Run the local RADIUS server in Microsoft Hyper-V

In this topic, you will learn how to install and configure the Portnox™ Cloud local RADIUS proxy in the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor.

To configure the local RADIUS proxy in the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor, you must first:

Download the local RADIUS server virtual machine file for Hyper-V, VHD format
Configure the settings for the local RADIUS server and download the configuration for the virtual machine file.

To do these steps, go to the following topic: Set up a local RADIUS server using a virtual machine.

Warning: The performance of a local RADIUS server depends on how many RADIUS authentication and accounting packets it processes, which cannot be predicted in advance.

At a minimum, a local RADIUS server needs 1 CPU and 1 GB of RAM. This is enough for most customers, but actual results may vary. Customers should monitor the server’s performance and add more resources if needed to avoid overloading it.

For very large setups, it’s recommended to use up to 8 CPUs with a combined PassMark score above 14,000, 32 GB of RAM, and SSD storage. This setup is similar to a higher-end laptop.

Run the Hyper-V Manager.
In the Actions menu on the right-hand side, select the Virtual Switch Manager option.
In the Virtual Switch Manager window, select the External option on the right-hand side, and click on the Create Virtual Switch button.
In the Virtual Switch Properties section:
1. Enter a Name for the virtual switch
  In this example, we used the name Portnox RADIUS Bridge, but you can use any name you like.
2. Select the External network option and make sure that you select the host machine’s Ethernet adapter that is connected to the primary network.
3. Click on the OK button below to create the virtual switch.
Go back to the main Hyper-V Manager window. In the Actions menu on the right-hand side, select the New option, and select the Virtual Machine option from the pop-up menu.

The New Virtual Machine Wizard opens.
Create the virtual machine using the New Virtual Machine Wizard:
1. In the Before You Begin step, click on the Next button.
2. In the Specify Name and Location step, in the Name field, enter the name for this virtual machine, then click on the Next button.
  
  In this example, we used the name Portnox local RADIUS, but you can use any name you like.
3. In the Specify Generation step, make sure that the Generation 1 option is selected, and click on the Next button.
4. In the Assign Memory step, leave the default settings (1024 MB) and click on the Next button.
5. In the Configure Networking step, from the Connection list, select the virtual switch created earlier, and click on the Next button.
  
  In our example, this is the Portnox RADIUS Bridge virtual switch.
6. In the Connect Virtual Hard Disk step, select the Use an existing virtual hard disk option, and click on the Browse button. In the file selector, find the PortnoxLocalRadius.vhd file that you downloaded earlier and open it. Then, click on the Next button.
7. In the Summary step, click on the Finish button.
Go back to the main Hyper-V Manager window. In the Virtual Machines list, right-click on the created virtual machine, and select the Settings option from the pop-up menu.

The Settings window opens.
Attach the configuration image using the Settings window:
1. In the left-hand menu, click on the DVD Drive option.
2. In the right-hand side pane, select the Image file option and click on the Browse button next to this option.
3. Select the PortnoxLocalRadiusConfiguration.iso file that you downloaded earlier.
  
  Note: The exact name of the file is PortnoxLocalRadiusConfiguration-HOSTNAME.iso, where HOSTNAME is the host name you entered when configuring the local RADIUS server.
4. Click on the OK button below to close the Settings window.
Go back to the main Hyper-V Manager window. In the Virtual Machines list, right-click on the created virtual machine, and select the Start option from the pop-up menu.