evrything about 801.Xand Radius protocols, set up on macos and linux, client and serveur, logs
I would love to help you build a complete, solid mental model of 802.1X and RADIUS, and then walk you through setting everything up on Linux and macOS from scratch! Before we map out our official learning path and start looking at the architecture, I would love to know a bit more about what you are building so we can tailor the examples directly to your setup.
This is for a small office network.
Thanks for sharing that! A small office network is the perfect use case for 802.1X. Unlike home networks that rely on a single, shared Pre-Shared Key (PSK) where one leaked password compromises the entire office, 802.1X gives every single device its own unique, revocable key to the front door.
Your path
RADIUS Server Setup (Linux Focus)
Client-Side Configuration (macOS and Linux)
Logging, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting
The Gatekeeper Protocol
Let's start by defining itself. At its core, 802.1X is an IEEE standard for port-based Network Access Control (PNAC). Think of it as a physical or virtual gatekeeper standing at every network port (whether that port is an Ethernet jack on the wall or a wireless association to an access point).
When a device first connects, the port is kept in an "uncontrolled" state. In this state, the gatekeeper blocks all normal network traffic (like web browsing or email) and only allows cryptographic authentication messages to pass through. Once the user or device proves who they are, the port switches to a "controlled" state, and normal traffic is allowed to flow freely.