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Idea #1234: Add access to authenticated wired networks

Written by tolonuga the 29 Feb 08 at 10:40. Category: Internet & Networking. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
Some companies worry who might use which ethernet port and maybe misuse it. So they deploy 802.1x authentication, similar to what is done with wireless access points. But with wired / ethernet the situation is much easier: encryption isn't needed, only the user needs to authenticate himself, for example with username and password.

There is well working open source software for this, such as xsupplicant. The problem: not included on (k)ubuntu by default. Yes, the user could download and install it. But he needs network access for this, and he might not have network access without the software already installed. So the user ends up in a dead end.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional for example includes this functionality by default - if you plug the ethernet cable into your laptop, you get a popup that authentication is required, if you click on it the dialog with username and password, and if they are correct the usual dhcp starts and you can use the network. A similar solution for (k)ubuntu would be great!
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #1234
Written by tolonuga the 29 Feb 08 at 10:40.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #1234 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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rawsausage wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 19:46
Uhh, networkmanager has got integrated xsupplicant already, it is well capable handling 802.1X.

tiagogiovanaz wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 13:15
In many companies, the home directory is stored in a server (NFS, samba).
Thus, it would be interesting some integration with gdm (kdm) so that make the authentication of network authentication before the operating system authentication.
An example of this functionality happens with use of the windows and securew2.
My ideia is: create a checkbox in gdm or in networkmanager with "Enable 802.1x authentication with home on server".

Tiago


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