Configuring Authentication

Authentication provides a method to identify users, which includes the login and password dialog, challenge and response, messaging support, and encryption, depending on the selected security protocol. Authentication is the way a user is identified prior to being allowed access to the network and network services.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table.

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Prerequisites for Configuring Authentication

The Cisco IOS XE implementation of authentication is divided into AAA Authentication and non-authentication methods. Cisco recommends that, whenever possible, AAA security services be used to implement authentication.

Restrictions for Configuring Authentication

  • The number of AAA method lists that can be configured is 250.

  • Web authentication is not supported on Cisco IOS XE software.

Information About Configuring Authentication

The following sections describe how AAA authentication is configured by defining a named list of authentication methods and then applying that list to various interfaces. This section also describes how AAA authentication is handled by using RADIUS Change in Authorization (CoA):

Named Method Lists for Authentication

To configure AAA authentication, you must first define a named list of authentication methods, and then apply that list to various interfaces. The method list defines the types of authentication to be performed and the sequence in which they will be performed; it must be applied to a specific interface before any of the defined authentication methods will be performed. The only exception is the default method list (which is named “default”). The default method list is automatically applied to all interfaces except those that have a named method list explicitly defined. A defined method list overrides the default method list.

A method list is a sequential list describing the authentication methods to be queried in order to authenticate a user. Method lists enable you to designate one or more security protocols to be used for authentication, thus ensuring a backup system for authentication in case the initial method fails. Cisco IOS XE software uses the first listed method to authenticate users. If that method fails to respond, the Cisco IOS XE software selects the next authentication method listed in the method list. This process continues until there is successful communication with a listed authentication method, or all methods defined in the method list are exhausted.

It is important to note that the Cisco IOS XE software attempts authentication with the next listed authentication method only when there is no response from the previous method. If authentication fails at any point in this cycle--meaning that the security server or local username database responds by denying the user access--the authentication process stops and no other authentication methods are attempted.


Note

The number of AAA method lists that can be configured is 250.


Method Lists and Server Groups

A server group is a way to group existing RADIUS or TACACS+ server hosts for use in method lists. The figure below shows a typical AAA network configuration that includes four security servers: R1 and R2 are RADIUS servers and T1 and T2 are TACACS+ servers. R1 and R2 make up the group of RADIUS servers. T1 and T2 make up the group of TACACS+ servers.

Figure 1. Typical AAA Network Configuration

Typical AAA Network Configuration

Using server groups, you can specify a subset of the configured server hosts and use them for a particular service. For example, server groups allow you to define R1 and R2 as a server group, and define T1 and T2 as a separate server group. For example, you can specify R1 and T1 in the method list for authentication login, while specifying R2 and T2 in the method list for PPP authentication.

Server groups also can include multiple host entries for the same server, as long as each entry has a unique identifier. The combination of an IP address and a UDP port number creates a unique identifier, allowing different ports to be individually defined as RADIUS hosts providing a specific AAA service. In other words, this unique identifier enables RADIUS requests to be sent to different UDP ports on a server at the same IP address. If two different host entries on the same RADIUS server are configured for the same service--for example, authentication--the second host entry configured acts as failover backup to the first one. Using this example, if the first host entry fails to provide accounting services, the network access server will try the second host entry configured on the same device for accounting services. (The RADIUS host entries will be tried in the order in which they are configured.)

For more information about configuring server groups and about configuring server groups based on Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) numbers, refer to the “Configuring RADIUS” or “Configuring TACACS+” chapter.

Method List Examples

Suppose the system administrator has decided on a security solution where all interfaces will use the same authentication methods to authenticate PPP connections. In the RADIUS group, R1 is contacted first for authentication information, then if there is no response, R2 is contacted. If R2 does not respond, T1 in the TACACS+ group is contacted; if T1 does not respond, T2 is contacted. If all designated servers fail to respond, authentication falls to the local username database on the access server itself. To implement this solution, the system administrator would create a default method list by entering the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default group radius group tacacs+ local 

In this example, “default” is the name of the method list. The protocols included in this method list are listed after the name, in the order they are to be queried. The default list is automatically applied to all interfaces.

When a remote user attempts to dial in to the network, the network access server first queries R1 for authentication information. If R1 authenticates the user, it issues a PASS response to the network access server and the user is allowed to access the network. If R1 returns a FAIL response, the user is denied access and the session is terminated. If R1 does not respond, then the network access server processes that as an ERROR and queries R2 for authentication information. This pattern would continue through the remaining designated methods until the user is either authenticated or rejected, or until the session is terminated.

It is important to remember that a FAIL response is significantly different from an ERROR. A FAIL means that the user has not met the criteria contained in the applicable authentication database to be successfully authenticated. Authentication ends with a FAIL response. An ERROR means that the security server has not responded to an authentication query. Because of this, no authentication has been attempted. Only when an ERROR is detected will AAA select the next authentication method defined in the authentication method list.

Suppose the system administrator wants to apply a method list only to a particular interface or set of interfaces. In this case, the system administrator creates a named method list and then applies this named list to the applicable interfaces. The following example shows how the system administrator can implement an authentication method that will be applied only to interface 3:


aaa authentication ppp default group radius group tacacs+ local
aaa authentication ppp apple group radius group tacacs+ local none
 interface async 3
 ppp authentication chap apple

In this example, “apple” is the name of the method list, and the protocols included in this method list are listed after the name in the order in which they are to be performed. After the method list has been created, it is applied to the appropriate interface. Note that the method list name (apple) in both the AAA and PPP authentication commands must match.

In the following example, the system administrator uses server groups to specify that only R2 and T2 are valid servers for PPP authentication. To do this, the administrator must define specific server groups whose members are R2 (172.16.2.7) and T2 (172.16.2.77), respectively. In this example, the RADIUS server group “rad2only” is defined as follows using the aaa group server command:


aaa group server radius rad2only
 server 172.16.2.7

The TACACS+ server group “tac2only” is defined as follows using the aaa group server command:


aaa group server tacacs+ tac2only
 server 172.16.2.77

The administrator then applies PPP authentication using the server groups. In this example, the default methods list for PPP authentication follows this order: group rad2only , group tac2only , and local :


aaa authentication ppp default group rad2only group tac2only local

About RADIUS Change of Authorization

A standard RADIUS interface is typically used in a pulled model, in which the request originates from a device attached to a network and the response is sent from the queried servers. The Cisco software supports the RADIUS CoA request defined in RFC 5176 that is used in a pushed model, in which the request originates from the external server to the device attached to the network, and enables the dynamic reconfiguring of sessions from external authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) or policy servers.

Use the following per-session CoA requests:

  • Session reauthentication

  • Session termination

  • Session termination with port shutdown

  • Session termination with port bounce

  • Security and Password

  • Accounting

CoA Requests

CoA requests, as described in RFC 5176, are used in a pushed model to allow for session identification, host reauthentication, and session termination. The model comprises one request (CoA-Request) and two possible response codes:

  • CoA acknowledgment (ACK) [CoA-ACK]

  • CoA non-acknowledgment (NAK) [CoA-NAK]

The request is initiated from a CoA client (typically a RADIUS or policy server) and directed to the device that acts as a listener.

RFC 5176 Compliance

The Disconnect Request message, which is also referred to as Packet of Disconnect (POD), is supported by the device for a session termination.

The following table shows the IETF attributes that are supported for the RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) feature.

Table 1. Supported IETF Attributes

Attribute Number

Attribute Name

24

State

31

Calling-Station-ID

44

Acct-Session-ID

80

Message-Authenticator

101

Error-Cause

The following table shows the possible values for the Error-Cause attribute.

Table 2. Error-Cause Values

Value

Explanation

201

Residual Session Context Removed

202

Invalid EAP Packet (Ignored)

401

Unsupported Attribute

402

Missing Attribute

403

NAS Identification Mismatch

404

Invalid Request

405

Unsupported Service

406

Unsupported Extension

407

Invalid Attribute Value

501

Administratively Prohibited

502

Request Not Routable (Proxy)

503

Session Context Not Found

504

Session Context Not Removable

505

Other Proxy Processing Error

506

Resources Unavailable

507

Request Initiated

508

Multiple Session Selection Unsupported

CoA Request Response Code

The CoA Request Response code can be used to issue a command to the device. The supported commands are listed in the “CoA Request Commands” section.

The packet format for a CoA Request Response code as defined in RFC 5176 consists of the following fields: Code, Identifier, Length, Authenticator, and Attributes in the Type:Length:Value (TLV) format.

The Attributes field is used to carry Cisco VSAs.

Session Identification

For disconnect and CoA requests targeted at a particular session, the device locates the session based on one or more of the following attributes:

  • Acct-Session-Id (IETF attribute #44)

  • Audit-Session-Id (Cisco vendor-specific attribute (VSA))

  • Calling-Station-Id (IETF attribute #31, which contains the host MAC address)

Unless all session identification attributes included in the CoA message match the session, the device returns a Disconnect-NAK or CoA-NAK with the “Invalid Attribute Value” error-code attribute.


Note

A CoA NAK message is not sent for all CoA requests with a key mismatch. The message is sent only for the first three requests for a client. After that, all the packets from that client are dropped. When there is a key mismatch, the response authenticator sent with the CoA NAK message is calculated from a dummy key value.


CoA ACK Response Code

If an authorization state is changed successfully, a positive acknowledgment (ACK) is sent. The attributes returned within a CoA ACK can vary based on the CoA Request.

CoA NAK Response Code

A negative acknowledgment (NAK) indicates a failure to change the authorization state and can include attributes that indicate the reason for the failure.

CoA Request Commands

The commands supported on the device are shown in the table below. All CoA commands must include the session identifier between the device and the CoA client.

Table 3. CoA Request Commands Supported on the Device

Command

Cisco VSA

Bounce host port

Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=bounce-host-port”

Disable host port

Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=disable-host-port”

Reauthenticate host

Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=reauthenticate”

Terminate session

This is a standard disconnect request that does not require a VSA

Session Reauthentication

To initiate session reauthentication, the authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server sends a standard CoA-Request message that contains a Cisco VSA and one or more session identification attributes. The Cisco VSA is in the form of Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=reauthenticate”.

The current session state determines the device’s response to the message in the following scenarios:

  • If the session is currently authenticated by IEEE 802.1x, the device responds by sending an Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN (EAPoL)-RequestId message to the server.

  • If the session is currently authenticated by MAC authentication bypass (MAB), the device sends an access request to the server, passing the same identity attributes used for the initial successful authentication.

  • If session authentication is in progress when the device receives the command, the device terminates the process and restarts the authentication sequence, starting with the method configured to be attempted first.

Session Termination

A CoA Disconnect-Request terminates the session without disabling the host port. CoA Disconnect-Request termination causes reinitialization of the authenticator state machine for the specified host, but does not restrict the host’s access to the network. If the session cannot be located, the device returns a Disconnect-NAK message with the “Session Context Not Found” error-code attribute. If the session is located, the device terminates the session. After the session has been completely removed, the device returns a Disconnect-ACK message.

To restrict a host’s access to the network, use a CoA Request with the Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=disable-host-port” VSA. This command is useful when a host is known to cause problems on the network and network access needs to be immediately blocked for the host. If you want to restore network access on the port, reenable it using a non-RADIUS mechanism.

CoA Request Disable Host Port

The RADIUS server CoA disable port command administratively shuts down the authentication port that is hosting a session, resulting in session termination. This command is useful when a host is known to cause problems on the network and network access needs to be immediately blocked for the host. If you want to restore network access on the port, reenable it using a non-RADIUS mechanism. This command is carried in a standard CoA-Request message that has the following VSA:

Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=disable-host-port”

Because this command is session-oriented, it must be accompanied by one or more of the session identification attributes described in the “Session Identification” section. If the device cannot locate the session, it returns a CoA-NAK message with the “Session Context Not Found” error-code attribute. If the device locates the session, it disables the hosting port and returns a CoA-ACK message.

