Network Protocols Glossary
What is a network protocol? Protocols are the rules of the road for how data exists and moves on the network. They allow many different systems and computers to communicate.
Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) Protocol
What is Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) Protocol?
RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is a network access control protocol used to authenticate, authorize, and account for users who connect to a network. It is commonly used for dial-up, VPN, and wireless network access.
What is the purpose of RADIUS Protocol
Authentication Request: A network access server (NAS) sends an authentication request to a RADIUS server, containing information about the user attempting to connect.
RADIUS Server Processing: The RADIUS server verifies the user's credentials against a centralized database.
Authentication Response: The RADIUS server sends an authentication response to the NAS, indicating whether the user is authorized to access the network.
Authorization Request: If the user is authorized, the NAS may send an authorization request to the RADIUS server, requesting specific permissions for the user.
Authorization Response: The RADIUS server responds with the authorized permissions.
Accounting: The NAS sends accounting requests to the RADIUS server to record usage information, such as the duration of the session and the amount of data transferred.