Critical VLAN

The 802.1X critical VLAN on a port accommodates 802.1X users who have failed authentication because none of the RADIUS servers in their ISP domain are reachable. Users in the critical VLAN can access a limited set of network resources depending on the configuration.

The critical VLAN feature takes effect when 802.1X authentication is performed only through RADIUS servers. If an 802.1X user fails local authentication after RADIUS authentication, the user is not assigned to the critical VLAN. For more information about the authentication methods, see "Configuring AAA."

The access device handles VLANs on an 802.1X-enabled port based on its 802.1X access control method.

• On a port that performs port-based access control:

  Authentication status	VLAN manipulation
  A user that has not been assigned to any VLAN fails 802.1X authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The device assigns the critical VLAN to the port as the PVID. The 802.1X user and all subsequent 802.1X users on this port can access only resources in the 802.1X critical VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The critical VLAN is still the PVID of the port, and all 802.1X users on this port are in this VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN fails authentication for any reasons other than unreachable servers.	If an 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN has been configured, the PVID of the port changes to the Auth-Fail VLAN ID, and all 802.1X users on this port are moved to the Auth-Fail VLAN. If no 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN is configured, the initial PVID of the port is restored.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN passes 802.1X authentication.	The device assigns the authorization VLAN of the user to the port as the PVID, and it removes the port from the 802.1X critical VLAN. After the user logs off, the guest VLAN ID changes to the PVID. If no 802.1X guest VLAN is configured, the initial PVID of the port is restored. If the authentication server (either the local access device or a RADIUS server) does not authorize a VLAN, the initial PVID of the port applies. The user and all subsequent 802.1X users are assigned to this port VLAN. After the user logs off, the PVID remains unchanged.
  A user in the 802.1X guest VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The device assigns the 802.1X critical VLAN to the port as the PVID, and all 802.1X users on this port are in this VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The PVID of the port remains unchanged. All 802.1X users on this port can access only resources in the 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN.
  A user who has passed authentication fails reauthentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable, and the user is logged out of the device.	The device assigns the 802.1X critical VLAN to the port as the PVID.

• On a port that performs MAC-based access control:

  Authentication status	VLAN manipulation
  A user that has not been assigned to any VLAN fails 802.1X authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The device maps the MAC address of the user to the 802.1X critical VLAN. The user can access only resources in the 802.1X critical VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The user is still in the critical VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN fails 802.1X authentication for any reasons other than unreachable servers.	If an 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN has been configured, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the Auth-Fail VLAN ID. If no 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN has been configured, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the initial PVID.
  A user in the 802.1X critical VLAN passes 802.1X authentication.	The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the authorization VLAN. If the authentication server (either the local access device or a RADIUS server) does not authorize a VLAN to the user, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the initial PVID on the port.
  A user in the 802.1X guest VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the 802.1X critical VLAN. The user can access only resources in the 802.1X critical VLAN.
  A user in the 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN fails authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The user remains in the 802.1X Auth-Fail VLAN.

  For the 802.1X critical VLAN feature to take effect on a port that performs MAC-based access control, make sure the following requirements are met:

  • The port is a hybrid port.

  • MAC-based VLAN is enabled on the port.

  The network device assigns a hybrid port to an 802.1X critical VLAN as an untagged member.

  For more information about VLAN configuration and MAC-based VLANs, see Layer 2—LAN Switching Configuration Guide.

  When a reachable RADIUS server is detected, the device performs the following operations:

  • If MAC-based access control is used, the device removes 802.1X users from the critical VLAN. The port sends a unicast EAP-Request/Identity to these users to trigger authentication.

  • If port-based access control is used, the device removes the port from the critical VLAN. The port sends a multicast EAP-Request/Identity to all 802.1X users on the port to trigger authentication.