If the device fails before returning a CoA-ACK to the client, the process is repeated on the new active device when the request is re-sent from the client. If the device fails after returning a CoA-ACK message to the client but before the operation is complete, the operation is restarted on the new active device.

To ignore the RADIUS server CoA disable port command, see the “Configuring the Device to Ignore Bounce and Disable RADIUS CoA Requests” section.

CoA Request Bounce Port

A RADIUS server CoA bounce port sent from a RADIUS server can cause a link flap on an authentication port, which triggers DHCP renegotiation from one or more hosts connected to this port. This incident can occur when there is a VLAN change and the endpoint is a device (such as a printer) that does not have a mechanism to detect a change on this authentication port. The CoA bounce port is carried in a standard CoA-Request message that contains the following VSA:

Cisco:Avpair=“subscriber:command=bounce-host-port”

Because this command is session-oriented, it must be accompanied by one or more of the session identification attributes described in the Session Identification. If the session cannot be located, the device returns a CoA-NAK message with the “Session Context Not Found” error-code attribute. If the session is located, the device disables the hosting port for a period of 10 seconds, reenables it (port-bounce), and returns a CoA-ACK.

To ignore the RADIUS server CoA bounce port, see the “Configuring the Device to Ignore Bounce and Disable RADIUS CoA Requests” section.

Domain Stripping

You can remove the domain name from the username received at the global level by using the radius-server domain-stripping command. When the radius-server domain-stripping command is configured, all the AAA requests with “user@example.com” go to the remote RADIUS server with the reformatted username “user.” The domain name is removed from the request.

Note

Domain stripping will not be done in a TACACS configuration.


The AAA Broadcast Accounting feature allows accounting information to be sent to multiple AAA servers at the same time, that is, accounting information can be broadcast to one or more AAA servers simultaneously. This functionality allows you to send accounting information to private and public AAA servers. It also provides redundant billing information for voice applications.

The Domain Stripping feature allows domain stripping to be configured at the server group level.

Per-server group configuration overrides the global configuration. If domain stripping is not enabled globally, but it is enabled in a server group, then it is enabled only for that server group. Also, if virtual routing and forwarding (VRF)-specific domain stripping is configured globally and in a server group for a different VRF, domain stripping is enabled in both the VRFs. VRF configurations are taken from server-group configuration mode. If server-group configurations are disabled in global configuration mode but are available in server-group configuration mode, all configurations in server-group configuration mode are applicable.

After the domain stripping and broadcast accounting are configured, you can create separate accounting records as per the configurations.

How to Configure AAA Authentication Methods


Note

AAA features are not available until you enable AAA globally using the aaa new-model command.


For authentication configuration examples using the commands in this chapter, refer to the Authentication Examples.

Configuring Login Authentication Using AAA

The AAA security services facilitate a variety of login authentication methods. Use the aaa authentication login command to enable AAA authentication no matter which of the supported login authentication methods you decide to use. With the aaa authentication login command, you create one or more lists of authentication methods that are tried at login. These lists are applied using the login authentication line configuration command.

To configure login authentication by using AAA, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Router(config)# aaa authentication login {default | list-name } method1 [method2 ...]
  3. Router(config)# line [aux | console | tty | vty ] line-number [ending-line-number ]
  4. Router(config-line)# login authentication

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA globally.

Step 2

Router(config)# aaa authentication login {default | list-name } method1 [method2 ...]

Creates a local authentication list.

Step 3

Router(config)# line [aux | console | tty | vty ] line-number [ending-line-number ]

Enters line configuration mode for the lines to which you want to apply the authentication list.

Step 4

Router(config-line)# login authentication

Example:


{default   | list-name } 

Applies the authentication list to a line or set of lines.

What to do next

The list-name is a character string used to name the list you are creating. The method argument refers to the actual method the authentication algorithm tries. The additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all methods return an error, specify none as the final method in the command line.

For example, to specify that authentication should succeed even if (in this example) the TACACS+ server returns an error, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default group tacacs+ none

Note

Because the none keyword enables any user logging in to successfully authenticate, it should be used only as a backup method of authentication.


To create a default list that is used when a named list is not specified in the login authentication command, use the default keyword followed by the methods that are to be used in default situations. The default method list is automatically applied to all interfaces.

For example, to specify RADIUS as the default method for user authentication during login, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default group radius

The table below lists the supported login authentication methods.

Table 4. AAA Authentication Login Methods

Keyword

Description

enable

Uses the enable password for authentication.

krb5

Uses Kerberos 5 for authentication.

krb5-telnet

Uses Kerberos 5 Telnet authentication protocol when using Telnet to connect to the router. If selected, this keyword must be listed as the first method in the method list.

line

Uses the line password for authentication.

local

Uses the local username database for authentication.

local-case

Uses case-sensitive local username authentication.

none

Uses no authentication.

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS servers for authentication.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ servers for authentication.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for authentication as defined by the aaa group server radius or aaa group server tacacs+ command.


Note

The login command only changes username and privilege level but does not execute a shell; therefore autocommands will not be executed. To execute autocommands under this circumstance, you need to establish a Telnet session back into the router (loop-back). Make sure that the router has been configured for secure Telnet sessions if you choose to implement autocommands this way.


Login Authentication Using Enable Password

Use the aaa authentication login command with the enable method keyword to specify the enable password as the login authentication method. For example, to specify the enable password as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default enable

Before you can use the enable password as the login authentication method, you need to define the enable password. For more information about defining enable passwords, refer to the chapter “Configuring Passwords and Privileges.”

Login Authentication Using Kerberos

Authentication via Kerberos is different from most other authentication methods: the user’s password is never sent to the remote access server. Remote users logging in to the network are prompted for a username. If the key distribution center (KDC) has an entry for that user, it creates an encrypted ticket granting ticket (TGT) with the password for that user and sends it back to the router. The user is then prompted for a password, and the router attempts to decrypt the TGT with that password. If it succeeds, the user is authenticated and the TGT is stored in the user’s credential cache on the router.

While krb5 does use the KINIT program, a user does not need to run the KINIT program to get a TGT to authenticate to the router. This is because KINIT has been integrated into the login procedure in the Cisco IOS XE implementation of Kerberos.

Use the aaa authentication login command with the krb5 method keyword to specify Kerberos as the login authentication method. For example, to specify Kerberos as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default krb5

Before you can use Kerberos as the login authentication method, you need to enable communication with the Kerberos security server. For more information about establishing communication with a Kerberos server, refer to the chapter “Configuring Kerberos.”

Login Authentication Using Line Password

Use the aaa authentication login command with the line method keyword to specify the line password as the login authentication method. For example, to specify the line password as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default line

Before you can use a line password as the login authentication method, you need to define a line password. For more information about defining line passwords, refer to the Configuring Line Password Protection.

Login Authentication Using Local Password

Use the aaa authentication login command with the local method keyword to specify that the Cisco router or access server will use the local username database for authentication. For example, to specify the local username database as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default local

For information about adding users into the local username database, refer to the Establishing Username Authentication.

Login Authentication Using Group RADIUS

Use the aaa authentication login command with the group radius method to specify RADIUS as the login authentication method. For example, to specify RADIUS as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default group radius

Before you can use RADIUS as the login authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.”

Configuring RADIUS Attribute 8 in Access Requests

After you have used the aaa authentication login command to specify RADIUS and your login host has been configured to request its IP address from the NAS, you can send attribute 8 (Framed-IP-Address) in access-request packets by using the radius-server attribute 8 include-in-access-req command in global configuration mode. This command makes it possible for NAS to provide the RADIUS server a hint of the user IP address in advance for user authentication. For more information about attribute 8, refer to the appendix “RADIUS Attributes” at the end of the book.

Login Authentication Using Group TACACS

Use the aaa authentication login command with the group tacacs+ method to specify TACACS+ as the login authentication method. For example, to specify TACACS+ as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default group tacacs+

Before you can use TACACS+ as the login authentication method, you need to enable communication with the TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

Login Authentication Using group group-name

Use the aaa authentication login command with the group group-name method to specify a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers to use as the login authentication method. To specify and define the group name and the members of the group, use the aaa group server command. For example, use the aaa group server command to first define the members of group loginrad :


aaa group server radius loginrad
 server 172.16.2.3
 server 172.16.2 17
 server 172.16.2.32

This command specifies RADIUS servers 172.16.2.3, 172.16.2.17, and 172.16.2.32 as members of the group loginrad .

To specify group loginrad as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication login default group loginrad

Before you can use a group name as the login authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS or TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.” For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

Configuring PPP Authentication Using AAA

Many users access network access servers through dialup via async or ISDN. Dialup via async or ISDN bypasses the CLI completely; instead, a network protocol (such as PPP or ARA) starts as soon as the connection is established.

The AAA security services facilitate a variety of authentication methods for use on serial interfaces running PPP. Use the aaa authentication ppp command to enable AAA authentication no matter which of the supported PPP authentication methods you decide to use.

To configure AAA authentication methods for serial lines using PPP, use the following commands in global configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Router(config)# aaa authentication ppp {default | list-name } method1 [method2... ]
  3. Router(config)# interface interface-type interface-number
  4. Router(config-if)# ppp authentication {protocol1 [protocol2... ]} [if-needed ] {default | list-name } [callin ] [one-time ][optional ]

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA globally.

Step 2

Router(config)# aaa authentication ppp {default | list-name } method1 [method2... ]

Creates a local authentication list.

Step 3

Router(config)# interface interface-type interface-number

Enters interface configuration mode for the interface to which you want to apply the authentication list.

Step 4

Router(config-if)# ppp authentication {protocol1 [protocol2... ]} [if-needed ] {default | list-name } [callin ] [one-time ][optional ]

Applies the authentication list to a line or set of lines. In this command, protocol1 and protocol2 represent the following protocols: CHAP, MS-CHAP, and PAP. PPP authentication is attempted first using the first authentication method, specified by protocol1 . If protocol1 is unable to establish authentication, the next configured protocol is used to negotiate authentication.

What to do next

With the aaa authentication ppp command, you create one or more lists of authentication methods that are tried when a user tries to authenticate via PPP. These lists are applied using the ppp authentication line configuration command.

To create a default list that is used when a named list is not specified in the ppp authentication command, use the default keyword followed by the methods you want used in default situations.

For example, to specify the local username database as the default method for user authentication, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default local

The list-name is any character string used to name the list you are creating. The method argument refers to the actual method the authentication algorithm tries. The additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all methods return an error, specify none as the final method in the command line.

For example, to specify that authentication should succeed even if (in this example) the TACACS+ server returns an error, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default group tacacs+ none

Note

Because none allows all users logging in to authenticate successfully, it should be used as a backup method of authentication.


The table below lists the supported login authentication methods.

Table 5. AAA Authentication PPP Methods

Keyword

Description

if-needed

Does not authenticate if user has already been authenticated on a TTY line.

krb5

Uses Kerberos 5 for authentication (can only be used for PAP authentication).

local

Uses the local username database for authentication.

local-case

Uses case-sensitive local username authentication.

none

Uses no authentication.

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS servers for authentication.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ servers for authentication.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for authentication as defined by the aaa group server radius or aaa group server tacacs+ command.

PPP Authentication Using Kerberos

Use the aaa authentication ppp command with the krb5 method keyword to specify Kerberos as the authentication method for use on interfaces running PPP. For example, to specify Kerberos as the method of user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default krb5

Before you can use Kerberos as the PPP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the Kerberos security server. For more information about establishing communication with a Kerberos server, refer to the chapter “Configuring Kerberos”.


Note

Kerberos login authentication works only with PPP PAP authentication.


