Configuring an Interface Authentication Mode

Context

Interface authentication, using an authentication mode and a password, is performed among neighboring switches. The priority of interface authentication is higher than that of area authentication.

If plain is selected in the interface authentication configuration, the password is stored in plaintext in the configuration file. For security purposes, you are advised to select cipher to store the password in ciphertext.

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

Procedure

Run system-view
The system view is displayed.
Run interface interface-type interface-number
The OSPF 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 an authentication mode or null authentication on an interface as required:
- Run ospf authentication-mode simple [ plain plain-text | [ cipher ] cipher-text ]
  
  Simple authentication is configured for the OSPF interface.
  - simple: indicates that simple authentication is used.
  - plain: indicates that the password is stored in plaintext.
  - cipher: indicates that the password is stored in ciphertext. For MD5 authentication or HMAC-MD5 authentication, the password is stored in ciphertext by default.
- Run ospf authentication-mode { md5 | hmac-md5 | hmac-sha256 } [ key-id { plain plain-text | [ cipher ] cipher-text } ]
  
  An authentication mode is configured for the OSPF interface.
  - md5: indicates that MD5 ciphertext authentication is used.
  - hmac-md5: indicates that HMAC-MD5 ciphertext authentication is used.
  - hmac-sha256: indicates that HMAC-SHA256 ciphertext authentication is used.
- Run ospf authentication-mode null
  
  Null authentication is configured on the OSPF interface.
- Run ospf authentication-mode keychain keychain-name
  
  Keychain authentication is configured for the OSPF interface.
  
  Before using Keychain authentication, configure Keychain information in the system view. To enable switches to successfully establish an OSPF neighbor relationship, ensure that key-id, algorithm, and key-string in the local ActiveSendKey are the same as those in the remote ActiveRecvKey.
  
  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.