Internal and external users

Internal and external users are authentication categories that managed devices support for user access control.

  • Internal users authenticate through a local database on the device

  • External users authenticate through external LDAP or RADIUS authentication servers when not present in the local database, and

  • both user types enable secure access management to network devices.

User authentication types

Managed devices support these user authentication methods:

  • Internal user—The device checks a local database for user authentication.

  • External user—If the user is not present in the local database, the system queries an external LDAP or RADIUS authentication server.