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What is AMF Security

Quick Tour > What is AMF Security

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Where does AMF Security Fit In

AMF-SECurity (AMF-SEC) is our solution to streamline network operations and enhance security in office environments.
AMF Security is the SDN controller that is the core of the solution, and it realizes the cooperation between our products supporting the AMF (Allied Telesis Management Framework) and various business security related applications.

What does AMF Security Manage (OpenFlow)

AMF Security can centrally control the network access from various devices by installing packet control flows for the devices' MAC Address on the OpenFlow Switches it manages.

AMF Security controls network traffic by using the OpenFlow protocol over the TCP connections established with the switches.

For each device, administrators can define two conditions on AMF Security, where and when the device can access the network. The first one is called "Location" and the other is called "Schedule".
Condition can be more granular like "From this OpenFlow Switch in that location" or "on this particular switchport of the switch in that location".
If a device meets those conditions, it is allowed to join the logical network defined by a VLAN ID.

• Location
  Where a device can access the network.
  By associating OpenFlow Switches with a location, you can define a physical network space.
  
  
• Schedule
  When a device can access the network.
  You can specify a period of time with a Start Date / Time and End Date / Time.
  
  
• OpenFlow Switch
  OpenFlow Switches from which a device can access the network.
  You can allow a device to access the network only when it connects to a specific OpenFlow Switch.
  
  
• Switch Port
  A port on an OpenFlow Switch from which a device can access the network.
  You can allow a device to access the network only when it connects to a specific port on a particular Switch.
  
  
• Network
  A VLAN subnet to which a device can belong (a logical network space defined by a VLAN ID).
  

The MAC Address interface of the device is managed by connecting, blocking, and isolating based on the security policy assigned to the device.
A device can have more than one MAC Address interface.
Assuming that a device has two MAC Addresses - one for a wireless interface and the other for a wired interface, both of them can access the same network if they meet the conditions for Location and Schedule.

Table 1: Configurable Security Policies (OpenFlow)

Device Information
Device	network-capable equipment which connects to an OpenFlow Switch
└	MAC Address	a MAC Address of the device interface
	:	(multiple items can be defined)
└	Security Policies	Network			a VLAN segment (VLAN ID) to which a device is assigned.
		Location			a physical location where a device can access the network.
		└	OpenFlow Switch		a switch in the location.
			└	Switch Port	a port on the switch from which a device can access the network.
			:		(multiple items can be defined)
		Schedule			a range of time during a device can access the network (Start Date / Time, and End Date / Time).
		(multiple items can be defined)

OpenFlow Switches have two types of network ports: control plane ports and data plane ports. The former is used for communicating with OpenFlow controllers while the latter is used for delivering user traffic and controlled by OpenFlow protocol.
In AMF Security, data plane ports are further categorized into "upstream port" and "client port".

• Upstream Port
  A port connected to an uplink network. An OpenFlow Switch can have only one upstream port.
  
  
• Client Port
  All ports other than the upstream port. User devices are connected to the client ports.
  

AMF Security is designed to manage user devices which are connected to client ports of OpenFlow Switches, assuming that the upstream ports are protected by other security measures such as firewalls.
By default, a switch port with the lowest OpenFlow port number is configured as the upstream port. This can be changed on each OpenFlow Switch.

What is AMF Application Proxy

The AMF Application Proxy controls traffic from edge devices, which are connected to AMF Members (Edge Nodes) where AMF Master (Proxy Node) authenticates the devices by querying AMF Security (AMF Application Proxy Whitelist).
It is also possible for AMF Security to notify the AMF Proxy Node of suspected node and make Edge Nodes to block the devices (AMF Application Proxy Blacklist).

Note

◼ AMF Application Proxy Whitelist and AMF Application Proxy Blacklist
・ A Proxy Node also can be an Edge Node (Only supported models).
・ Cannot be linked with AMF controller.
You can use Whitelist only, Blacklist only, or both.

◼ AMF Application Proxy Whitelist
・ Use Virtual Chassis Stack (VCS) to provide redundancy to the AMF Master (Only supported models).
・ When linking with multiple local masters under AMF controller, make each local master a separate area.

To use the AMF Application Proxy, you have to configure all of AMF Security, Proxy Node and Edge Nodes.

What does AMF Security Manage (AMF Application Proxy Whitelist)

AMF Security can centrally control the network access from various devices by utilizing the port authentication feature on the AMF Members it manages.

The AMF Application Proxy Whitelist is an AMF Security's integration feature where AMF devices ask the AMF Security's whitelist server if a specific device can be allowed access to the network.
If a device meets those conditions, it is allowed to join the logical network defined by a VLAN ID.

