User Authentication with RADIUS

Introduction

Welcome to the User Authentication with RADIUS Practice Lab. In this module you will be provided with the instructions and devices needed to develop your hands-on skills.

Learning Outcomes

In this module, you will complete the following exercises:

• Exercise 1 - Manage Network Policy Server
• Exercise 2 - Configure VPN Server and Client
• Exercise 3 - View NPS Logs

After completing this lab, you will be able to:

• Install and configure RADIUS
• Configure the VPN server and a Windows 10 dial-in client
• Interpret the contents of NPS logs

Exam Objectives

The following exam objectives are covered in this lab:

• Understand user authentication - Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS)

Lab Duration

It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete this lab.

Exercise 1 - Manage Network Policy Server

Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service or RADIUS is networking protocol that enables dial up or VPN servers to communicate with a central server to authenticate remote users, authorize their access to the network resource and account for the number of minutes a user while connected to the service for billing and network statistics.

Network Policy Service or NPS is Microsoft’s implementation of the RADIUS protocol in Windows Server. NPS is configured to connect with a RADIUS client—typically a VPN server owned by an external organization. A shared secret or password is used to secure the connection between the NPS server and RADIUS client.

In this lab, you will learn how to install and configure a Network Policy Server, set up a RADIUS client, prepare a Windows client as a VPN server and analyze the content of a RADIUS accounting log using an NPS reader.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this exercise, you will be able to:

• Install and configure RADIUS

Exercise 2 - Prepare VPN Server and Client

After setting up the prerequisites on PLABDM01 - the Network Policy Server and PLABDM02 - the VPN server, you will now prepare the necessary configuration on the VPN server and a Windows 10 dial-in client to ensure successful connectivity.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this exercise, you will be able to:

• Configure the VPN server and a Windows 10 dial-in client

Exercise 3 - View NPS Logs

Network Policy Server (NPS) generate log files that record the session between the RADIUS server and client. This log file is essential as it is typically used by RADIUS server administrators to troubleshoot connection issues and collect the necessary data for billing and network statistics.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this exercise, you will be able to:

• Interpret the contents of NPS logs