Question

What should you configure first, the local account or enabling aaa?

Answer 1

First, configure the local account before enabling AAA on network devices to ensure there's a backup authentication method if AAA fails or external servers are inaccessible. This order ensures device access security and fallback options.

Step-by-step explanation:

When setting up an authentication system for network devices, you should typically configure the local account before enabling AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting). This is because if there are issues with the AAA configuration or the external AAA servers are unreachable, you can still access the device using local credentials. Moreover, configuring the local account first ensures you have a backup method for authentication.

Here is the recommended order of operations:

1. Establish the local account with a strong username and password.
2. Enable AAA services on the device.
3. Configure AAA with the necessary method lists and point them to the appropriate server groups if you plan to use external servers for authentication.

Remember, maintaining secure access to your network infrastructure is critical, and having a fallback local account can save much time and effort in case of unforeseen issues with AAA.