In an 802.1X deployment, the authenticator is typically the switch. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes true
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

In 802.1X, the authenticator is the device at the edge of the network that controls access to a specific port and enforces the authentication policy. It sits between the supplicant (the client) and the authentication server, forwarding EAPOL frames from the client to the server and only allowing traffic onto the network after successful authentication. In most wired deployments, the switch functions as this authenticator, blocking the port until the client is authenticated and then opening it once validation succeeds. Because the statement describes the common role of the authenticator in typical setups, it’s true. (Note that in wireless scenarios, an access point can also perform this role, but the standard wired case is the switch.)