Configuring a switch to access a RADIUS server

Before you configure the actual accounting parameters, configure the switch to use a RADIUS server. This process is outlined in Configuring the switch to access a RADIUS server. Repeat this now only if one of the following applies:

  • The switch is not yet configured to use a RADIUS server

  • Your server data has changed

  • You need to specify a non-default UDP destination port for accounting requests

NOTE:

Switch operation expects a RADIUS server to accommodate both authentication and accounting.

Syntax 

[no] radius-server host <ip-address>

Adds a server to the RADIUS configuration or (with no) deletes a server from the configuration.

[acct-port <port-number>]

Optional. Changes the UDP destination port for accounting requests to the specified RADIUS server. If you do not use this option, the switch automatically assigns the default accounting port number. (Default: 1813)

[key <key-string>]

Optional. Specifies an encryption key for use during accounting or authentication sessions with the specified server. This key must match the encryption key used on the RADIUS server. Use this command only if the specified server requires a different encryption key than configured for the global encryption key.

Note: If you save the config file using Xmodem or TFTP, the key information is not saved in the file. This causes RADIUS authentication to fail when the config file is loaded back onto the switch.

[encrypted-key <key-string>]

Encryption key to use with the RADIUS server, specified using a base64-encoded aes-256 encrypted string.

Example

Suppose you want the switch to use the RADIUS server described below for both authentication and accounting purposes.

  • IP address: 10.33.18.151

  • A non-default UDP port number of 1750 for accounting

  • An encryption key of "source0151" for accounting sessions

For this example, assume that all other RADIUS authentication parameters for accessing this server are acceptable at their default settings, and RADIUS is already configured as an authentication method for one or more types of access to the switch (Telnet, Console, etc.).

Example of configuring for a RADIUS Server with a non-default accounting UDP port number

The RADIUS-server command as shown in Example of configuring for a RADIUS Server with a non-default accounting UDP port number above, configures the switch to use a RADIUS server at IP address 10.33.18.151, with a non-default UDP accounting port of 1750, and a server-specific key of "source0151".