• Location
  Where a device can access the network.
  By associating AMF Members with a location, you can define a physical network space.
  
  
• Schedule
  When a device can access the network.
  You can specify a period of time with a Start Date / Time and End Date / Time.
  
  
• Switch Port
  A port on an AMF Member from which a device can access the network.
  You can allow a device to access the network only when it connects to a specific port on a particular Switch.
  
  
• Network
  A VLAN subnet to which a device can belong (a logical network space defined by a VLAN ID).
  

The MAC Address interface of the device is managed by connecting, blocking, and isolating based on the security policy assigned to the device.
A device can have more than one MAC Address interface.
Assuming that a device has two MAC Addresses - one for a wireless interface and the other for a wired interface, both of them can access the same network if they meet the conditions for Location and Schedule.

Table 2: Configurable Security Policies (AMF Application Proxy Whitelist)

Device Information
Device	network-capable equipment which connects to an AMF Member
└	MAC Address	a MAC Address of the device interface
	:	(multiple items can be defined)
└	Security Policies	Network			a VLAN segment (VLAN ID) to which a device is assigned.
		Location			a physical location where a device can access the network.
		└	AMF Member		a switch in the location.
			└	Switch Port	a port on the switch from which a device can access the network.
			:		(multiple items can be defined)
		Schedule			a range of time during a device can access the network (Start Date / Time, and End Date / Time).
		(multiple items can be defined)

Note

To use this feature, your Proxy Node and Edge Nodes must have AlliedWare Plus firmware version 5.5.0-0.x or later installed.

Note

Display the terminal information authenticated by the AMF Application Proxy displayed on the Devices > Active Device List page with the following settings or operations. In this case, firmware version 5.5.0-0.x or later is required for both the proxy node and edge node of your AlliedWare Plus device. For the proxy node and edge node settings, refer to "Configuring AMF Master (Proxy Node) and AMF Members (Edge Nodes)".

・The check box of "Reload authorized device list when AMF Member connects to network." on the AMF > AMF Application Proxy Settings page is checked.
・Click the "Sync" button on the Switches > Active AMF Member List page.

Configuring AMF Master (Proxy Node) and AMF Members (Edge Nodes)

The following are required settings for the AMF node to be managed.

• Enable the "service atmf-application-proxy" command on all AMF nodes (both proxy and edge nodes)
  
• Enable the "service http" command on all AMF nodes (both proxy and edge nodes)
  
• Set a common user at privilege level 15 (privilege level) on all AMF nodes (both proxy node and edge node)
  
• Enable the "atmf topology-gui enable" command on the AMF Master (proxy node)
  
• Set the "application-proxy whitelist server" command on the AMF Master (proxy node)
  
• Set the whitelist related commands on the terminal connection port of the AMF Member (edge node)
  

Refer to the AlliedWare Plus Product's command reference manual for more information.
Depending on the AlliedWare Plus product model you use for a Proxy Node, you may have to install the proper license on the products.

Configuring AMF Security

To use AMF Application Proxy Whitelist, you have to configure an IP Address, level 15 (privileged) username and password of the AMF Master (Proxy Node) on AMF Security.

1. Open the AMF > AMF Application Proxy Settings page.
   
   
2. Click the "Add" button.
   
   
3. Enter an IP Address of the AMF Master (Proxy Node) in "IPv4 Address".
   
   
4. Enter a username and a password for a level 15 (privileged) user account on the AMF Master (Proxy Node).
   
   
5. In Pre-Shared Key, enter the pre-shared key set in the key parameter of the "application-proxy whitelist server" command of the AMF Master (Proxy Node).
   
   
6. Click the "Submit" button.
   

Note

When you finish this configuration, AMF Security starts regular queries to the AMF Master (Proxy Node) at 30 seconds interval.

Blocking with AMF Application Proxy (AMF Application Proxy Blacklist)

Notifying Proxy Node of Suspected Node Information

AMF Security notifies the Proxy Node of suspected node when receiving information from security software or devices that detect suspected node, or adding an action on the Policy Settings > Add Action page. The suspected node's information is stored on AMF Security and can be viewed on the Policy Settings > Action List page.
AMF Security does not notify the proxy node of the information again.

