> # Authentication and Authorization Process

> Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of the person managing the switch. This identity verification is based on the user ID and password combination provided by the person managing the switch. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches allow you to perform local authentication (using the lookup database) or remote authentication (using one or more RADIUS servers or TACACS+ servers).

> Authorization provides access control. It is the process of assembling a set of attributes that describe what the user is authorized to perform. Based on the user ID and password combination, the user is authenticated and authorized to access the network as per the assigned role. You can configure parameters that can prevent unauthorized access by an user, provided the switches use the TACACS+ protocol.

> AAA authorization is the process of assembling a set of attributes that describe what the user is authorized to perform. Authorization in the Cisco NX-OS software is provided by attributes that are downloaded from AAA servers. Remote security servers, such as RADIUS and TACACS+, authorize users for specific rights by associating attribute-value (AV) pairs, which define those rights with the appropriate user.

> Note No more server groups left = no response from any server in all server groups.
> No more servers left = no response from any server within this server group.

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