PPP Authentication Using Local Password

Use the aaa authentication ppp command with the method keyword local to specify that the Cisco router or access server will use the local username database for authentication. For example, to specify the local username database as the method of authentication for use on lines running PPP when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default local

For information about adding users into the local username database, refer to the Establishing Username Authentication.

PPP Authentication Using Group RADIUS

Use the aaa authentication ppp command with the group radius method to specify RADIUS as the login authentication method. For example, to specify RADIUS as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default group radius

Before you can use RADIUS as the PPP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.”

Configuring RADIUS Attribute 44 in Access Requests

After you have used the aaa authentication ppp command with the group radius method to specify RADIUS as the login authentication method, you can configure your device to send attribute 44 (Acct-Session-ID) in access-request packets by using the radius-server attribute 44 include-in-access-req command in global configuration mode. This command allows the RADIUS daemon to track a call from the beginning to the end.

PPP Authentication Using Group TACACS

Use the aaa authentication ppp command with the group tacacs+ method to specify TACACS+ as the login authentication method. For example, to specify TACACS+ as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default group tacacs+

Before you can use TACACS+ as the PPP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

PPP Authentication Using group group-name

Use the aaa authentication ppp command with the group group-name method to specify a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers to use as the login authentication method. To specify and define the group name and the members of the group, use the aaa group server command. For example, use the aaa group server command to first define the members of group ppprad :


aaa group server radius ppprad
 server 172.16.2.3
 server 172.16.2 17
 server 172.16.2.32

This command specifies RADIUS servers 172.16.2.3, 172.16.2.17, and 172.16.2.32 as members of the group ppprad .

To specify group ppprad as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default group ppprad

Before you can use a group name as the PPP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS or TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS”. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

Configuring AAA Scalability for PPP Requests

You can configure and monitor the number of background processes allocated by the PPP manager in the network access server (NAS) to deal with AAA authentication and authorization requests. The AAA Scalability feature enables you to configure the number of processes used to handle AAA requests for PPP, thus increasing the number of users that can be simultaneously authenticated or authorized.

To allocate a specific number of background processes to handle AAA requests for PPP, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config)# aaa  processes   number

Allocates a specific number of background processes to handle AAA authentication and authorization requests for PPP.

The argument number defines the number of background processes earmarked to process AAA authentication and authorization requests for PPP and can be configured for any value from 1 to 2147483647. Because of the way the PPP manager handles requests for PPP, this argument also defines the number of new users that can be simultaneously authenticated. This argument can be increased or decreased at any time.


Note

Allocating additional background processes can be expensive. You should configure the minimum number of background processes capable of handling the AAA requests for PPP.


Configuring ARAP Authentication Using AAA

Using the aaa authentication arap command, you can create one or more lists of authentication methods that are tried when AppleTalk Remote Access Protocol (ARAP) users attempt to log in to the device. These lists are used with the arap authentication line configuration command.

Use the following commands starting in global configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Device(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Device(config)# aaa authentication arap
  3. Device(config)# line number
  4. Device(config-line)# autoselect arap
  5. Device(config-line)# autoselect during-login
  6. Device(config-line)# arap authentication list-name
  7. Device(config-line)# end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Device(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA globally.

Step 2

Device(config)# aaa authentication arap

Example:

Enables authentication for ARAP users.

Step 3

Device(config)# line number

(Optional) Changes to line configuration mode.

Step 4

Device(config-line)# autoselect arap

(Optional) Enables autoselection of ARAP.

Step 5

Device(config-line)# autoselect during-login

(Optional) Starts the ARAP session automatically at user login.

Step 6

Device(config-line)# arap authentication list-name

(Optional—not needed if default is used in the aaa authentication arap command) Enables TACACS+ authentication for ARAP on a line.

Step 7

Device(config-line)# end

Returns to the privileged EXEC mode.

What to do next

The list-name is any character string used to name the list you are creating. The method argument refers to the actual list of methods the authentication algorithm tries, in the sequence entered.

To create a default list that is used when a named list is not specified in the arap authentication command, use the default keyword followed by the methods you want to use in default situations.

The additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all methods return an error, specify none as the final method in the command line.


Note

Because none allows all users logging in to be authenticated, it should be used as a backup method of authentication.


The following table lists the supported login authentication methods.

Table 6. AAA Authentication ARAP Methods

Keyword

Description

auth-guest

Allows guest logins only if the user has already logged in to EXEC mode.

guest

Allows guest logins.

line

Uses the line password for authentication.

local

Uses the local username database for authentication.

local-case

Uses case-sensitive local username authentication.

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS servers for authentication.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ servers for authentication.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for authentication as defined by the aaa group server radius or aaa group server tacacs+ command.

For example, to create a default AAA authentication method list used with ARAP, use the following command:


aaa authentication arap default if-needed none

To create the same authentication method list for ARAP and name the list MIS-access, use the following command:


aaa authentication arap MIS-access if-needed none

This section includes the following sections:

ARAP Authentication Allowing Authorized Guest Logins

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the auth-guest keyword to allow guest logins only if the user has already successfully logged in to the EXEC. This method must be the first listed in the ARAP authentication method list but it can be followed by other methods if it does not succeed. For example, to allow all authorized guest logins--meaning logins by users who have already successfully logged in to the EXEC--as the default method of authentication, using RADIUS only if that method fails, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default auth-guest group radius

Note

By default, guest logins through ARAP are disabled when you initialize AAA. To allow guest logins, you must use the aaa authentication arap command with either the guest or the auth-guest keyword.


ARAP Authentication Allowing Guest Logins

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the guest keyword to allow guest logins. This method must be the first listed in the ARAP authentication method list but it can be followed by other methods if it does not succeed. For example, to allow all guest logins as the default method of authentication, using RADIUS only if that method fails, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default guest group radius

ARAP Authentication Using Line Password

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the method keyword line to specify the line password as the authentication method. For example, to specify the line password as the method of ARAP user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default line

Before you can use a line password as the ARAP authentication method, you need to define a line password. For more information about defining line passwords, refer to the section Configuring Line Password Protection in this chapter.

ARAP Authentication Using Local Password

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the method keyword local to specify that the Cisco router or access server will use the local username database for authentication. For example, to specify the local username database as the method of ARAP user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default local

For information about adding users to the local username database, refer to the Establishing Username Authentication.

ARAP Authentication Using Group RADIUS

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the group radius method to specify RADIUS as the ARAP authentication method. For example, to specify RADIUS as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default group radius

Before you can use RADIUS as the ARAP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.”

ARAP Authentication Using Group TACACS

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the group tacacs+ method to specify TACACS+ as the ARAP authentication method. For example, to specify TACACS+ as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default group tacacs+

Before you can use TACACS+ as the ARAP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

ARAP Authentication Using Group group-name

Use the aaa authentication arap command with the group group-name method to specify a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers to use as the ARAP authentication method. To specify and define the group name and the members of the group, use the aaa group server command. For example, use the aaa group server command to first define the members of group araprad :


aaa group server radius araprad
 server 172.16.2.3
 server 172.16.2 17
 server 172.16.2.32

This command specifies RADIUS servers 172.16.2.3, 172.16.2.17, and 172.16.2.32 as members of the group araprad .

To specify group araprad as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication arap default group araprad

Before you can use a group name as the ARAP authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS or TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.” For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

Configuring NASI Authentication Using AAA

Using the aaa authentication nasi command, you can create one or more lists of authentication methods that are tried when NetWare Asynchronous Services Interface (NASI) users attempt to log in to the device. These lists are used with the nasi authentication line configuration command.

To configure NASI authentication using AAA, use the following commands starting in global configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Device(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Device(config)# aaa authentication nasi
  3. Device(config)# line number
  4. Device(config-line)# nasi authentication list-name
  5. Device(config-line)# end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Device(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA globally.

Step 2

Device(config)# aaa authentication nasi

Example:

Enables authentication for NASI users.

Step 3

Device(config)# line number

(Optional--not needed if default is used in the aaa authentication nasi command) Enters line configuration mode.

Step 4

Device(config-line)# nasi authentication list-name

(Optional--not needed if default is used in the aaa authentication nasi command) Enables authentication for NASI on a line.

Step 5

Device(config-line)# end

Returns to the privileged EXEC mode.

What to do next

The list-name is any character string used to name the list you are creating. The method argument refers to the actual list of methods that the authentication algorithm tries, in the sequence entered.

To create a default list that is used when a named list is not specified in the aaa authentication nasi command, use the default keyword followed by the methods you want to use in default situations.

The additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all methods return an error, specify none as the final method in the command line.


Note

Because none allows all users logging in to be authenticated, it should be used as a backup method of authentication.


The table below lists the supported NASI authentication methods.

Table 7. AAA Authentication NASI Methods

Keyword

Description

enable

Uses the enable password for authentication.

line

Uses the line password for authentication.

local

Uses the local username database for authentication.

local-case

Uses case-sensitive local username authentication.

none

Uses no authentication.

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS servers for authentication.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ servers for authentication.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for authentication as defined by the aaa group server radius or aaa group server tacacs+ command.

NASI Authentication Using Enable Password

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the keyword enable to specify the enable password as the authentication method. For example, to specify the enable password as the method of NASI user authentication when no other method list has been defined, use the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default enable

Before you can use the enable password as the authentication method, you need to define the enable password. For more information about defining enable passwords, refer to the chapter “Configuring Passwords and Privileges.”

NASI Authentication Using Line Password

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the method keyword line to specify the line password as the authentication method. For example, to specify the line password as the method of NASI user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default line

Before you can use a line password as the NASI authentication method, you need to define a line password. For more information about defining line passwords, refer to the Configuring Line Password Protection.

NASI Authentication Using Local Password

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the method keyword local to specify that the Cisco router or access server will use the local username database for authentication information. For example, to specify the local username database as the method of NASI user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default local

For information about adding users to the local username database, refer to the Establishing Username Authentication.

NASI Authentication Using Group RADIUS

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the group radius method to specify RADIUS as the NASI authentication method. For example, to specify RADIUS as the method of NASI user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default group radius

Before you can use RADIUS as the NASI authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS.”

NASI Authentication Using Group TACACS

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the group tacacs+ method keyword to specify TACACS+ as the NASI authentication method. For example, to specify TACACS+ as the method of NASI user authentication when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default group tacacs+

Before you can use TACACS+ as the authentication method, you need to enable communication with the TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

NASI Authentication Using group group-name

Use the aaa authentication nasi command with the group group-name method to specify a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers to use as the NASI authentication method. To specify and define the group name and the members of the group, use the aaa group server command. For example, use the aaa group server command to first define the members of group nasirad :


aaa group server radius nasirad
 server 172.16.2.3
 server 172.16.2 17
 server 172.16.2.32

This command specifies RADIUS servers 172.16.2.3, 172.16.2.17, and 172.16.2.32 as members of the group nasirad .

To specify group nasirad as the method of user authentication at login when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:


aaa authentication nasi default group nasirad

Before you can use a group name as the NASI authentication method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS or TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS”. For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

Specifying the Amount of Time for Login Input

The timeout login response command allows you to specify how long the system will wait for login input (such as username and password) before timing out. The default login value is 30 seconds; with the timeout login response command, you can specify a timeout value from 1 to 300 seconds. To change the login timeout value from the default of 30 seconds, use the following command in line configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-line)# timeout  login  response   seconds 

Specifies how long the system will wait for login information before timing out.

Enabling Password Protection at the Privileged Level

Use the aaa authentication enable default command to create a series of authentication methods that are used to determine whether a user can access the privileged EXEC command level. You can specify up to four authentication methods. The additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all methods return an error, specify none as the final method in the command line.

Use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config)# aaa  authentication  enable  default   method1  [method2... ]

Enables user ID and password checking for users requesting privileged EXEC level.

Note 

All aaa authentication enable default requests sent by the router to a RADIUS server include the username “$enab15$.” Requests sent to a TACACS+ server will include the username that is entered for login authentication.