Note

If the proxy node holding the suspected node information reboots, the information is removed from the proxy node.
Because the proxy node cannot receive the information from AMF Security again, the proxy node cannot relearn the suspected node automatically.
To manually tell the proxy node about the suspected node, follow the steps:
1. Open the Policy Settings > Action List page.
2. Click the "Export to CSV" button to save a CSV file.
3. Open the System Settings > System Information page.
4. Click the "Import" button for the Authentication Data item to open the "Upload Authentication Data" dialog.
5. Click the "Choose File" button, select the saved CSV file, and click the "Submit" button.

AMF Actions

When AMF Security notifies the Proxy Node of suspected nodes, it can also specify a blocking action (AMF action).
AMF Security can specify the following AMF actions:

• AMF Dependency
  
• Quarantine
  
• Drop Packets
  
• Link-Down
  
• IP-Filter
  
• Log-Only
  

When "Quarantine", "Drop Packets", "Link-Down", "IP-Filter", or "Log-Only" are set, these AMF actions are executed with priority over the AMF actions set on the edge node side.
When "AMF Dependency" is selected, AMF Security does not send the AMF action, but the AMF action set on the edge node side is executed.

Note

If AMF Security and AMF Master receive suspected node information from multiple sources (e.g. external applications), specify the same AMF action for all the sources.
The AMF Action for each application can be specified in the "Rules" section on the System Settings > Trap Monitor Settings page.
To change the AMF action for a suspected node which has already been registered on the Policy Settings > Action List page, delete the existing action and recreate it.

Note

If you also use the "Quarantine" action on the whitelist port, your Proxy Node and Edge Nodes must have AlliedWare Plus firmware version 5.5.0-2.x or later installed.

Note

Even if the device is permitted by the whitelist, if it is the target of AMF Action, the communication from the corresponding device is processed according to the action.

Unblocking Suspected Nodes

To unblock a suspected node (delete the suspected node information), delete the corresponding action on the Policy Settings > Action List page. When the action is deleted, AMF Security tells the proxy node to delete the suspected node information.

Note

You can also unblock the suspected node by running commands on the proxy node. But in this case, the proxy node does not request AMF Security to delete the node information. So AMF Security keeps the suspected node information. If you want to delete it, manually delete the action on the Policy Settings > Action List page.
Refer to the AlliedWare Plus Product's command reference manual for the commands.

Displaying and Emailing Blocking Status of the Suspected Node

Status of the suspected node which has been applied an AMF action by an edge node can be view on the Device > Active Device List page.
AMF Security regularly gets this information from the proxy node at 30 seconds interval.

Note

To use this feature, your Proxy Node and Edge Nodes must have AlliedWare Plus firmware version 5.5.0-0.x or later installed.

By using AMF Security's Email Notification Settings, you can also get email notifications of blocking.

• "Send Email Notification on Block Event" : An email is sent when a node is blocked by one of "Drop Packets", "Link-Down", "IP-Filter" or "Log-Only" actions.
  
• "Send Email Notification on Quarantine Event" : An email is sent when a node is quarantined by "Quarantine" action.
  

Note

When AMF Security queries the proxy node and finds that suspected node information is changed (e.g. a node moved to other switch and got blocked there again), AMF Security updates the information on the Device > Active Device List page and sends an email notification.

Configuring AMF Master (Proxy Node) and AMF Members (Edge Nodes)

The following are required settings for the AMF node to be managed.

• Enable the "service atmf-application-proxy" command on all AMF nodes (both proxy and edge nodes)
  
• Enable the "service http" command on all AMF nodes (both proxy and edge nodes)
  
• Set a common user at privilege level 15 (privilege level) on all AMF nodes (both proxy node and edge node)
  
• Enable the "atmf topology-gui enable" command on the AMF Master (proxy node)
  
• Set the "application-proxy threat-protection" command on the terminal connection port of the AMF Member (edge node)
  

Refer to the AlliedWare Plus Product's command reference manual for more information.
Depending on the AlliedWare Plus product model you use for a Proxy Node, you may have to install the proper license on the products.

Configuring AMF Security

To use AMF Application Proxy Blacklist, you have to configure an IP Address, level 15 (privileged) username and password of the AMF Master (Proxy Node) on AMF Security.

1. Open the AMF > AMF Application Proxy Settings page.
   
   
2. Click the "Add" button.
   
   
3. Enter an IP Address of the AMF Master (Proxy Node) in "IPv4 Address".
   
   
4. Enter a username and a password for a level 15 (privileged) user account on the AMF Master (Proxy Node).
   
   
5. Click the "Submit" button.
   

Note

When you finish this configuration, AMF Security starts regular queries to the AMF Master (Proxy Node) at 30 seconds interval.

Refer to System Settings > Trap Monitor Settings for how to configure integration options with external applications.

