Storing 802.1X port-access credentials

802.1X authenticator (port-access) credentials can be stored in a configuration file.
  • 802.1X authenticator credentials are used by a port to authenticate supplicants requesting a point-to-point connection to the switch.

  • 802.1X supplicant credentials are used by the switch to establish a point-to-point connection to a port on another 802.1X-aware switch.

Only 802.1X authenticator credentials are stored in a configuration file. For information about how to use 802.1X on the switch both as an authenticator and a supplicant, see Storing 802.1X port-access credentials.

The local password configured with the password command is no longer accepted as an 802.1X authenticator credential. A new configuration command password port-access is introduced to configure the local operator user name and password used as 802.1X authentication credentials for access to the switch.

The password port-access values are now configured separately from the manager and operator passwords configured with the password manager and password operator commands and used for management access to the switch. For information on the new password command syntax, see Setting a new console password

After entering the complete password port-access command, the password is set. You are not prompted to enter the password a second time.