# 802.1X 802.1X provides a robust security framework for networks. It prevents unauthorized access by requiring each user or device to be authenticated before gaining network access. The protocol supports a variety of authentication methods and is scalable to large networks The main components of 802.1X are the **supplicant** (client device), the **authenticator** (network device, such as a switch or wireless access point), and the **authentication** server (typically a RADIUS server). The Authenticator allows or denies network access to the supplicant based on the response received from the authentication server. The client credentials can be a username and password or a digital certificate. The authenticator does not need to have knowledge of the authentication method (PEAP, EAP-TLS, etc). The authentication messages are tunneled to the authentication server over the RADIUS Protocol. MAC-based vs port-based authentication --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://sanderzegers.gitbook.io/fortiswitch/security-features/802.1x.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.