Chapter 5 - User Authentication

Abstract

The chapter provides an overview of user authentication, which is one of the most important aspects of the Sonic WALL firewall. Without a method of providing for the authentication of users, the firewall would lack the ability to limit who has access to administrative features or virtual private networks (VPNs). By providing a set of strong user authentication capabilities, the Sonic WALL firewall helps secure the network. The Sonic WALL firewall also provides a balance between security and ease-of-use via many features supported in its authentication mechanisms. The chapter discusses the types of users and how they should be used. Local Users and Guest Accounts are the two types of users the Sonic WALL authentication system has. Each of the types of users has specific capabilities associated with its use. The chapter also describes the types of authentication servers, the features that each authentication user has, and what limitations one should be aware of. The chapter highlights how to set up users, authentication servers, and more.