5-2
TACACS+ Authentication
Terminology Used in TACACS Applications:
TACACS+ in the switches covered in this guide manages authentication of
logon attempts through either the Console port or Telnet. TACACS+ uses an
authentication hierarchy consisting of (1) remote passwords assigned in a
TACACS+ server and (2) local passwords configured on the switch. That is,
with TACACS+ configured, the switch first tries to contact a designated
TACACS+ server for authentication services. If the switch fails to connect to
any TACACS+ server, it defaults to its own locally assigned passwords for
authentication control if it has been configured to do so. For both Console
and Telnet access you can configure a login (read-only) and an enable (read/
write) privilege level access.
TACACS+ does not affect WebAgent access. See “Controlling WebAgent
Access” on page 5-28.
Terminology Used in TACACS
Applications:
■ NAS (Network Access Server): This is an industry term for a
TACACS-aware device that communicates with a TACACS server for
authentication services. Some other terms you may see in literature
describing TACACS operation are communication server, remote
access server, or terminal server. These terms apply to a switch when
TACACS+ is enabled on the switch (that is, when the switch is
TACACS-aware).
■ TACACS+ Server: The server or management station configured as
an access control server for TACACS-enabled devices. To use
TACACS+ with a switch covered in this guide and any other TACACS-
capable devices in your network, you must purchase, install, and
configure a TACACS+ server application on a networked server or
management station in the network. The TACACS+ server application
you install will provide various options for access control and access
notifications. For more on the TACACS+ services available to you,
see the documentation provided with the TACACS+ server applica-
tion you will use.
■ Authentication: The process for granting user access to a device
through entry of a user name and password and comparison of this
username/password pair with previously stored username/password
data. Authentication also grants levels of access, depending on the
privileges assigned to a user name and password pair by a system
administrator.
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