RFC 2881 (rfc2881) - Page 2 of 20

Network Access Server Requirements Next Generation (NASREQNG) NAS Model

RFC 2881                    NASreq NAS Model                   July 2000


    9.1 A Reference Model of a NAS .................................10
    9.2 Terminology ................................................11
    9.3 Analysis ...................................................13
     9.3.1 Authentication and Security .............................13
     9.3.2 Authorization and Policy ................................14
     9.3.3 Accounting and Auditing .................................14
     9.3.4 Resource Management .....................................14
     9.3.5 Virtual Private Networks (VPN's) ........................14
     9.3.6 Service Quality .........................................15
     9.3.7 Roaming .................................................15
   10. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS......................................15
   11. REFERENCES ..................................................16
   12. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..............................................17
   13. AUTHORS' ADDRESSES ..........................................17
   14. APPENDIX - ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY:............................18
   15. FULL COPYRIGHT STATEMENT.....................................20

1. Introduction

   A Network Access Server is the initial entry point to a network for
   the majority of users of network services.  It is the first device in
   the network to provide services to an end user, and acts as a gateway
   for all further services.  As such, its importance to users and
   service providers alike is paramount.  However, the concept of a
   Network Access Server has grown up over the years without being
   formally defined or analyzed [4].

1.1 Scope of this Document

   There are several tradeoffs taken in this document.  The purpose of
   this document is to describe a model for evaluating NAS service
   protocols.  It will give examples of typical NAS hardware and
   software features, but these are not to be taken as hard limitations
   of the model, but merely illustrative of the points of discussion.
   An important goal of the model is to offer a framework that allows
   further development and expansion of capabilities in NAS
   implementation.

   As with most IETF projects, the focus is on standardizing the
   protocol interaction between the components of the system.  The
   documents produced will not address the following areas:

   - AAA server back-end implementation is abstracted and not
     prescribed.  The actual organization of the data in the server, its
     internal interfaces, and capabilities are left to the
     implementation.





Mitton & Beadles             Informational