TACACS+

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Main Page > General Information > Configuration Examples > Router control and monitoring > TACACS+

Introduction

This article contains instructions on configuring a RUTX router to start using the TACACS+ function. TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller Access Control System) is a security protocol that provides centralized validation of users who are attempting to gain access to a router or other devices. TACACS+ provides separate authentication, authorization, and accounting services. The TACACS+ will work on our newest firmware version which currently is 7.3, unfortunately, older firmware versions does not support this function.



Prerequisites

  • Docker Desktop
  • RUTX router
  • Firmware version that is not older than 7.3

Docker Desktop instructions

Visit https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/ and choose an appropriate version of the Docker Desktop for your operating system. Create yourself a free account to start with.

Creating Docker Containers

After completing the installation, and creating a new account, open up the terminal supported by your operating system and run the following command: 

docker run --name tac_plus -it -d -p 49:49 lfkeitel/tacacs_plus:latest


The result should be:

  • In console:

  • In Docker Desktop:


  • After successfully creating a container, copy the CONTAINER ID from the Docker Desktop application or console terminal.

Configuring the Docker container

  • Let's execute a command using a console terminal that will log in us into the Docker Container.
 docker exec -it <CONTAINER ID> /bin/bash

The result should look similar to this:


Now we need to make some adjustments to the configuration file of our container. To be able to edit the files, let's install a new application by using the following command in our console terminal: 

apt install nano

After installing the nano editor, enter the following command to edit the container configuration file: 

 nano etc/tac_plus/tac_plus.cfg

Edit the original user = admin to user = root and change the password, the password will override the original router password for the configured root user. Please do not delete the word "clear" (underlined in green in the example below) in front of the password. You can also edit the secret key in the host = world section, this variable is called a key, and by default, it’s set to tac_plus_key. After you finish the editing to save the configuration file click CTRL+X, then choose YES (Y button on the keyboard) and ENTER.

  • Make sure that port number 49 (TACACS) is accessible. Depending on your operating system make the required adjustments to the firewall. Restart the Docker container to start it with the new configuration settings.

Router configuration

Testing the configuration

  • Open the SSH client you are using.
  • Connect to the router via SSH as usual.
  • Enter the password you set in the tac_plus.cfg configuration file.
  • If you check the logs (logread command), you should see something like this:

  • Keep in mind that you wouldn't be able to access the router via SSH using the default router password unless you turn off the PAM authentication in the router's WEBUI.
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