Software Information

Introduction To ISDN, Part III: PAP


Introduction To ISDN, Part III: Configuring PPP PAP Authentication

Now we know how the ISDN link comes up (interesting traffic), and some scenarios that might cause the link to stay up, we need to look at ISDN authentication schemes. The two methods Cisco certification candidates must be familiar with are PAP and CHAP.

Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) sends the username and password over the ISDN link in clear-text. Sending any passwords over any WAN link in clear-text is generally a bad idea, but it's important to know you have this option.

Regarding both PAP and CHAP, it's a common misunderstanding that each side must authenticate the other. PAP and CHAP both support bidirectional and unidirectional authentication; that is, R1 can authenticate R2 without R2 necessarily authenticating R1. It's more common to use unidirectional authentication in a lab environment than a production network, but keep in mind that bidirectional authentication is an option, not a requirement.

The configurations of PAP and CHAP do have their similarities. For both, you'll configure a username/password combination in global configuration mode. Newcomers to ISDN sometimes put the local router name in for the username; remember that the remote router name is the username.

The only real advantage of PAP over CHAP comes in the password configuration. Since PAP actually sends the password as a whole over the link, the two routers can send different passwords during authentication. The operation of CHAP requires that both routers use the same password, and we'll see why in tomorrow's article.

Under the BRI interface, you'll enter encapsulation ppp and ppp authentication pap. So far, your authentication scheme looks like this:

username R2 password CCNA

Int bri0


encapsulation ppp


ppp authentication pap

PAP requires an extra command at this point. The ppp pap sent-username command is required under the interface, indicating the username and password this router will be sending to the remote router.

Int bri0


encapsulation ppp


ppp authentication pap


ppp pap sent-username R1 password CISCO

I always encourage CCNA and CCNP candidates to use as many debugs as possible when working in their lab, since these commands show us how things work. For any PPP authentication, always run debug ppp negotiation before sending interesting traffic to trigger the call. Watching exactly how PAP and CHAP work give you a much better understanding of what's going on "behind the command", and makes you a stronger candidate and a stronger networking engineer.

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at CHAP, and why routers cannot use the same password on both ends of the link.

Keep studying!

Chris Bryant


CCIE ? #12933


chris@thebryantadvantage.com

About The Author

Chris Bryant, CCIE (TM) #12933, has been active in the Cisco certification community for years. He worked his way up from the CCNA to the CCIE, and knows what CCNA and CCNP candidates need to know to be effective on the job and in the exam room.

He is the owner of http://www.thebryantadvantage.com, where he teaches CCNA and CCNP courses to small groups of exam candidates, ensuring they each receive the individual attention they deserve. Classes are offered over the Internet and in person in select cities. Chris has custom-written the Study Guide and Lab Workbook used in each course - no third-party training materials or simulators are used. You're invited to visit our site and check out our CCNA and CCNP courses and study aids, and to sign up for our weekly newsletter written personally by Chris. Chris is always glad to hear from Cisco certification candidates at chris@thebryantadvantage.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Earthtimes (press release)

Elliott Terminates Tender Offer to Acquire Epicor Software Corporation
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
... LP and Elliott International, LP (collectively, "Elliott" or "we"), a major shareholder of Epicor Software Corporation (the "Company" or "Epicor"), ...
Epicor drops after hedge fund ends hostile bid Forbes
Hedge Fund Elliott Associates Withdraws Offer for Epicor Software Orange County Business Journal
UPDATE 1-Hedge Fund ends offer for Epicor Reuters
RTT News - Barron's Blogs
all 45 news articles


New York Times

The best thing about the 2.2 iPhone software update
CNET News, CA - Nov 21, 2008
When it some to iPhone software updates, I'm all about the basics. Apple could enable the iPhone to cook my dinner every night, but if it added multimedia ...
First Look: Apple's iPhone 2.2 Software Hits The Street (And ... CRN
Lots to like about new iPhone 2.2 software update Ars Technica
Apple releases iPhone Software v2.2 Apple Insider
G4 TV - infoSync World
all 144 news articles


ZDNet

Microsoft to offer free security software to attract beginners
eTaiwan News, Taiwan - Nov 21, 2008
19 to stop selling personal computer security software and to use free personal anti-virus software instead. The new software called Morro can support seven ...
Microsoft: New software not Symantec, McAfee rival Reuters
Microsoft Plans to Introduce Free PC Security Software Wall Street Journal
Microsoft to offer free security software NetworkWorld.com
Washington Post - Bizjournals.com
all 304 news articles


Vertical Releases Feature-Rich Software Update for Wave
MarketWatch - 20 hours ago
... today announced the release of the Wave 1.5 software upgrade to it's award winning Wave IP 2500(TM) Business Communications Solution, the industry's ...


Hann’s On Software bouht by Mediware
Bizjournals.com, NC - Nov 21, 2008
Mediware Information Systems Inc. has bought the assets of Hann’s On Software, a pharmacy-management software provider based in Santa Rosa, for $3.5 million ...
Mediware Acquisition Adds 320 Pharmacy Facilities MarketWatch
Mediware Information buys assets of Hann's On Software - Quick Facts RTT News
Mediware Acquisition Adds 320 Pharmacy Facilities International Business Times
all 19 news articles


AVG Sees Uphill Battle for Microsoft in Its Launch of Free Anti ...
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
AVG, which for eight years has offered free anti-virus software to users worldwide, noted the multiple challenges Microsoft faces in supporting a free ...
AVG sees 'uphill battle' for Microsoft Morro TechRadar UK
Microsoft Announces Upcoming Events for the Financial Community NewsBlaze
Microsoft Announces Upcoming Events for the Financial Community MarketWatch
all 30 news articles


Microsoft’s Mike Neil Keynotes at SYS-CON's 4th International ...
SYS-CON Media, NJ - 19 hours ago
... Black Duck Software, Blackbaud, Blade Network Technologies, Blue Coat, Blue Lane, BlueArc, BlueNote Networks, BluePheonix Solutions, BMC Software, ...
Teaching Everyone to Speak Big Blue New York Times
IBM To Acquire Virtualization Specialist Transitive InformationWeek
IBM To Buy Virtualization-Software Company Transitive NewsFactor Network
eWeek - SearchDataCenter.com
all 95 news articles


Frankly speaking, speech software better but still not great
Seattle Times, United States - 11 hours ago
Getting a computer to turn your speech into words on the screen requires buying expensive, resource-intensive software and mastering a sometimes confusing ...


Authoria Appoints New President and CEO
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
Prior to joining Authoria, Mr. McDevitt was most recently Chief Operating Officer of CDC Software, a $360 million division of CDC Corporation and a global ...


Microsoft purges phony security software from 1 million PCs
Computerworld, MA - 22 hours ago
Windows users have been plagued with a flood of worthless security software in recent months as criminals have discovered that they're money-makers. ...

Software - Google News

home | site map
© 2006