Run the local RADIUS server in VMware Workstation

In this topic, you will learn how to install and configure the Portnox™ Cloud local RADIUS proxy in the VMware Workstation hypervisor.

To configure the local RADIUS proxy in the VMware Workstation hypervisor, you must first:

  • Download the local RADIUS server virtual machine file for VMware (OVA 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.

  1. Run the VMware Workstation.
  2. In the right-hand side pane, click on the Open a Virtual Machine tile.

  3. In the file selector, find the PortnoxLocalRadius.ova file that you downloaded earlier and open it.
  4. In the Import Virtual Machine window, enter a name for the virtual machine and click on the Import button.

    In this example, we used the name Portnox local RADIUS, but you can use any name you like.

  5. In the right-hand side pane, click on the Edit virtual machine settings link.

  6. In the Virtual Machine Settings window, click on the CD/DVD icon on the left-hand side, select the Use ISO image file option in the right-hand side pane, click on the Browse button, find the PortnoxLocalRadiusConfiguration.iso file that you downloaded earlier, and open it. Then, click on the OK button.

    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.
  7. In the right-hand side pane, click on the Power on this virtual machine link.

Result: Your local RADIUS server is active.

You can check its status in Portnox Cloud, in the Settings > Services > LOCAL RADIUS SERVICE > Local RADIUS instance section.

Note: If you have connectivity issues with your local RADIUS server, check the following topic: How to set up the firewall for the local RADIUS instance to connect to Portnox Cloud.