Configuring Interface Authentication

Context

Generally, IS-IS packets are sent without authentication information encapsulation, and the received packets are not authenticated. If a user sends malicious packets to attack a network, information on the entire network may be stolen. Therefore, you can configure IS-IS authentication to improve network security.

After IS-IS interface authentication is configured, authentication information can be encapsulated into Hello packets to confirm the validity and correctness of neighbor.

If plain is selected during the configuration of the authentication mode for the IS-IS interface, the password is saved in the configuration file in plain text. This brings security risks. It is recommended that you select cipher to save the password in cipher text.

Simple authentication and MD5 authentication have potential security risks. HMAC-SHA256 authentication mode is recommended.

Procedure

Run system-view
The system view is displayed.
Run interface interface-type interface-number
The interface view is displayed.
(Optional) On an Ethernet interface, run undo portswitch
The interface is switched to Layer 3 mode.

By default, an Ethernet interface works in Layer 2 mode.

Only the S5720-EI, S5720-HI, S5730-HI, S5731-H, S5731-S, S5731S-H, S5731S-S, S5732-H, S6720-EI, S6720-HI, S6720S-EI, S6730-H, S6730S-H, S6730-S, and S6730S-S support switching between Layer 2 and Layer 3 modes.
Run any of the following commands to configure the authentication mode of the IS-IS interface as required:
- Run isis authentication-mode simple { plain plain-text | [ cipher ] plain-cipher-text } [ level-1 | level-2 ] [ ip | osi ] [ send-only ]
  
  Simple authentication is configured for the IS-IS interface.
- Run isis authentication-mode md5 { plain plain-text | [ cipher ] plain-cipher-text } [ level-1 | level-2 ] [ ip | osi ] [ send-only ]
  
  MD5 authentication is configured for the IS-IS interface.
- Run isis authentication-mode hmac-sha256 key-id key-id { plain plain-text | [ cipher ] plain-cipher-text } [ level-1 | level-2 ] [ send-only ]
  
  HMAC-SHA256 authentication is configured for the IS-IS interface.
- Run isis authentication-mode keychain keychain-name [ level-1 | level-2 ] [ send-only ]
  
  Keychain authentication is configured for the IS-IS interface.
By default, an IS-IS interface does not authenticate received Hello packets and no authentication password is configured on the interface.
Use the send-only parameter according to network requirements:
- If the send-only parameter is specified, the device only encapsulates the Hello packets to be sent with authentication information rather than checks whether the received Hello packets pass the authentication. When the Hello packets do not need to be authenticated on the local device and pass the authentication on the remote device, the two devices can establish the neighbor relationship.
- If the send-only parameter is not specified, ensure that passwords of all interfaces with the same level on the same network are the same.
Only the S5720-EI, S5720-HI, S5730-HI, S5731-H, S5731-S, S5731S-H, S5731S-S, S5732-H, S6720-EI, S6720-HI, S6720S-EI, S6730-H, S6730S-H, S6730-S, and S6730S-S support keychain keychain-name.