Managing AAA Settings

The AAA settings allow you to configure the method list and the sequence in which they are performed for AAA operations when a user tries to gain access to the device using Telnet or SSH. You can configure primary method lists and backup methods for each AAA service. You can use authentication alone or with authorization and accounting. Authorization always requires a user to be authenticated first. You can use accounting alone, or with authentication and authorization.

Complete the following steps to configure AAA settings.

  1. From the main menu, select Security > AAA Servers.
  2. Click the AAA Settings tab to configure server priority and privilege levels for authentication, authorization, and accounting.

    AAA Settings

  3. Under Login Authentication, configure the following settings:
    • SSH/Telnet Authentication: Enabled by default. The Telnet or SSH access request is authenticated based on the configured authentication method. You can set the authentication methods in a sequential order based on your preference. If authentication service is not available from the first method, the second method is used, and so on. The available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and Local Users.
      Note: Login authentication cannot be disabled from the web interface.
      • First Pref: Select the primary authentication method from the list.
      • Second Pref: Select a backup authentication method as the second choice of preference to perform authentication when the primary authentication fails.
      • Third Pref: Select a backup authentication method as the third choice of preference to perform authentication when the first two authentication methods fail.
    • WEB-SERVER Authentication: You can gain access to the network by opening a web browser and entering a valid URL address using HTTP or HTTPS services. The web access request is authenticated based on the configured authentication method. You can set the authentication methods in a sequential order based on your preference. If authentication service is not available from the first method, the second method is used, and so on. The available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and Local Users.
      Note: Login authentication cannot be disabled from the web interface.
      • First Pref: Select the primary authentication method from the list.
      • Second Pref: Select a backup authentication method as the second choice of preference to perform authentication when the primary authentication fails.
      • Third Pref: Select a backup authentication method as the third choice of preference to perform authentication when the first two authentication methods fail.
  4. Under Authorization, configure the following settings:
    • Command Authorization: If enabled, command authorization allows you to determine the management privilege level and the associated set of commands an authenticated user is authorized to use. You can set three method lists for authorization and the available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and None (which disables the authorization service, allowing all command access attempts to succeed).
      • Level: Select the privilege level (Port Config, Read Only, or Read Write) from the list.
      • Server 1: Select the primary method by which authorization should occur.
      • Server 2: Select the backup method by which authorization should occur.
      • Server 3: Select a backup method list as the third choice of preference to perform authorization.
    • Exec Authorization: If enabled, EXEC authorization allows you to control user privilege levels for authenticated users. You can set three method lists for authorization and the available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and None (which disables the authorization service, allowing all command access attempts to succeed).
      • Server 1: Select the primary authorization method.
      • Server 2: Select the backup method for authorization.
      • Server 3: Select a backup method list as the third choice of preference to perform authorization.
  5. Under Accounting, configure the following settings:
    • Command Accounting: If enabled, command accounting allows you to configure the device to perform AAA accounting for the commands available at the specified privilege level. You can set three method lists for accounting and the available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and None (which disables the accounting service).
      • Level: Select the privilege level (Port Config, Read Only, or Read Write) from the list.
      • Server 1: Select the primary method by which accounting should occur.
      • Server 2: Select the backup method by which accounting should occur.
      • Server 3: Select a backup method list as the third choice of preference to perform accounting.
    • Exec Accounting: If enabled, EXEC accounting allows you to record the user activity and system events. You can set three method lists for accounting and the available options are RADIUS, TACACS+, and None (which disables the accounting service).
      • Server 1: Select the primary accounting method.
      • Server 2: Select the backup method for accounting.
      • Server 3: Select a backup method list as the third choice of preference to perform accounting.
  6. Click Apply to save the AAA settings.
Parent topic: AAA Servers