Patent ID: 11863527
Assignee: ARISTA NETWORKS, INC.
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC G  H

Claim 8:
9. A switch device, the switch device comprising:
memory configured to store a program code; and
a processor that when executing the program code causes the switch device to perform operations including:
allowing a network device in a network to communicate with other network devices in the network through a first switch device port of the switch device and not allowing the network device to communicate with said other network devices through a second switch device port of the switch device;
receiving one or more authentication packets from the network device on the second switch device port, the authentication packets directed to an authentication host device, separate from the switch device, for authentication to communicate with said other network devices through the second switch device port;
transmitting an authentication request to the authentication host device;
allowing the network device to communicate with said other network devices through the second switch device port, in response to receiving an acknowledgment from the authentication host device; and
maintaining in a forwarding table an association between the network device and the second switch port of the switch to indicate that the network device is authenticated for communication on the second switch device port.