What is a radius server? Is it exclusively for Wireless networks, or does it work for all
connections of networks.

My access point gives a ip setting for a radius server which I presume is to lock out all who want access to the net unless they enter a password and user name.

Am I right and does freeradius do the job or have I to find some other software?

Using Mandrake 10.1

Help would be appreciated

No.

Radius is a method of providing configuration information to authenticated users via a centrally controled "server".

Home users have no business around this item, as it's usually used for large or large scale networks...

e.g. your ISP may use one to authenticate cable modems, etc.

Thanks but I learnt little from your reply.

The use is for small wireless networks some of those live in homes and some are sitting in cafe's and bars within the range of the wireless access point.

My access points have a need for a radius server and I presume this "configuration information" should be enough to give access to the wireless network. The access point already supplies DHCP so I suspect the radius server does username and password, with a small wireless network it should be possible to give access to the users within the area of the access points.

Usually large, or large scale networks, perhaps this is going to include small scale networks with the growth of wireless?

A Radius server can indeed be used to authenticate clients that in turn connect to various AP's.

It would be fairly good in an environment wherein you have roaming clients as you've stated.

Basically the client machine polls the AP which passes the configuration request back to the Radius server.

The Radius server authenticates the user then passes back the pass/fail state to the AP, which is then permitted (or not) to dole out an IP and/or access.


Radius is not specific to WiFi devices though. It can be used in any environment wherein devices are only given permission to a network only after they have been authorized (authenticated).