What is a client who is using 802.1x for authentication referred to as?

The IEEE 802.1X standard defines a framework for port-based network access control. It specifies three distinct roles in the authentication process. The client device, such as a user's laptop or workstation that is attempting to connect to the network, is referred to as the supplicant. The supplicant requests access from the network device (e.g., a switch or wireless access point), which is known as the authenticator. The authenticator, in turn, communicates with an authentication server (typically a RADIUS server) to verify the supplicant's credentials and grant or deny access.

A. authenticator: The authenticator is the network device, such as a switch or wireless access point, that controls physical access to the network, not the client.

B. policy enforcement point: This describes the function of the authenticator (switch/AP), which enforces the access policy determined by the authentication server.

C. NAC device: This is a generic term that typically refers to the authenticator or authentication server within a Network Access Control (NAC) architecture, not the client endpoint.

1. Cisco Systems

Inc. (2021). Cisco Identity Services Engine Administrator Guide

Release 3.1. "Cisco ISE Architecture and Components

" Section: "802.1X". The guide states

"The IEEE 802.1X standard defines the roles for the authentication process: Supplicant: The client or user that wants to be authenticated... Authenticator: The network device

such as a switch or wireless access point

that acts as an intermediary between a supplicant and an authentication server."

2. Carnegie Mellon University Computing Services. (n.d.). 802.1x Wired Network Authentication. "How 802.1x Works". This document outlines the three components: "The Supplicant - software on the client machine... The Authenticator - the switch the client is plugged into... The Authentication Server - the server that authenticates the client."

3. Blasco

J.

& Møller

L. B. (2003). A survey of 802.1X network access control. University of Aalborg

Department of Computer Science. Section 2.1

"802.1X Architecture". This academic paper details the architecture

defining the supplicant as "the entity at one end of a point-to-point LAN segment that seeks to be authenticated by an Authenticator attached to the other end of that link."