What is a RADIUS Server?

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What is a RADIUS Server?

RADIUS stands for "Remote Authentication Dial In User Service", which is a system procedure and offers centralized entrance, approval, as well as accounting administration for individuals or computers to add and utilize a network service. There is often need of "Authentication" when an individual tries to fix to a network. People have to face a lot more problems while connecting their computers to a telecommunication network. For example-the telco wants to know the operator of the computer. When the identification is given, it may ask what services are preferred by the user. Plus, at that moment the telco collects billing date concerning to the consumed time or capability.

To solve all these problems and allow people to easily connect their computers to telecommunication network, RADIUS is used by most of the widespread open source and decorum systems. Systems associated with RADIUS are frequently put into services by telcos or several companies to identify their customers or employees with ease. RADIUS is good to use because it can easily determine the authorized rights of the users to execute and create a testimony of the entrance in the "Accounting" feature of the server.

RADIUS is in fact, an open-regular and UDP-based protocol that is originally developed by the IETF. It mechanically combines the verification and authorization procedures that make it quite hard to run only one but no more. Furthermore, RADIUS doesn't hold up the Novell Async Services Interface protocol, the NetBIOS Frame Protocol Control Protocol, X.25 Packet Assembler/ Dissembler or even Apple Talk Remote Access Protocol.

However, the RADIUS associated servers can verify that the information is exact through confirmation schemes including PAP, CHAP and EAP as well. Moreover, the RADIUS is frequently utilized to ease roaming services between ISPs and many companies use it because it provides a particular universal position of testimonials that can be used by most of public networks. The primary use of RADIUS is for Internet Service Providers, since it can be used on any network, which requires a centralized verification and accounting services for its workstations.

Hence, RADIUS enables centralized running of certification data like, usernames and passwords as well. The RADIUS server can accumulate these certified data locally but it may also store authentication data in an outdoor SQL database or even an external UNIX file. In fact, the RADIUS is an exceptional option to perform accounting without any hassle. It can also appreciably improve safety by enabling the centralization of password executive. Overall, if people take over the RADIUS server, they would have everything.

SUMMARY: overall, RADIUS is good for internet services providers, as well as companies to identify their customers or workers with ease. It can help users connect their computers to telecommunication without hassles.

Source : TechFaqs