g