FREERADIUS TECHNICAL GUIDE CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION WHAT IS FREERADIUS? Chapter 1 - Introduction
THE FREERADIUS TECHNICAL GUIDE CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION WHAT IS FREERADIUS? Chapter 1 - Introduction This chapter describes: • What is RADIUS? • What is FreeRADIUS? • FreeRADIUS benefits • FreeRADIUS case studies 1.0 What is RADIUS? RADIUS, which stands for “Remote Authentication Dial In User Service”, is a network protocol - a system that defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices - for remote user authentication and accounting. Commonly used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), cellular network providers, and corporate and educational networks, the RADIUS protocol serves three primary functions: • Authenticates users or devices before allowing them access to a network • Authorizes those users or devices for specific network services • Accounts for and tracks the usage of those services For a detailed look at how RADIUS performs these functions, see section 2.2, “The RADIUS Session Process”, on page 11. 1.0.1 History In 1991, Merit Network, a non-profit internet provider, required a creative way to manage dial-in access to various Points-Of-Presence (POPs) across its network. In response to this need, RADIUS was created by Livingston Enterprises. At the time RADIUS was created, network access systems were distributed across a wide area and were run by multiple independent organizations. Central administrators wanted to prevent problems with security and scalability, and thus did not want to distribute user names and passwords; instead, they wanted the remote access servers to contact a central server to authorize access to the requested system or service. In response to contact from the remote access server, the central server would return a “success” or “failure” message, and the remote machines would be in charge of enforcing this response for each end user.
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