What is Radius?

Radius is a type of networking protocol that enables communication between dial-up or wireless users and a central authentication server. It authenticates users’ logins to access a given network, usually through authentication packages such as PPP, Wi-Fi, or PPPoE. Radius is a very suitable authentication protocol for remote access servers and works with a variety of different LANs and remote access technologies. Radius can also be used for connecting to other networks for data-transmission and remote-administration purposes.

Radius and its origins

Radius was first developed in the early 1990s and is based on the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS). RADIUS was developed to operate as a distributed system for remote authentication. It was originally designed for dial-up remote authentication, through authentication protocols such as PPP, but has since been adapted to support encryption and authentication of users via Wi-Fi and other wireless networks. The protocol is well-known due to its widespread usage in a variety of different contexts, including in corporate networks and in the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry.

Features of Radius

Radius provides extremely secure and efficient network authentication, with features such as multicast support, automatic reconnection, support for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and sophisticated user login procedures. The RADIUS protocol also allows for dynamic requests, meaning that the server can request additional information from clients or provide additional data to clients. This makes it suitable for dynamic networks, as clients can be authenticated or granted access to services within a quickly changing environment.

Radius is a powerful tool for networks of any size and is particularly useful for large networks that are spread out across multiple locations. It allows for seamless authentication to multiple access points, enabling users to move freely between them. It also offers additional security for networks, as it authenticates user logins at multiple points in the network and has built-in mechanisms for detecting malicious activity.