Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10 User Guide Release 10.5.0

802.1X

The IEEE 802.1X standard defines a client and server-based access control that prevents unauthorized clients from connecting to a LAN through publicly accessible ports. Authentication is only required in OS10 for inbound traffic. Outbound traffic transmits regardless of the authentication state.

802.1X employs the extensible authentication protocol (EAP) to provide device credentials to an authentication server, typically remote authentication dial-in service (RADIUS), using an intermediary network access device. The network access device mediates all communication between the end-user device and the authentication server so the network remains secure.

The network access device uses EAP-over-Ethernet, also known as EAPOL — EAP over LAN, to communicate with the end user device and EAP-over-RADIUS to communicate with the server.