Download PacketFence 1.8.1

An NAC system can be used to secure a network environment. This allows you to automatically block network devices when an undesirable situation occurs according to pre-set policies. Think of unknown network devices of visitors, a worm that is trying to spread or an authorized device that is equipped with a different operating system via a boot flop or live CD. PacketFence is one such nac system with support for 802.1x and vlan isolation, with which a network device can be placed in the correct vlan after analysis. The developers released PacketFence 1.8.1 a few days ago, which is also available as a VMware image with a full PacketFence installation. The list of changes since the previous entry in the Meuktracker looks like this:

Version 1.8.1:

• added support for SMC TigerStack 6224M (thanks to Chinasee B.)
• switch configuration (switches.conf) can now be done from the CLI and from the Web interface
• violation modification (violations.conf) can now be done from the CLI and from the Web interface
• added support for starting and configuring DHCPd and bind in VLAN isolation mode
• added push and pull commands for configuration files
• added scripts for automated testing (using Test::More)
• internationalization of remediation pages
• compatibility with Config::IniFiles 2.47
• LSB compliance of service script
• various bug fixes in reports and graphs

Version 1.8.0:

• major performance improvements in pfcmd and in the Web administrative interface
• redesigned the Web administrative interface
• added support for SSH CLI sessions on Cisco switches
• added support for SNMP version 3
• added support for categories of nodes
• added a view on switches.conf to the Web administrative interface

…and many more. See the CHANGES file in the PacketFence distribution for the complete list of changes.