The method argument refers to the actual list of methods the authentication algorithm tries, in the sequence entered. the table below lists the supported enable authentication methods.

Table 8. AAA Authentication Enable Default Methods

Keyword

Description

enable

Uses the enable password for authentication.

line

Uses the line password for authentication.

none

Uses no authentication.

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS hosts for authentication.

Note 

The RADIUS method does not work on a per-username basis.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ hosts for authentication.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for authentication as defined by the aaa group server radius or aaa group server tacacs+ command.

Changing the Text Displayed at the Password Prompt

Use the aaa authentication password-prompt command to change the default text that the Cisco IOS XE software displays when prompting a user to enter a password. This command changes the password prompt for the enable password as well as for login passwords that are not supplied by remote security servers. The no form of this command returns the password prompt to the following default value:


Password:

The aaa authentication password-prompt command does not change any dialog that is supplied by a remote TACACS+ or RADIUS server.

The aaa authentication password-prompt command works when RADIUS is used as the login method. You will be able to see the password prompt defined in the command shown even when the RADIUS server is unreachable. The aaa authentication password-prompt command does not work with TACACS+. TACACS+ supplies the NAS with the password prompt to display to the users. If the TACACS+ server is reachable, the NAS gets the password prompt from the server and uses that prompt instead of the one defined in the aaa authentication password-prompt command. If the TACACS+ server is not reachable, the password prompt defined in the aaa authentication password-prompt command may be used.

Use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config)# aaa  authentication  password-prompt   text-string 

Changes the default text displayed when a user is prompted to enter a password.

Preventing an Access Request with a Blank Username from Being Sent to the RADIUS Server

The following configuration steps provide the ability to prevent an Access Request with a blank username from being sent to the RADIUS server. This functionality ensures that unnecessary RADIUS server interaction is avoided, and RADIUS logs are kept short.


Note

The aaa authentication suppress null-username command is available beginning in Cisco IOS XE Release 2.4.


SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. aaa new-model
  4. aaa authentication suppress null-username

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Router# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

aaa new-model

Example:


Router(config)# configure terminal

Enables AAA globally.

Step 4

aaa authentication suppress null-username

Example:


Router(config)# aaa authentication suppress null-username

Prevents an Access Request with a blank username from being sent to the RADIUS server.

Configuring Message Banners for AAA Authentication

AAA supports the use of configurable, personalized login and failed-login banners. You can configure message banners that will be displayed when a user logs in to the system to be authenticated using AAA and when, for whatever reason, authentication fails.

Configuring a Login Banner

To configure a banner that is displayed when a user logs in (replacing the default message for login), perform the following task:

Before you begin

To create a login banner, you must configure a delimiting character that notifies the system that the following text string must be displayed as the banner, and then the text string itself. The delimiting character is repeated at the end of the text string to signify the end of the banner. The delimiting character can be any single character in the extended ASCII character set, but once defined as the delimiter, that character cannot be used in the text string for the banner.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. aaa new-model Device(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Device(config)# aaa authentication banner delimiter string delimiter
  3. Device(config)# end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

aaa new-model Device(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA.

Step 2

Device(config)# aaa authentication banner delimiter string delimiter

Creates a personalized login banner.

Step 3

Device(config)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

What to do next

After you have configured a login banner, you must complete basic authentication configuration using AAA if you have not already done so. For information about the different types of AAA authentication available, please refer to “Configuring Authentication” in the Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Configuration Guide.

Configuring a Failed-Login Banner

To configure a message that is displayed when a user login fails (replacing the default message for failed login), perform the following task:

Before you begin

To create a failed-login banner, you must configure a delimiting character, which notifies the system that the following text string must be displayed as the banner, and then configure the text string itself. The delimiting character is repeated at the end of the text string to signify the end of the failed-login banner. The delimiting character can be any single character in the extended ASCII character set, but once defined as the delimiter, that character cannot be used in the text string making up the banner.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Device(config)# aaa new-model
  2. Device(config)# aaa authentication fail-message delimiter string delimiter
  3. Device(config)# end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Device(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA.

Step 2

Device(config)# aaa authentication fail-message delimiter string delimiter

Creates a message to be displayed when a user login fails.

Step 3

Device(config)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

What to do next

After you have configured a failed-login banner, you must complete basic authentication configuration using AAA if you have not already done so. For information about the different types of AAA authentication available, please refer to “Configuring Authentication” in the Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Configuration Guide.

Configuring AAA Packet of Disconnect

Packet of disconnect (POD) terminates connections on the network access server (NAS) when particular session attributes are identified. By using session information obtained from AAA, the POD client residing on a UNIX workstation sends disconnect packets to the POD server running on the network access server. The NAS terminates any inbound user session with one or more matching key attributes. It rejects requests when required fields are missing or when an exact match is not found.

To configure POD, perform the following tasks in global configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router(config)# aaa accounting network default
  2. Router(config)# aaa accounting delay-start
  3. Router(config)# aaa pod server server-key string
  4. Router(config)# radius-server host IP address non-standard

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router(config)# aaa accounting network default

Example:


            
              start-stop  radius  
          

Enables AAA accounting records.

Step 2

Router(config)# aaa accounting delay-start

(Optional) Delays generation of the start accounting record until the Framed-IP-Address is assigned, allowing its use in the POD packet.

Step 3

Router(config)# aaa pod server server-key string

Enables POD reception.

Step 4

Router(config)# radius-server host IP address non-standard

Declares a RADIUS host that uses a vendor-proprietary version of RADIUS.

Enabling Double Authentication

Depending on the Cisco release, PPP sessions could be authenticated only by using a single authentication method: either PAP or CHAP. Double authentication requires remote users to pass a second stage of authentication (after CHAP or PAP authentication) before gaining network access.

This second (“double”) authentication requires a password that is known to the user but not stored on the user’s remote host. Therefore, the second authentication is specific to a user, not to a host. This provides an additional level of security that will be effective even if information from the remote host is stolen. In addition, this also provides greater flexibility by allowing customized network privileges for each user.

The second stage authentication can use one-time passwords such as token card passwords, which are not supported by CHAP. If one-time passwords are used, a stolen user password is of no use to the perpetrator.

How Double Authentication Works

With double authentication, there are two authentication/authorization stages. These two stages occur after a remote user dials in and a PPP session is initiated.

In the first stage, the user logs in using the remote host name; CHAP (or PAP) authenticates the remote host, and then PPP negotiates with AAA to authorize the remote host. In this process, the network access privileges associated with the remote host are assigned to the user.


Note

We suggest that the network administrator restrict authorization at this first stage to allow only Telnet connections to the local host.


In the second stage, the remote user must Telnet to the network access server to be authenticated. When the remote user logs in, the user must be authenticated with AAA login authentication. The user then must enter the access-profile command to be reauthorized using AAA. When this authorization is complete, the user has been double authenticated, and can access the network according to per-user network privileges.

The system administrator determines what network privileges remote users will have after each stage of authentication by configuring appropriate parameters on a security server. To use double authentication, the user must activate it by issuing the access-profile command.


Caution

Double authentication can cause certain undesirable events if multiple hosts share a PPP connection to a network access server, as shown in the figure below. First, if a user, Bob, initiates a PPP session and activates double authentication at the network access server (per the figure below), any other user will automatically have the same network privileges as Bob until Bob’s PPP session expires. This happens because Bob’s authorization profile is applied to the network access server’s interface during the PPP session and any PPP traffic from other users will use the PPP session Bob established. Second, if Bob initiates a PPP session and activates double authentication, and then--before Bob’s PPP session has expired--another user, Jane, executes the access-profile command (or, if Jane Telnets to the network access server and autocommand access-profile is executed), a reauthorization will occur and Jane’s authorization profile will be applied to the interface--replacing Bob’s profile. This can disrupt or halt Bob’s PPP traffic, or grant Bob additional authorization privileges Bob should not have.


Figure 2. Possibly Risky Topology: Multiple Hosts Share a PPP Connection to a Network Access Server

Configuring Double Authentication

To configure double authentication, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Enable AAA by using the aaa-new model global configuration command. For more information about enabling AAA, refer to the chapter “AAA Overview.”

  2. Use the aaa authentication command to configure your network access server to use login and PPP authentication method lists, then apply those method lists to the appropriate lines or interfaces.

  3. Use the aaa authorization command to configure AAA network authorization at login. For more information about configuring network authorization, refer to the “Configuring Authorization” chapter.

  4. Configure security protocol parameters (for example, RADIUS or TACACS+). For more information about RADIUS, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS”. For more information about TACACS+, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

  5. Use access control list AV pairs on the security server that the user can connect to the local host only by establishing a Telnet connection.

  6. (Optional) Configure the access-profile command as an autocommand. If you configure the autocommand, remote users will not have to manually enter the access-profile command to access authorized rights associated with their personal user profile.


Note

If the access-profile command is configured as an autocommand, users will still have to Telnet to the local host and log in to complete double authentication.


Follow these rules when creating the user-specific authorization statements (These rules relate to the default behavior of the access-profile command):

  • Use valid AV pairs when configuring access control list AV pairs on the security server.

  • If you want remote users to use the interface’s existing authorization (that which existed prior to the second stage authentication/authorization), but you want them to have different access control lists (ACLs), you should specify only ACL AV pairs in the user-specific authorization definition. This might be desirable if you set up a default authorization profile to apply to the remote host, but want to apply specific ACLs to specific users.

  • When these user-specific authorization statements are later applied to the interface, they can either be added to the existing interface configuration or they can replace the existing interface configuration--depending on which form of the access-profile command is used to authorize the user. You should understand how the access-profile command works before configuring the authorization statements.

  • If you will be using ISDN or Multilink PPP, you must also configure virtual templates at the local host.

To troubleshoot double authentication, use the debug aaa per-user debug command. For more information about this command, refer to the Cisco IOS Debug Command Reference .

Accessing the User Profile After Double Authentication

In double authentication, when a remote user establishes a PPP link to the local host using the local host name, the remote host is CHAP (or PAP) authenticated. After CHAP (or PAP) authentication, PPP negotiates with AAA to assign network access privileges associated with the remote host to the user. (We suggest that privileges at this stage be restricted to allow the user to connect to the local host only by establishing a Telnet connection.)

When the user needs to initiate the second phase of double authentication, establishing a Telnet connection to the local host, the user enters a personal username and password (different from the CHAP or PAP username and password). This action causes AAA reauthentication to occur according to the personal username/password. The initial rights associated with the local host, though, are still in place. By using the access-profile command, the rights associated with the local host are replaced by or merged with those defined for the user in the user’s profile.

To access the user profile after double authentication, use the following command in EXEC configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router> access-profile   [merge   | replace  ] [ignore-sanity-checks  ]

Accesses the rights associated for the user after double authentication.

If you configured the access-profile command to be executed as an autocommand, it will be executed automatically after the remote user logs in.

Enabling Automated Double Authentication

You can make the double authentication process easier for users by implementing automated double authentication. Automated double authentication provides all of the security benefits of double authentication, but offers a simpler, more user-friendly interface for remote users. With double authentication, a second level of user authentication is achieved when the user Telnets to the network access server or router and enters a username and password. With automated double authentication, the user does not have to Telnet to the network access server; instead the user responds to a dialog box that requests a username and password or personal identification number (PIN). To use the automated double authentication feature, the remote user hosts must be running a companion client application.


Note

Automated double authentication, like the existing double authentication feature, is for Multilink PPP ISDN connections only. Automated double authentication cannot be used with other protocols such as X.25 or SLIP.


Automated double authentication is an enhancement to the existing double authentication feature. To configure automated double authentication, you must first configure double authentication by completing the following steps:

  1. Enable AAA by using the aaa-new model global configuration command.

  2. Use the aaa authentication command to configure your network access server to use login and PPP authentication method lists, then apply those method lists to the appropriate lines or interfaces.

