Configuration considerations for authentication-method lists

  • For CLI access, you must configure authentication-method lists if you want the device to authenticate access using local user accounts or a RADIUS server. Otherwise, the device will authenticate using only the locally based password for the Super User privilege level.
  • When no authentication-method list is configured specifically for Web management access, the device performs authentication using the SNMP community strings:
    • For read-only access, you can use the user name “get” and the password “public”.
    • There is no default read-write community string. Thus, by default, you cannot open a read-write management session using the Web Management Interface. You first must configure a read-write community string using the CLI. Then you can log on using “set” as the user name and the read-write community string you configure as the password. Refer to TACACS and TACACS+ security.
  • If you configure an authentication-method list for Web management access and specify “local” as the primary authentication method, users who attempt to access the device using the Web Management Interface must supply a user name and password configured in one of the local user accounts on the device. The user cannot access the device by entering “set” or “get” and the corresponding SNMP community string.