PacketFence is a network access control platform for managing and securing access to wired and wireless networks. It combines authentication, device registration, access policies and network enforcement facilities to help organisations control which devices can connect to their infrastructure.
The software is suitable for environments containing a mixture of managed computers, personal devices, guest systems and network equipment. It is used in educational institutions, businesses and other organisations requiring consistent access controls across different network segments.
PacketFence supports standards-based network authentication and provides mechanisms for assigning devices to appropriate network roles. Its captive portal system can guide users through registration and authentication, while its enforcement facilities can restrict access for devices that do not meet the configured requirements. The platform also includes administrative, monitoring and troubleshooting tools for operating larger networks.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- IEEE 802.1X authentication for wired and wireless network access.
- RADIUS authentication, authorisation and accounting integration.
- Captive portal for network registration and guest access.
- Bring Your Own Device workflows for registering personal devices.
- Role-based access control and dynamic VLAN assignment.
- Support for certificate-based authentication using EAP-TLS.
- Public key infrastructure integration for issuing and managing device certificates.
- Automated device registration and provisioning.
- Isolation and remediation of devices that violate security policies.
- Microsoft Active Directory and LDAP integration.
- Device fingerprinting using DHCP information.
- Support for multiple network equipment vendors.
- Administrative interface for managing users, devices and network policies.
- Cluster-wide live log streaming and historical log inspection.
- Integrated authentication and policy testing through pftest.
- RADIUS authentication and accounting through pfconnector tunnels.
- Customisable captive portal themes for different connection profiles.
- High-availability and clustering capabilities.
- Reporting and accounting of network usage.
- Integration with firewalls and other network security infrastructure.
Website: www.packetfence.com
Support:
Developer: PacketFence project
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
PacketFence is written in Perl. Learn Perl with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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