  3. Use the aaa authorization command to configure AAA network authorization at login. For more information about configuring network authorization, refer to the chapter “Configuring Authorization.”

  4. Configure security protocol parameters (for example, RADIUS or TACACS+). For more information about RADIUS, refer to the chapter “Configuring RADIUS”. For more information about TACACS+, refer to the chapter “Configuring TACACS+.”

  5. Use access control list AV pairs on the security server that the user can connect to the local host only by establishing a Telnet connection.

  6. Configure the access-profile command as an autocommand. If you configure the autocommand, remote users will not have to manually enter the access-profile command to access authorized rights associated with their personal user profile. To learn about configuring autocommands, refer to the autocommand command in the CiscoIOS Dial Technologies Command Reference , Release 12.2.


Note

If the access-profile command is configured as an autocommand, users will still have to Telnet to the local host and log in to complete double authentication.


Follow these rules when creating the user-specific authorization statements (These rules relate to the default behavior of the access-profile command):

  • Use valid AV pairs when configuring access control list AV pairs on the security server.

  • If you want remote users to use the interface’s existing authorization (that which existed prior to the second stage authentication/authorization), but you want them to have different access control lists (ACLs), you should specify only ACL AV pairs in the user-specific authorization definition. This might be desirable if you set up a default authorization profile to apply to the remote host, but want to apply specific ACLs to specific users.

  • When these user-specific authorization statements are later applied to the interface, they can either be added to the existing interface configuration, or replace the existing interface configuration--depending on which form of the access-profile command is used to authorize the user. You should understand how the access-profile command works before configuring the authorization statements.

  • If you will be using ISDN or Multilink PPP, you must also configure virtual templates at the local host.

To troubleshoot double authentication, use the debug aaa per-user debug command. For more information about this command, refer to the Cisco IOS Debug Command Reference .

After you have configured double authentication, you are ready to configure the automation enhancement.

Configuring Automated Double Authentication

To configure automated double authentication, use the following commands, starting in global configuration mode.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router(config)# ip trigger-authentication
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Router(config)# interface bri number
    • Router(config)# interface serial number :23
  3. Router(config-if)# ip trigger-authentication

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router(config)# ip trigger-authentication

Example:

[timeout   seconds ] [port   number ]

Enables automation of double authentication.

Step 2

Do one of the following:

  • Router(config)# interface bri number
  • Router(config)# interface serial number :23

Selects an ISDN BRI or ISDN PRI interface and enter the interface configuration mode.

Step 3

Router(config-if)# ip trigger-authentication

Applies automated double authentication to the interface.

Troubleshooting Automated Double Authentication

To troubleshoot automated double authentication, use the following commands in privileged EXEC mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router# show ip trigger-authentication
  2. Router# clear ip trigger-authentication
  3. Router# debug ip trigger-authentication

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router# show ip trigger-authentication

Displays the list of remote hosts for which automated double authentication has been attempted (successfully or unsuccessfully).

Step 2

Router# clear ip trigger-authentication

Clears the list of remote hosts for which automated double authentication has been attempted. (This clears the table displayed by the show ip trigger-authentication command.)

Step 3

Router# debug ip trigger-authentication

Displays debug output related to automated double authentication.

Configuring the Dynamic Authorization Service for RADIUS CoA

Use the following procedure to enable the router as an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server for dynamic authorization service to support the CoA functionality that pushes the policy map in an input and output direction.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. aaa new-model
  4. aaa server radius dynamic-author
  5. client {ip_addr | hostname } [server-key [0 | 7 ] string ]
  6. domain {delimiter character | stripping [right-to-left] }
  7. port {port-num }

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Router# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

aaa new-model

Example:


Router(config)# aaa new-model

Enables AAA.

Step 4

aaa server radius dynamic-author

Example:


Router(config)# aaa server radius dynamic-author

Sets up the local AAA server for dynamic authorization service, which must be enabled to support the CoA functionality to push the policy map in an input and output direction and enter dynamic authorization local server configuration mode. In this mode, the RADIUS application commands are configured.

Step 5

client {ip_addr | hostname } [server-key [0 | 7 ] string ]

Example:


Router(config-locsvr-da-radius)#client 192.168.0.5 server-key cisco1

Configures the IP address or hostname of the AAA server client. Use the optional server-key keyword and string argument to configure the server key at the “client” level.

Note 

Configuring the server key at the client level overrides the server key configured at the global level.

Step 6

domain {delimiter character | stripping [right-to-left] }

Example:


Router(config-locsvr-da-radius)# domain stripping right-to-left

Example:


Router(config-locsvr-da-radius)# domain delimiter @

(Optional) Configures username domain options for the RADIUS application.

  • The delimiter keyword specifies the domain delimiter. One of the following options can be specified for the character argument: @ , / , $ , % , \ , # or -

  • The stripping keyword compares the incoming username with the names oriented to the left of the @ domain delimiter.

  • The right-to-left keyword terminates the string at the first delimiter going from right to left.

Step 7

port {port-num }

Example:


Router(config-locsvr-da-radius)# port 3799

Configures UDP port 3799 for CoA requests.

Configuring a Device to Ignore Bounce and Disable RADIUS CoA Requests

When an authentication port is authenticated with multiple hosts and there is a Change of Authorization (CoA) request for one host to flap on this port or one host session to be terminated on this port, the other hosts on this port are also affected. Thus, an authenticated port with multiple hosts can trigger a DHCP renegotiation from one or more hosts in the case of a flap, or it can administratively shut down the authentication port that is hosting the session for one or more hosts.

Perform the following steps to configure the device to ignore RADIUS server Change of Authorization (CoA) requests in the form of a bounce port command or disable port command.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. aaa new-model
  4. authentication command bounce-port ignore
  5. authentication command disable-port ignore
  6. end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Device> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

aaa new-model

Example:


Device(config)# aaa new-model

Enables authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) globally.

Step 4

authentication command bounce-port ignore

Example:


Device(config)# authentication command bounce-port ignore

(Optional) Configures the device to ignore a RADIUS server bounce port command that causes a host to link flap on an authentication port, which causes DHCP renegotiation from one or more hosts connected to this port.

Step 5

authentication command disable-port ignore

Example:


Device(config)# authentication command disable-port ignore
(Optional) Configures the device to ignore a RADIUS server CoA disable port command that administratively shuts down the authentication port that hosts one or more host sessions.
  • The shutting down of the port causes session termination.

Step 6

end

Example:


Device(config)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

Configuring Domain Stripping at the Server Group Level

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. aaa group server radius server-name
  4. domain-stripping [strip-suffix word] [right-to-left ] [prefix-delimiter word] [delimiter word]
  5. end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:

Device> enable
Enables privileged EXEC mode.
  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:

Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

aaa group server radius server-name

Example:

Device(config)# aaa group server radius rad1
Adds the RADIUS server and enters server group RADIUS configuration mode.
  • The server-name argument specifies the RADIUS server group name.

Step 4

domain-stripping [strip-suffix word] [right-to-left ] [prefix-delimiter word] [delimiter word]

Example:

Device(config-sg-radius)# domain-stripping delimiter username@example.com

Configures domain stripping at the server group level.

Step 5

end

Example:

Device(config-sg-radius)# end

Exits server group RADIUS configuration mode and returns to the privileged EXEC mode.

Non-AAA Authentication Methods

Configuring Line Password Protection

You can This task is used to provide access control on a terminal line by entering the password and establishing password checking.


Note

If you configure line password protection and then configure TACACS or extended TACACS, the TACACS username and password take precedence over line passwords. If you have not yet implemented a security policy, we recommend that you use AAA.


SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. line [aux | console | tty | vty ] line-number [ending-line-number ]
  4. password password
  5. login

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Router# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

line [aux | console | tty | vty ] line-number [ending-line-number ]

Example:


Router(config)# line console 0

Enters line configuration mode.

Step 4

password password

Example:


Router(config-line)# secret word

Assigns a password to a terminal or other device on a line. The password checker is case sensitive and can include spaces; for example, the password “Secret” is different from the password “secret,” and “two words” is an acceptable password.

Step 5

login

Example:


Router(config-line)# login

Enables password checking at login.

You can disable line password verification by disabling password checking by using the no version of this command.

Note 

The login command only changes username and privilege level but it does not execute a shell; therefore autocommands will not be executed. To execute autocommands under this circumstance, you need to establish a Telnet session back into the router (loop-back). Make sure that the router has been configured for secure Telnet sessions if you choose to implement autocommands this way.

Establishing Username Authentication

You can create a username-based authentication system, which is useful in the following situations:

  • To provide a TACACS-like username and encrypted password-authentication system for networks that cannot support TACACS

  • To provide special-case logins: for example, access list verification, no password verification, autocommand execution at login, and “no escape” situations

To establish username authentication, use the following commands in global configuration mode as needed for your system configuration:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Router(config)# username name [nopassword | password password | password encryption-type encrypted password ]
    • Router(config)# username name [access-class number ]
  2. Router(config)# username name [privilege level ]
  3. Router(config)# username name [autocommand command ]
  4. Router(config)# username name [noescape ] [nohangup ]

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Do one of the following:

  • Router(config)# username name [nopassword | password password | password encryption-type encrypted password ]
  • Router(config)# username name [access-class number ]

Establishes username authentication with encrypted passwords.

or

(Optional) Establishes username authentication by access list.

Step 2

Router(config)# username name [privilege level ]

(Optional) Sets the privilege level for the user.

Step 3

Router(config)# username name [autocommand command ]

(Optional) Specifies a command to be executed automatically.

Step 4

Router(config)# username name [noescape ] [nohangup ]

(Optional) Sets a “no escape” login environment.

What to do next

The keyword noescape prevents users from using escape characters on the hosts to which they are connected. The nohangup feature does not disconnect after using the autocommand.


Caution

Passwords will be displayed in clear text in your configuration unless you enable the service password-encryption command. For more information about the service password-encryption command, refer to the Cisco IOS Security Command Reference.


Enabling CHAP or PAP Authentication

One of the most common transport protocols used in Internet service providers’ (ISPs’) dial solutions is the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP). Traditionally, remote users dial in to an access server to initiate a PPP session. After PPP has been negotiated, remote users are connected to the ISP network and to the Internet.

Because ISPs want only customers to connect to their access servers, remote users are required to authenticate to the access server before they can start up a PPP session. Normally, a remote user authenticates by typing in a username and password when prompted by the access server. Although this is a workable solution, it is difficult to administer and awkward for the remote user.

A better solution is to use the authentication protocols built into PPP. In this case, the remote user dials in to the access server and starts up a minimal subset of PPP with the access server. This does not give the remote user access to the ISP’s network--it merely allows the access server to talk to the remote device.

PPP currently supports two authentication protocols: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) and Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP). Both are specified in RFC 1334 and are supported on synchronous and asynchronous interfaces. Authentication via PAP or CHAP is equivalent to typing in a username and password when prompted by the server. CHAP is considered to be more secure because the remote user’s password is never sent across the connection.

PPP (with or without PAP or CHAP authentication) is also supported in dialout solutions. An access server utilizes a dialout feature when it initiates a call to a remote device and attempts to start up a transport protocol such as PPP.

See the Cisco IOS XE Dial Technologies Configuration Guide , Release 2 for more information about CHAP and PAP.


Note

To use CHAP or PAP, you must be running PPP encapsulation.


When CHAP is enabled on an interface and a remote device attempts to connect to it, the access server sends a CHAP packet to the remote device. The CHAP packet requests or “challenges” the remote device to respond. The challenge packet consists of an ID, a random number, and the host name of the local router.

When the remote device receives the challenge packet, it concatenates the ID, the remote device’s password, and the random number, and then encrypts all of it using the remote device’s password. The remote device sends the results back to the access server, along with the name associated with the password used in the encryption process.

