VLAN assignment

Authorization VLAN

The device uses the authorization VLAN to control the access of a MAC authentication user to authorized network resources.

The device supports the following VLAN authorization methods:

Remote VLAN authorization—The authorization VLAN information of a MAC authentication user is assigned by a remote server. The device can resolve server-assigned VLANs in the form of VLAN ID or VLAN name.
The port through which the user accesses the device is assigned to the authorization VLAN as a tagged or untagged member.
Local VLAN authorization—The authorization VLAN of a MAC authentication user is specified in user view or user group view in the form of VLAN ID on the device.
The port through which the user accesses the device is assigned to the VLAN as an untagged member. Tagged VLAN assignment is not supported.
For more information about local authorization VLAN configuration, see "Configuring AAA."

Table 10 describes the way the network access device handles authorization VLANs for MAC authenticated users.

Table 10: VLAN manipulation

Port type	VLAN manipulation
Access port Trunk port Hybrid port with MAC-based-VLAN disabled	If the port is assigned to the authorization VLAN as an untagged member, the device assigns the port to the first authenticated user's authorization VLAN. The authorization VLAN becomes the PVID. All MAC authentication users on the port must be assigned the same authorization VLAN. If a different authorization VLAN is assigned to a subsequent user, the user cannot pass MAC authentication. If the port is assigned to the authorization VLAN as a tagged member, the PVID of the port does not change. The device maps the MAC address of each user to its own authorization VLAN. NOTE: An access port can be assigned to an authorization VLAN only as an untagged VLAN member.
Hybrid port with MAC-based VLAN enabled	The device maps the MAC address of each user to its own authorization VLAN regardless of whether the port is a tagged member. The PVID of the port does not change.

Port type

VLAN manipulation

Access port
Trunk port
Hybrid port with MAC-based-VLAN disabled

If the port is assigned to the authorization VLAN as an untagged member, the device assigns the port to the first authenticated user's authorization VLAN. The authorization VLAN becomes the PVID. All MAC authentication users on the port must be assigned the same authorization VLAN. If a different authorization VLAN is assigned to a subsequent user, the user cannot pass MAC authentication.
If the port is assigned to the authorization VLAN as a tagged member, the PVID of the port does not change. The device maps the MAC address of each user to its own authorization VLAN.

NOTE:

An access port can be assigned to an authorization VLAN only as an untagged VLAN member.

Hybrid port with MAC-based VLAN enabled

The device maps the MAC address of each user to its own authorization VLAN regardless of whether the port is a tagged member. The PVID of the port does not change.

IMPORTANT:

As a best practice, always assign a hybrid port to a VLAN as an untagged member. After the assignment, do not reconfigure the port as a tagged member in the VLAN.

Guest VLAN

The MAC authentication guest VLAN on a port accommodates users who fail MAC authentication for any reasons other than server unreachable. For example, the VLAN accommodates users who have entered an invalid password.

You can deploy a limited set of network resources in the MAC authentication guest VLAN. For example, a software server for downloading software and system patches.

A hybrid port is always assigned to a MAC authentication guest VLAN as an untagged member. After the assignment, do not reconfigure the port as a tagged member in the VLAN.

Table 11 shows the way that the network access device handles guest VLANs for MAC authentication users.

Table 11: VLAN manipulation

Authentication status	VLAN manipulation
A user in the MAC authentication guest VLAN fails MAC authentication for any reasons other than server unreachable.	The user is still in the MAC authentication guest VLAN.
A user in the MAC authentication guest VLAN passes MAC authentication.	The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the authorization VLAN assigned by the authentication server. If no authorization VLAN is configured for the user on the authentication server, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.

Authentication status

VLAN manipulation

A user in the MAC authentication guest VLAN fails MAC authentication for any reasons other than server unreachable.

The user is still in the MAC authentication guest VLAN.

A user in the MAC authentication guest VLAN passes MAC authentication.

The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the authorization VLAN assigned by the authentication server.

If no authorization VLAN is configured for the user on the authentication server, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.

Critical VLAN

The MAC authentication critical VLAN on a port accommodates users who fail MAC authentication because no RADIUS authentication servers are reachable. Users in a MAC authentication critical VLAN can access only network resources in the critical VLAN.

The critical VLAN feature takes effect when MAC authentication is performed only through RADIUS servers. If a MAC authentication 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."

Table 12 shows the way that the network access device handles critical VLANs for MAC authentication users.

Table 12: VLAN manipulation

Authentication status	VLAN manipulation
A user fails MAC authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.	The device maps the MAC address of the user to the MAC authentication critical VLAN. The user is still in the MAC authentication critical VLAN if the user fails MAC reauthentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable. If no MAC authentication critical VLAN is configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.
A user in the MAC authentication critical VLAN fails MAC authentication for any reasons other than server unreachable.	If a guest VLAN has been configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the guest VLAN. If no guest VLAN is configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.
A user in the MAC authentication critical VLAN passes MAC authentication.	The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the authorization VLAN assigned by the authentication server. If no authorization VLAN is configured for the user on the authentication server, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the access port.

Authentication status

VLAN manipulation

A user fails MAC authentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.

The device maps the MAC address of the user to the MAC authentication critical VLAN.

The user is still in the MAC authentication critical VLAN if the user fails MAC reauthentication because all the RADIUS servers are unreachable.

If no MAC authentication critical VLAN is configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.

A user in the MAC authentication critical VLAN fails MAC authentication for any reasons other than server unreachable.

If a guest VLAN has been configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the guest VLAN.

If no guest VLAN is configured, the device maps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the port.

A user in the MAC authentication critical VLAN passes MAC authentication.

The device remaps the MAC address of the user to the authorization VLAN assigned by the authentication server.

If no authorization VLAN is configured for the user on the authentication server, the device remaps the MAC address of the user to the PVID of the access port.

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