300-715 · Question #67
Which term refers to an endpoint agent that tries to join an 802.1X-enabled network?
The correct answer is B. supplicant. In an 802.1X authentication framework, the endpoint agent attempting to gain access to the network is referred to as the "supplicant." The supplicant interacts with the authenticator to provide credentials for verification by the authentication server.
Question
Which term refers to an endpoint agent that tries to join an 802.1X-enabled network?
Options
- AEAP server
- Bsupplicant
- Cclient
- Dauthenticator
How the community answered
(23 responses)- A4% (1)
- B96% (22)
Why each option
In an 802.1X authentication framework, the endpoint agent attempting to gain access to the network is referred to as the "supplicant." The supplicant interacts with the authenticator to provide credentials for verification by the authentication server.
An EAP server (Authentication Server) is the backend system (like Cisco ISE) that performs the actual authentication and authorization of the supplicant, not the agent trying to join.
In the 802.1X standard, the 'supplicant' is the entity (typically software running on an end-device like a laptop or smartphone) that requests access to the network and provides authentication credentials. It initiates the authentication process with the authenticator.
'Client' is a generic term for an end-device, but 'supplicant' is the specific 802.1X term for the entity requesting authentication.
The authenticator is the network device (e.g., switch port or wireless access point) that enforces 802.1X authentication and acts as an intermediary between the supplicant and the authentication server.
Concept tested: 802.1X roles (supplicant, authenticator, authentication server)
Source: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3750/software/release/12-2_40_se/configuration/guide/scg/sw8021x.html
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