When the access server receives the response, it uses the name it received to retrieve a password stored in its user database. The retrieved password should be the same password the remote device used in its encryption process. The access server then encrypts the concatenated information with the newly retrieved password--if the result matches the result sent in the response packet, authentication succeeds.

The benefit of using CHAP authentication is that the remote device’s password is never transmitted in clear text. This prevents other devices from stealing it and gaining illegal access to the ISP’s network.

CHAP transactions occur only at the time a link is established. The access server does not request a password during the rest of the call. (The local device can, however, respond to such requests from other devices during a call.)

When PAP is enabled, the remote router attempting to connect to the access server is required to send an authentication request. If the username and password specified in the authentication request are accepted, the Cisco IOS XE software sends an authentication acknowledgment.

After you have enabled CHAP or PAP, the access server will require authentication from remote devices dialing in to the access server. If the remote device does not support the enabled protocol, the call will be dropped.

To use CHAP or PAP, you must perform the following tasks:

  1. Enable PPP encapsulation.

  2. Enable CHAP or PAP on the interface.

  3. For CHAP, configure host name authentication and the secret or password for each remote system with which authentication is required.

Enabling PPP Encapsulation

To enable PPP encapsulation, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# encapsulation  ppp  

Enables PPP on an interface.

Enabling PAP or CHAP

To enable CHAP or PAP authentication on an interface configured for PPP encapsulation, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  authentication   {protocol1  [protocol2... ]} [if-needed  ] {default   | list-name } [callin  ] [one-time  ]

Defines the authentication protocols supported and the order in which they are used. In this command, protocol1, protocol2 represent the following protocols: CHAP, MS-CHAP, and PAP. PPP authentication is attempted first using the first authentication method, which is protocol1 . If protocol1 is unable to establish authentication, the next configured protocol is used to negotiate authentication.

If you configure ppp authentication chap on an interface, all incoming calls on that interface that initiate a PPP connection will have to be authenticated using CHAP; likewise, if you configure ppp authentication pap , all incoming calls that start a PPP connection will have to be authenticated via PAP. If you configure ppp authentication chap pap , the access server will attempt to authenticate all incoming calls that start a PPP session with CHAP. If the remote device does not support CHAP, the access server will try to authenticate the call using PAP. If the remote device does not support either CHAP or PAP, authentication will fail and the call will be dropped. If you configure ppp authentication pap chap , the access server will attempt to authenticate all incoming calls that start a PPP session with PAP. If the remote device does not support PAP, the access server will try to authenticate the call using CHAP. If the remote device does not support either protocol, authentication will fail and the call will be dropped. If you configure the ppp authentication command with the callin keyword, the access server will only authenticate the remote device if the remote device initiated the call.

Authentication method lists and the one-time keyword are only available if you have enabled AAA--they will not be available if you are using TACACS or extended TACACS. If you specify the name of an authentication method list with the ppp authentication command, PPP will attempt to authenticate the connection using the methods defined in the specified method list. If AAA is enabled and no method list is defined by name, PPP will attempt to authenticate the connection using the methods defined as the default. The ppp authentication command with the one-time keyword enables support for one-time passwords during authentication.

The if-needed keyword is only available if you are using TACACS or extended TACACS. The ppp authentication command with the if-needed keyword means that PPP will only authenticate the remote device via PAP or CHAP if they have not yet authenticated during the life of the current call. If the remote device authenticated via a standard login procedure and initiated PPP from the EXEC prompt, PPP will not authenticate via CHAP if ppp authentication chap if-needed is configured on the interface.


Caution

If you use a list-name that has not been configured with the aaa authentication ppp command, you disable PPP on the line.


For information about adding a username entry for each remote system from which the local router or access server requires authentication, see the Establishing Username Authentication.

Inbound and Outbound Authentication

PPP supports two-way authentication. Normally, when a remote device dials in to an access server, the access server requests that the remote device prove that it is allowed access. This is known as inbound authentication. At the same time, the remote device can also request that the access server prove that it is who it says it is. This is known as outbound authentication. An access server also does outbound authentication when it initiates a call to a remote device.

Enabling Outbound PAP Authentication

To enable outbound PAP authentication, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  pap  sent-username   username  password   password 

Enables outbound PAP authentication.

The access server uses the username and password specified by the ppp pap sent-username command to authenticate itself whenever it initiates a call to a remote device or when it has to respond to a remote device’s request for outbound authentication.

Refusing PAP Authentication Requests

To refuse PAP authentication from peers requesting it, meaning that PAP authentication is disabled for all calls, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  pap  refuse   

Refuses PAP authentication from peers requesting PAP authentication.

If the refuse keyword is not used, the router will not refuse any PAP authentication challenges received from the peer.

Creating a Common CHAP Password

For remote CHAP authentication only, you can configure your router to create a common CHAP secret password to use in response to challenges from an unknown peer; for example, if your router calls a rotary of routers (either from another vendor, or running an older version of the Cisco IOS software) to which a new (that is, unknown) router has been added. The ppp chap password command allows you to replace several username and password configuration commands with a single copy of this command on any dialer interface or asynchronous group interface.

To enable a router calling a collection of routers to configure a common CHAP secret password, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  chap  password   secret

Enables a router calling a collection of routers to configure a common CHAP secret password.

Refusing CHAP Authentication Requests

To refuse CHAP authentication from peers requesting it, meaning that CHAP authentication is disabled for all calls, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  chap  refuse   [callin  ]

Refuses CHAP authentication from peers requesting CHAP authentication.

If the callin keyword is used, the router will refuse to answer CHAP authentication challenges received from the peer, but will still require the peer to answer any CHAP challenges the router sends.

If outbound PAP has been enabled (using the ppp pap sent-username command), PAP will be suggested as the authentication method in the refusal packet.

Delaying CHAP Authentication Until Peer Authenticates

To specify that the router will not authenticate to a peer requesting CHAP authentication until after the peer has authenticated itself to the router, use the following command in interface configuration mode:

Command

Purpose


Router(config-if)# ppp  chap  wait   secret

Configures the router to delay CHAP authentication until after the peer has authenticated itself to the router.

This command (which is the default) specifies that the router will not authenticate to a peer requesting CHAP authentication until the peer has authenticated itself to the router. The no ppp chap wait command specifies that the router will respond immediately to an authentication challenge.

Using MS-CHAP

Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (MS-CHAP) is the Microsoft version of CHAP and is an extension of RFC 1994. Like the standard version of CHAP, MS-CHAP is used for PPP authentication; in this case, authentication occurs between a PC using Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 95 and a Cisco device or access server acting as a network access server.

MS-CHAP differs from the standard CHAP as follows:

  • MS-CHAP is enabled by negotiating CHAP Algorithm 0x80 in LCP option 3, Authentication Protocol.

  • The MS-CHAP Response packet is in a format designed to be compatible with Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 and 3.51, Microsoft Windows 95, and Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x . This format does not require the authenticator to store a clear or reversibly encrypted password.

  • MS-CHAP provides an authenticator-controlled authentication retry mechanism.

  • MS-CHAP provides an authenticator-controlled change password mechanism.

  • MS-CHAP defines a set of “reason-for failure” codes returned in the Failure packet message field.

Depending on the security protocols you have implemented, PPP authentication using MS-CHAP can be used with or without AAA security services. If you have enabled AAA, PPP authentication using MS-CHAP can be used in conjunction with both TACACS+ and RADIUS. The table below lists the vendor-specific RADIUS attributes (IETF Attribute 26) that enable RADIUS to support MS-CHAP.

Table 9. Vendor-Specific RADIUS Attributes for MS-CHAP

Vendor-ID

Number

Vendor-Type

Number

Vendor-Proprietary Attribute

Description

311

11

MSCHAP-Challenge

Contains the challenge sent by a network access server to an MS-CHAP user. It can be used in both Access-Request and Access-Challenge packets.

211

11

MSCHAP-Response

Contains the response value provided by a PPP MS-CHAP user in response to the challenge. It is only used in Access-Request packets. This attribute is identical to the PPP CHAP Identifier.

Defining PPP Authentication using MS-CHAP

To define PPP authentication using MS-CHAP, use the following commands in interface configuration mode:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Router(config-if)# encapsulation ppp
  2. Router(config-if)# ppp authentication ms-chap [if-needed ] [list-name | default ] [callin ] [one-time ]

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

Router(config-if)# encapsulation ppp

Enables PPP encapsulation.

Step 2

Router(config-if)# ppp authentication ms-chap [if-needed ] [list-name | default ] [callin ] [one-time ]

Defines PPP authentication using MS-CHAP.

What to do next

If you configure ppp authentication ms-chap on an interface, all incoming calls on that interface that initiate a PPP connection will have to be authenticated using MS-CHAP. If you configure the ppp authentication command with the callin keyword, the access server will only authenticate the remote device if the remote device initiated the call.

Authentication method lists and the one-time keyword are only available if you have enabled AAA--they will not be available if you are using TACACS or extended TACACS. If you specify the name of an authentication method list with the ppp authentication command, PPP will attempt to authenticate the connection using the methods defined in the specified method list. If AAA is enabled and no method list is defined by name, PPP will attempt to authenticate the connection using the methods defined as the default. The ppp authentication command with the one-time keyword enables support for one-time passwords during authentication.

The if-needed keyword is only available if you are using TACACS or extended TACACS. The ppp authentication command with the if-needed keyword means that PPP will only authenticate the remote device via MS-CHAP if that device has not yet authenticated during the life of the current call. If the remote device authenticated through a standard login procedure and initiated PPP from the EXEC prompt, PPP will not authenticate through MS-CHAP if ppp authentication chap if-needed is configured.


Note

If PPP authentication using MS-CHAP is used with username authentication, you must include the MS-CHAP secret in the local username/password database. For more information about username authentication, refer to the “Establish Username Authentication” section.


Authentication Examples

RADIUS Authentication Examples

This section provides two sample configurations using RADIUS.

The following example shows how to configure the router to authenticate and authorize using RADIUS:


aaa authentication login radius-login group radius local
aaa authentication ppp radius-ppp if-needed group radius
aaa authorization exec default group radius if-authenticated
aaa authorization network default group radius
line 3
login authentication radius-login
interface serial 0
ppp authentication radius-ppp

The lines in this sample RADIUS authentication and authorization configuration are defined as follows:

  • The aaa authentication login radius-login group radius local command configures the router to use RADIUS for authentication at the login prompt. If RADIUS returns an error, the user is authenticated using the local database.

  • The aaa authentication ppp radius-ppp if-needed group radius command configures the Cisco IOS XE software to use PPP authentication using CHAP or PAP if the user has not already logged in. If the EXEC facility has authenticated the user, PPP authentication is not performed.

  • The aaa authorization exec default group radius if-authenticated command queries the RADIUS database for information that is used during EXEC authorization, such as autocommands and privilege levels, but only provides authorization if the user has successfully authenticated.

  • The aaa authorization network default group radius command queries RADIUS for network authorization, address assignment, and other access lists.

  • The login authentication radius-login command enables the radius-login method list for line 3.

  • The ppp authentication radius-ppp command enables the radius-ppp method list for serial interface 0.

The following example shows how to configure the router to prompt for and verify a username and password, authorize the user’s EXEC level, and specify it as the method of authorization for privilege level 2. In this example, if a local username is entered at the username prompt, that username is used for authentication.

If the user is authenticated using the local database, EXEC authorization using RADIUS will fail because no data is saved from the RADIUS authentication. The method list also uses the local database to find an autocommand. If there is no autocommand, the user becomes the EXEC user. If the user then attempts to issue commands that are set at privilege level 2, TACACS+ is used to attempt to authorize the command.


aaa authentication login default group radius local
aaa authorization exec default group radius local
aaa authorization command 2 default group tacacs+ if-authenticated 
radius-server host 172.16.71.146 auth-port 1645 acct-port 1646
radius-server attribute 44 include-in-access-req
radius-server attribute 8 include-in-access-req

The lines in this sample RADIUS authentication and authorization configuration are defined as follows:

  • The aaa authentication login default group radius local command specifies that the username and password are verified by RADIUS or, if RADIUS is not responding, by the router’s local user database.

