How TACACS+ Differs from TACACS

TACACS is a simple UDP-based access control protocol originally developed by BBN for MILNET. TACACS+ is an enhancement to TACACS that uses TCP to ensure reliable delivery.

TACACS+ improves on TACACS by separating the functions of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) and by encrypting all traffic between the RUCKUS device and the TACACS+ server. TACACS+ allows for arbitrary length and content authentication exchanges, which means any authentication mechanism can be used with the RUCKUS device. TACACS+ is extensible to provide for site customization and future development features. The protocol allows the RUCKUS device to request very precise access control and allows the TACACS+ server to respond to each component of that request.

Note: TACACS+ provides for authentication, authorization, and accounting, and no special implementation or configuration is required to employ all three.
Parent topic: TACACS+ Security