User's Manual
5-19
Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
OL-11350-01
Chapter 5 Administering the Access PointWireless Device Access
 Configuring the Access Point for Local Authentication and Authorization
Configuring the Access Point for Local Authentication and 
Authorization
You can configure AAA to operate without a server by configuring the wireless device to implement 
AAA in local mode. The wireless device then handles authentication and authorization. No accounting 
is available in this configuration.
Note You can configure the wireless device as a local authenticator for 802.1x-enabled client devices to 
provide a backup for your main server or to provide authentication service on a network without a 
RADIUS server. See Chapter 9, “Configuring an Access Point as a Local Authenticator,” for detailed 
instructions on configuring the wireless device as a local authenticator.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure the wireless device for local AAA:
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
aaa new-model Enable AAA.
Step 3
aaa authentication login default local Set the login authentication to use the local username database. The 
default keyword applies the local user database authentication to all 
interfaces.
Step 4
aaa authorization exec local Configure user AAA authorization to determine if the user is allowed to 
run an EXEC shell by checking the local database.
Step 5
aaa authorization network local Configure user AAA authorization for all network-related service 
requests.
Step 6
username name [privilege level] 
{password encryption-type password}
Enter the local database, and establish a username-based authentication 
system.
Repeat this command for each user.
• For name, specify the user ID as one word. Spaces and quotation 
marks are not allowed.
• (Optional) For level, specify the privilege level the user has after 
gaining access. The range is 0 to 15. Level 15 gives privileged EXEC 
mode access. Level 0 gives user EXEC mode access.
• For encryption-type, enter 0 to specify that an unencrypted password 
follows. Enter 7 to specify that a hidden password follows.
• For password, specify the password the user must enter to gain access 
to the wireless device. The password must be from 1 to 25 characters, 
can contain embedded spaces, and must be the last option specified 
in the username command.
Note Characters TAB, ?, $, +, and [ are invalid characters for 
passwords.
Step 7
end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 8
show running-config Verify your entries.
Step 9
copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.