  • The aaa authorization exec default group radius local command specifies that RADIUS authentication information be used to set the user’s EXEC level if the user authenticates with RADIUS. If no RADIUS information is used, this command specifies that the local user database be used for EXEC authorization.

  • The aaa authorization command 2 default group tacacs+ if-authenticated command specifies TACACS+ authorization for commands set at privilege level 2, if the user has already successfully authenticated.

  • The radius-server host 172.16.71.146 auth-port 1645 acct-port 1646 command specifies the IP address of the RADIUS server host, the UDP destination port for authentication requests, and the UDP destination port for accounting requests.

  • The radius-server attribute 44 include-in-access-req command sends RADIUS attribute 44 (Acct-Session-ID) in access-request packets.

  • The radius-server attribute 8 include-in-access-req command sends RADIUS attribute 8 (Framed-IP-Address) in access-request packets.

TACACS Authentication Examples

The following example shows how to configure TACACS+ as the security protocol to be used for PPP authentication:


aaa new-model
aaa authentication ppp test group tacacs+ local
interface serial 0
ppp authentication chap pap test
tacacs-server host 192.0.2.3
tacacs-server key goaway

The lines in this sample TACACS+ authentication configuration are defined as follows:

  • The aaa new-model command enables the AAA security services.

  • The aaa authentication command defines a method list, “test,” to be used on serial interfaces running PPP. The keywords group tacacs+ means that authentication will be done through TACACS+. If TACACS+ returns an ERROR of some sort during authentication, the keyword local indicates that authentication will be attempted using the local database on the network access server.

  • The interface command selects the line.

  • The ppp authentication command applies the test method list to this line.

  • The tacacs-server host command identifies the TACACS+ daemon as having an IP address of 192.0.2.3.

  • The tacacs-server key command defines the shared encryption key to be “goaway.”

The following example shows how to configure AAA authentication for PPP:


aaa authentication ppp default if-needed group tacacs+ local

In this example, the keyword default means that PPP authentication is applied by default to all interfaces. The if-needed keyword means that if the user has already authenticated by going through the ASCII login procedure, then PPP is not necessary and can be skipped. If authentication is needed, the keywords group tacacs+ means that authentication will be done through TACACS+. If TACACS+ returns an ERROR of some sort during authentication, the keyword local indicates that authentication will be attempted using the local database on the network access server.

The following example shows how to create the same authentication algorithm for PAP, but it calls the method list “MIS-access” instead of “default”:


aaa authentication ppp MIS-access if-needed group tacacs+ local
interface serial 0
ppp authentication pap MIS-access

In this example, because the list does not apply to any interfaces (unlike the default list, which applies automatically to all interfaces), the administrator must select interfaces to which this authentication scheme should apply by using the interface command. The administrator must then apply this method list to those interfaces by using the ppp authentication command.

Kerberos Authentication Examples

To specify Kerberos as the login authentication method, use the following command:


aaa authentication login default krb5

To specify Kerberos authentication for PPP, use the following command:


aaa authentication ppp default krb5

AAA Scalability Example

The following example shows a general security configuration using AAA with RADIUS as the security protocol. In this example, the network access server is configured to allocate 16 background processes to handle AAA requests for PPP.


aaa new-model
radius-server host alcatraz
radius-server key myRaDiUSpassWoRd
radius-server configure-nas
username root password ALongPassword
aaa authentication ppp dialins group radius local
aaa authentication login admins local
aaa authorization network default group radius local
aaa accounting network default start-stop group radius
aaa processes 16
line 1 16
 autoselect ppp
 autoselect during-login
 login authentication admins
 modem dialin
interface group-async 1
 group-range 1 16
 encapsulation ppp
 ppp authentication pap dialins

The lines in this sample RADIUS AAA configuration are defined as follows:

  • The aaa new-model command enables AAA network security services.

  • The radius-server host command defines the name of the RADIUS server host.

  • The radius-server key command defines the shared secret text string between the network access server and the RADIUS server host.

  • The radius-server configure-nas command defines that the Cisco router or access server will query the RADIUS server for static routes and IP pool definitions when the device first starts up.

  • The username command defines the username and password to be used for the PPP Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) caller identification.

  • The aaa authentication ppp dialins group radius local command defines the authentication method list “dialins,” which specifies that RADIUS authentication, then (if the RADIUS server does not respond) local authentication will be used on serial lines using PPP.

  • The aaa authentication login admins local command defines another method list, “admins,” for login authentication.

  • The aaa authorization network default group radius local command is used to assign an address and other network parameters to the RADIUS user.

  • The aaa accounting network default start-stop group radius command tracks PPP usage.

  • The aaa processes command allocates 16 background processes to handle AAA requests for PPP.

  • The line command switches the configuration mode from global configuration to line configuration and identifies the specific lines being configured.

  • The autoselect ppp command allows a PPP session to start up automatically on these selected lines.

  • The autoselect during-login command is used to display the username and password prompt without pressing the Return key. After the user logs in, the autoselect function (in this case, PPP) begins.

  • The login authentication admins command applies the “admins” method list for login authentication.

  • The modem dialin command configures modems attached to the selected lines to only accept incoming calls.

  • The interface group-async command selects and defines an asynchronous interface group.

  • The group-range command defines the member asynchronous interfaces in the interface group.

  • The encapsulation ppp command sets PPP as the encapsulation method used on the specified interfaces.

  • The ppp authentication pap dialins command applies the “dialins” method list to the specified interfaces.

Example: Configuring Login and Failed-Login Banners for AAA Authentication

The following example shows how to configure a login banner that is displayed when a user logs in to the system, (in this case, the phrase “Unauthorized Access Prohibited”). The asterisk (*) is used as the delimiting character. RADIUS is specified as the default login authentication method.

Device> enable
Device# configure terminal
Device(config)# aaa new-model
Device(config)# aaa authentication banner *Unauthorized Access Prohibited*
Device(config)# aaa authentication login default group radius

This configuration displays the following login banner:


Unauthorized Access Prohibited
Username:

The following example shows how to configure a failed-login banner that is displayed when a user tries to log in to the system and fails, (in this case, the phrase “Failed login. Try again”). The asterisk (*) is used as the delimiting character. RADIUS is specified as the default login authentication method.


Device> enable
Device# configure terminal
Device(config)# aaa new-model
Device(config)# aaa authentication banner *Unauthorized Access Prohibited*
Device(config)# aaa authentication fail-message *Failed login. Try again.*
Device(config)# aaa authentication login default group radius

This configuration displays the following login and failed-login banner:


Unauthorized Access Prohibited
Username: 
Password: 
Failed login. Try again.

AAA Packet of Disconnect Server Key Example

The following example shows how to configure POD (packet of disconnect), which terminates connections on the network access server (NAS) when particular session attributes are identified.


aaa new-model
aaa authentication ppp default radius
aaa accounting network default start-stop radius
aaa accounting delay-start
aaa pod server server-key xyz123
radius-server host 192.0.2.3 non-standard
radius-server key rad123

Double Authentication Examples

The examples in this section illustrate possible configurations to be used with double authentication. Your configurations could differ significantly, depending on your network and security requirements.


Note

These configuration examples include specific IP addresses and other specific information. This information is for illustration purposes only: your configuration will use different IP addresses, different usernames and passwords, and different authorization statements.


Configuration of the Local Host for AAA with Double Authentication Examples

These two examples show how to configure a local host to use AAA for PPP and login authentication, and for network and EXEC authorization. An example each is shown for RADIUS and for TACACS+.

In both the examples, the first three lines configure AAA with a specific server as the AAA server. The next two lines configure AAA for PPP and login authentication, and the last two lines configure network and EXEC authorization. The last line is necessary only if the access-profile command will be executed as an autocommand.

The following example shows device configuration with a RADIUS AAA server:


aaa new-model
radius-server host secureserver
radius-server key myradiuskey
aaa authentication ppp default group radius
aaa authentication login default group radius
aaa authorization network default group radius
aaa authorization exec default group radius

The following example shows device configuration with a TACACS+ server:


aaa new-model
tacacs-server host security
tacacs-server key mytacacskey
aaa authentication ppp default group tacacs+
aaa authentication login default group tacacs+
aaa authorization network default group tacacs+
aaa authorization exec default group tacacs+

Configuration of the AAA Server for First-Stage PPP Authentication and Authorization Example

This example shows a configuration on the AAA server. A partial sample AAA configuration is shown for RADIUS.

TACACS+ servers can be configured similarly. (See the Complete Configuration with TACACS Example.)

This example defines authentication/authorization for a remote host named “hostx” that will be authenticated by CHAP in the first stage of double authentication. Note that the ACL AV pair limits the remote host to Telnet connections to the local host. The local host has the IP address 10.0.0.2.

The following example shows a partial AAA server configuration for RADIUS:


hostx   Password = “welcome”
        User-Service-Type = Framed-User,
        Framed-Protocol = PPP,
        cisco-avpair = “lcp:interface-config=ip unnumbered fastethernet 0”,
        cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#3=permit tcp any 172.21.114.0 0.0.0.255 eq telnet”,
        cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#4=deny icmp any any”,
        cisco-avpair = “ip:route#5=10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0”,
        cisco-avpair = “ip:route#6=10.10.0.0 255.0.0.0”,
        cisco-avpair = “ipx:inacl#3=deny any”

Configuration of the AAA Server for Second-Stage Per-User Authentication and Authorization Examples

This section contains partial sample AAA configurations on a RADIUS server. These configurations define authentication and authorization for a user (Pat) with the username “patuser,” who will be user-authenticated in the second stage of double authentication.

TACACS+ servers can be configured similarly. (See the Complete Configuration with TACACS Example.)

Three examples show sample RADIUS AAA configurations that could be used with each of the three forms of the access-profile command.

The first example shows a partial sample AAA configuration that works with the default form (no keywords) of the access-profile command. Note that only ACL AV pairs are defined. This example also sets up the access-profile command as an autocommand.


patuser   Password = “welcome”
          User-Service-Type = Shell-User,
          cisco-avpair = “shell:autocmd=access-profile”
          User-Service-Type = Framed-User,
          Framed-Protocol = PPP,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#3=permit tcp any host 10.0.0.2 eq telnet”,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#4=deny icmp any any”

The second example shows a partial sample AAA configuration that works with the access-profile merge form of the access-profile command. This example also sets up the access-profile merge command as an autocommand.


patuser   Password = “welcome”
          User-Service-Type = Shell-User,
          cisco-avpair = “shell:autocmd=access-profile merge”
          User-Service-Type = Framed-User,
          Framed-Protocol = PPP,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#3=permit tcp any any”
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.0.0.0 255.255.0.0",
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.1.0.0 255.255.0.0",
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.2.0.0 255.255.0.0"

The third example shows a partial sample AAA configuration that works with the access-profile replace form of the access-profile command. This example also sets up the access-profile replace command as an autocommand.


patuser   Password = “welcome”
          User-Service-Type = Shell-User,
          cisco-avpair = “shell:autocmd=access-profile replace”
          User-Service-Type = Framed-User,
          Framed-Protocol = PPP,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#3=permit tcp any any”,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:inacl#4=permit icmp any any”,
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.10.0.0 255.255.0.0",
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.11.0.0 255.255.0.0",
          cisco-avpair = “ip:route=10.12.0.0 255.255.0.0"

Complete Configuration with TACACS Example

This example shows TACACS+ authorization profile configurations both for the remote host (used in the first stage of double authentication) and for specific users (used in the second stage of double authentication). This TACACS+ example contains approximately the same configuration information as shown in the previous RADIUS examples.

