Overview

Portal authentication helps control access to the Internet. Portal authentication is also called "web authentication." A website implementing portal authentication is called a portal website.

With portal authentication, an access device redirects all users to the portal authentication page. All users can access the free services provided on the portal website. However, to access the Internet, a user must pass portal authentication.

A user can access a known portal website and enter a username and password for authentication. This authentication mode is called active authentication. There is another authentication mode, forced authentication, in which the access device forces a user who is trying to access the Internet through HTTP to log on to a portal website for authentication.

The portal feature provides the flexibility for ISPs to manage services. A portal website can, for example, present advertisements and deliver community and personalized services. In this way, broadband network providers, equipment vendors, and content service providers form an industrial ecological system.