Authentication server

A device used in network access control. It stores the usernames and passwords that identify the clients logging in, or it may hold the algorithms for token access (see authentication token). For access to specific network resources, the server may itself store user permissions and company policies or provide access to directories that contain the information.

RADIUS is the most widely used protocol for authentication servers. TACACS+ is a Cisco-developed product that has also been popular. The authentication server may be a stand-alone system or software that resides in an Ethernet switch, wireless access point (AP) or network access server (NAS). See AAA server, RADIUS and 802.1x.

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Authentication servers are servers that provide authentication services to users or other systems via networking. Remotely placed users and other servers authenticate to such a server, and receive cryptographic tickets. These tickets are then exchanged with one another to verify identity.

Authentication is used as the basis for authorization (determining whether a privilege will be granted to a particular user or process), privacy (keeping information from becoming known to non-participants), and non-repudiation (not being able to deny having done something that was authorized to be done based on the authentication).

The major authentication algorithms utilized are passwords, Kerberos, and public key encryption.

See also

• TACACS+
• RADIUS
• Multi-factor authentication

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