This sample configuration shows authentication/authorization profiles on the TACACS+ server for the remote host “hostx” and for three users, with the usernames “pat_default,” “pat_merge,” and “pat_replace.” The configurations for these three usernames illustrate different configurations that correspond to the three different forms of the access-profile command. The three user configurations also illustrate setting up the autocommand for each form of the access-profile command.

The figure below shows the topology. The example that follows the figure shows a TACACS+ configuration file.

Figure 3. Example Topology for Double Authentication

This sample configuration shows authentication/authorization profiles on the TACACS+ server for the remote host “hostx” and for three users, with the usernames “pat_default,” “pat_merge,” and “pat_replace.”


key = “mytacacskey”
default authorization = permit
#-----------------------------Remote Host (BRI)-------------------------
#
# This allows the remote host to be authenticated by the local host
# during fist-stage authentication, and provides the remote host
# authorization profile.
#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
user = hostx
{
    login = cleartext “welcome”
    chap = cleartext “welcome”
    service = ppp protocol = lcp {
                interface-config=”ip unnumbered fastethernet 0"
    }
    service = ppp protocol = ip {
            # It is important to have the hash sign and some string after
            # it. This indicates to the NAS that you have a per-user
            # config.
            inacl#3=”permit tcp any 172.21.114.0 0.0.0.255 eq telnet”
            inacl#4=”deny icmp any any”
            route#5=”10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0"
            route#6=”10.10.0.0 255.0.0.0"
    }
    service = ppp protocol = ipx {
            # see previous comment about the hash sign and string, in protocol = ip
            inacl#3=”deny any”
    }
}
#------------------- “access-profile” default user “only acls” ------------------
#
# Without arguments, access-profile removes any access-lists it can find
# in the old configuration (both per-user and per-interface), and makes sure
# that the new profile contains ONLY access-list definitions.
#
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
user = pat_default
{
        login = cleartext “welcome”
        chap = cleartext “welcome”
        service = exec
        {
                # This is the autocommand that executes when pat_default logs in.
                autocmd = “access-profile” 
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ip {
                # Put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IP
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
                inacl#3=”permit tcp any host 10.0.0.2 eq telnet”
                inacl#4=”deny icmp any any”
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ipx {
                # Put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IPX
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
        }
}
#--------------------- “access-profile merge” user ---------------------------
#
# With the 'merge' option, first all old access-lists are removed (as before),
# but then (almost) all AV pairs are uploaded and installed. This will allow
# for uploading any custom static routes, sap-filters, and so on, that the user
# may need in his or her profile. This needs to be used with care, as it leaves
# open the possibility of conflicting configurations.
#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
user = pat_merge
{
        login = cleartext “welcome”
        chap = cleartext “welcome”
        service = exec
        {
                # This is the autocommand that executes when pat_merge logs in.
                autocmd = “access-profile merge”
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ip
        {
                # Put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IP
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
                inacl#3=”permit tcp any any”
                route#2=”10.0.0.0 255.255.0.0"
                route#3=”10.1.0.0 255.255.0.0"
                route#4=”10.2.0.0 255.255.0.0"
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ipx
        {
                # Put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IPX
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
        }
}
#--------------------- “access-profile replace” user ----------------------------
#
# With the 'replace' option, ALL old configuration is removed and ALL new 
# configuration is installed.
#
# One caveat: access-profile checks the new configuration for address-pool and
# address AV pairs. As addresses cannot be renegotiated at this point, the
# command will fail (and complain) when it encounters such an AV pair.
# Such AV pairs are considered to be “invalid” for this context.
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
user = pat_replace
{
        login = cleartex
t 
“
welcome
”
        chap = cleartext “welcome”
        service = exec
        {
                # This is the autocommand that executes when pat_replace logs in.
                autocmd = “access-profile replace”
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ip
        {
                # Put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IP
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
                inacl#3=”permit tcp any any”
                inacl#4=”permit icmp any any”
                route#2=”10.10.0.0 255.255.0.0"
                route#3=”10.11.0.0 255.255.0.0"
                route#4=”10.12.0.0 255.255.0.0"
        }
        service = ppp protocol = ipx
        {
                # put whatever access-lists, static routes, whatever
                # here.
                # If you leave this blank, the user will have NO IPX
                # access-lists (not even the ones installed prior to
                # this)!
        }
}

Automated Double Authentication Example

This example shows a complete configuration file with automated double authentication configured. The configuration commands that apply to automated double authentication are preceded by descriptions with a double asterisk (**).


Current configuration:
!
version 11.3
no service password-encryption
!
hostname myrouter
!
!
! **The following AAA commands are used to configure double authentication:
!
! **The following command enables AAA:
aaa new-model
! **The following command enables user authentication via the RADIUS AAA server:
!
aaa authentication login default none 
aaa authentication ppp default group radius 
! **The following command causes the remote user’s authorization profile to be
! downloaded from the AAA server to the router when required:
!
aaa authorization network default group radius
!
enable password mypassword
!
ip host blue 172.21.127.226
ip host green 172.21.127.218
ip host red 172.21.127.114
ip domain-name example.com
ip name-server 172.16.2.75
!         
!         
interface FastEthernet0/0/0
 ip address 172.21.127.186 255.255.255.248
 no ip route-cache
 no ip mroute-cache
 no keepalive
 ntp disable
 no cdp enable
!         
interface Virtual-Template1
 ip unnumbered loopback0
 no ip route-cache
 no ip mroute-cache
!         
! **The following command specifies that device authentication occurs via PPP CHAP:
 ppp authentication chap
!         
router eigrp 109
 network 172.21.0.0
 no auto-summary
!         
ip default-gateway 172.21.127.185
no ip classless
ip route 172.21.127.114 255.255.255.255 172.21.127.113
! **Virtual profiles are required for double authentication to work:
virtual-profile virtual-template 1
dialer-list 1 protocol ip permit
no cdp run
! **The following command defines where the TACACS+ AAA server is:
tacacs-server host 172.16.57.35 port 1049
tacacs-server timeout 90
! **The following command defines the key to use with TACACS+ traffic (required):
tacacs-server key mytacacskey
snmp-server community public RO
!         
line con 0
 exec-timeout 0 0
 login authentication console
line aux 0
 transport input all
line vty 0 4
 exec-timeout 0 0
 password lab
!         
end 

The lines in this sample RADIUS AAA configuration are defined as follows:

  • The aaa new-model command enables AAA network security services.

  • The aaa authentication login admins local command defines another method list, “admins”, for login authentication.

  • The aaa authentication ppp dialins group radius local command defines the authentication method list “dialins,” which specifies that RADIUS authentication then (if the RADIUS server does not respond) local authentication will be used on serial lines using PPP.

  • The aaa authorization network default group radius local command is used to assign an address and other network parameters to the RADIUS user.

  • The aaa accounting network default start-stop group radius command tracks PPP usage.

  • The username command defines the username and password to be used for the PPP Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) caller identification.

  • The radius-server host command defines the name of the RADIUS server host.

  • The radius-server key command defines the shared secret text string between the network access server and the RADIUS server host.

  • The interface group-async command selects and defines an asynchronous interface group.

  • The group-range command defines the member asynchronous interfaces in the interface group.

  • The encapsulation ppp command sets PPP as the encapsulation method used on the specified interfaces.

  • The ppp authentication ms-chap dialins command selects MS-CHAP as the method of PPP authentication and applies the “dialins” method list to the specified interfaces.

  • The line command switches the configuration mode from global configuration to line configuration and identifies the specific lines being configured.

  • The autoselect ppp command allows a PPP session to start up automatically on these selected lines.

  • The autoselect during-login command is used to display the username and password prompt without pressing the Return key. After the user logs in, the autoselect function (in this case, PPP) begins.

  • The login authentication admins command applies the “admins” method list for login authentication.

  • The modem dialin command configures modems attached to the selected lines to only accept incoming calls.

Additional References

The following sections provide references related to the Configuring Authentication feature.

Related Documents

Related Topic

Document Title

Authorization

Configuring Authorization in the Cisco IOS XE Security Configuration Guide: Securing User Services, Release 2.

Accounting

Configuring Accounting in the Cisco IOS XE Security Configuration Guide: Securing User Service , Release 2.

Security commands

Cisco IOS Security Command Reference

Standards

Standard

Title

No new or modified standards are supported by this feature, and support for existing standards has not been modified by this feature.

--

MIBs

MIB

MIBs Link

No new or modified MIBs are supported by this feature, and support for existing MIBs has not been modified by this feature.

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco IOS XE software releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

RFCs

RFC

Title

RFC 1334

PPP Authentication Protocols

RFC 2433

Microsoft PPP CHAP Extensions

RFC 2903

Generic AAA Architecture

RFC 2904

AAA Authorization Framework

RFC 2906

AAA Authorization Requirements

RFC 2989

Criteria for Evaluating AAA Protocols for Network Access

Technical Assistance

Description

Link

The Cisco Support website provides extensive online resources, including documentation and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with Cisco products and technologies.

To receive security and technical information about your products, you can subscribe to various services, such as the Product Alert Tool (accessed from Field Notices), the Cisco Technical Services Newsletter, and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds.

Access to most tools on the Cisco Support website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Feature Information for Configuring Authentication

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
Table 10. Feature Information for Configuring Authentication

Feature Name

Releases

Feature Information

AAA Method Lists Enhancement

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

This feature allows you to enable fallback methods for authentication, authorization or accounting. The fallback methods could include trying groups of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers or a local database in some cases.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following command was introduced or modified: aaa authentication ppp .

AAA Per-User Scalability

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.3

The AAA Per-User Scalability feature supports two RADIUS VSAs for ip vrf and ip unnumbered commands and creates subvirtual access interfaces if specified instead of full VA interface to achieve higher scalability.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.3, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

Challege Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

PPP currently supports two authentication protocols: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) and Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP). Both are specified in RFC 1334 and are supported on synchronous and asynchronous interfaces. Authentication via PAP or CHAP is equivalent to typing in a username and password when prompted by the server. CHAP is considered to be more secure because the remote user’s password is never sent across the connection.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ppp authentication , ppp chap password , ppp chap refuse .

Domain Stripping at the Server Group Level

Cisco IOS XE Release 3.4S

The Domain Stripping feature allows domain stripping to be configured at the server group level. Per-server group configuration overrides the global configuration.

The following sections provide information about this feature:

The following command was introduced: domain-stripping .

Double Authentication

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following commands were introduced or modified: aaa authentication , aaa authorization , access-profile .

Message Banners for AAA Authentication

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following command was introduced: aaa authentication banner .

MS-CHAP Version 1

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (MS-CHAP) is the Microsoft version of CHAP and is an extension of RFC 1994. Like the standard version of CHAP, MS-CHAP is used for PPP authentication; in this case, authentication occurs between a PC using Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 95 and a Cisco router or access server acting as a network access server.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ppp authentication .

Password Authentication Protocol (PAP)

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

PPP currently supports two authentication protocols: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) and Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP). Both are specified in RFC 1334 and are supported on synchronous and asynchronous interfaces. Authentication via PAP or CHAP is equivalent to typing in a username and password when prompted by the server. CHAP is considered to be more secure because the remote user’s password is never sent across the connection.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ppp authentication , ppp pap sent-username , ppp pap refuse .

RADIUS—CLI to Prevent Sending of Access Request with a Blank Username

Cisco IOS XE Release 2.4

This authentication feature prevents an Access Request with a blank username from being sent to the RADIUS server. This functionality ensures that unnecessary RADIUS server interaction is avoided, and RADIUS logs are kept short.

In Cisco IOS XE Release 2.4, this feature was introduced on the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

The following command was introduced: aaa authentication suppress null-username .