Patent ID: 9172686
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: maintaining a respective first classification policy structure and a respective second classification policy structure different than the first classification policy structure for each authentication mechanism supported by a network element; facilitating authentication of a client device attempting to connect to a port of the network element using a particular authentication mechanism, wherein said facilitating includes determining whether the client device is configured for being authenticated using a first authentication mechanism and, in response to determining that the client device is not configured for being authenticated using the first authentication mechanism by the client device failing the first authentication mechanism, determining whether the client device is configured for being authenticated using at least one other authentication mechanism to arrive at the particular authentication mechanism; providing the client device with network connectivity dependent upon the respective first classification policy structure of the particular authentication mechanism in response to the client device being successfully authenticated; and providing the client device with network connectivity dependent upon the respective second classification policy structure of the particular authentication mechanism in response to the client device failing to be successfully authenticated.