TQ's AMF Application Proxy

TQ's AMF Application Proxy controls communication by authenticating the wireless terminal connected to TQ by AMF Security (AMF Application Proxy Whitelist).
In addition, when AMF Security receives the IP Address of the suspected terminal from the linked external application, it queries AT-Vista Manager EX for the MAC Address of the terminal based on that IP Address. At that time, the MAC Address held by the AWC Plug-in is acquired and the communication of the terminal is controlled (AMF Application Proxy Blacklist).

Supported actions are Drop Packets, Quarantine, and Log (only log output without controlling communication of the corresponding device).

Note

The AMF Application Proxy for TQ can be set from the AWC Plug-in (it cannot be done from the TQ management page).

Note

When using the AT-VST-APL version of AT-Vista Manager EX, AMF Security contacts the AWC Plug-in directly.

Note

Authentication when a wireless terminal is connected is performed in the order of "Authentication by AMF Application Proxy (AMF Security)" → "Authentication set by security of VAP (multi-SSID) setting". If both authentications are not successful, the wireless terminal is not allowed to connect.

Note

The following items are not supported by TQ's AMF Application Proxy.
・Location policy
・Schedule policy
・session-timeout
・Obtaining authentication information on TQ
・IP Address display of node
・Search Devices
・Account Group

Note

If you restart AMF Security (including restarting the service) or set the connection between the connected OpenFlow Switch and the AMF Master once, if the device already managed by TQ's AMF Application Proxy (devices displayed on the Device > Active Device List page) exists, the authentication and action of that device remain applied. However, it is deleted from the Devices > Active Device List page.

The following applies to the settings and operations of AMF Security.

・System Settings > Network Settings page
Uploading or deleting the SSL Certificate of the Web server
Database Synchronization
Database Synchronization Option Settings
・System Settings > Logging Settings page
・System Time Settings > Date / Time Settings page
・System Settings > OpenFlow Settings page
・System Settings > System Information page
Hostname
System Settings - Import
System Settings - Reset
Services - Restart All
・System Settings > Trap Monitor Settings page
Device Lookup
・System Settings > Email Notification Settings page
・System Settings > Action Log page
Clear Action Log
・AMF > AMF Application Proxy Settings page
AMF Master
White-List Settings
Uploading or deleting the SSL Certificate of the Web server
・AMF > TQ Setting page

It also applies to restarting (stopping and starting) the AMF Security application and restarting AT-VST-APL on the AT-VST-APL settings page.

To use this function, the following products and compatible versions are required.

Table 3: AT-TQ5403/AT-TQm5403/AT-TQ5403e

Corresponding products	Corresponding version
AT-TQ5403/AT-TQm5403/AT-TQ5403e	6.0.1-6.1 or later
AT-Vista Manager EX (AWC Plug-in)	3.6.0 or later
AMF Security	2.3.0 or later

Table 4: AT-TQ6602

Corresponding products	Corresponding version
AT-TQ6602	7.0.1-1.1 or later
AT-Vista Manager EX (AWC Plug-in)	3.7.0 or later
AMF Security	2.3.0 or later

Table 5: AT-TQ6602 GEN2/AT-TQm6602 GEN2/AT-TQ6702 GEN2/AT-TQm6702 GEN2

Corresponding products	Corresponding version
AT-TQ6602 GEN2/AT-TQm6602 GEN2/AT-TQ6702 GEN2/AT-TQm6702 GEN2	8.0.1-1.1 or later
AT-Vista Manager EX (AWC Plug-in)	3.9.0 or later
AMF Security	2.3.0 or later

Behavior when using TQ dynamic VLAN

For TQ's AMF Application Proxy, when WPA Enterprise is selected for the security of VAP (multi-SSID) setting of TQ, the VLAN ID given to the wireless terminal at the time of authentication differs depending on whether the dynamic VLAN is disabled or enabled.

When dynamic VLAN is disabled:
If the wireless terminal is authenticated by AMF Security and the VLAN ID is assigned by AMF Security, the VLAN to which the wireless terminal belongs is the VLAN ID of AMF Security. If the VLAN ID is not assigned by AMF Security, the wireless terminal belongs to the VLAN ID of the VAP.

Note

The AMF Security settings when the VLAN ID is not assigned by AMF Security are as follows:
・Set the network with VLAN ID 0 in the policy setting (isolated VLAN ID)
・Do not set the network

When dynamic VLAN is enabled:
Authenticate the wireless terminal with AMF Security, and then authenticate with the RADIUS server on the WPA Enterprise side. The VLANs to which the wireless terminal belongs are as follows:
However, if the VLAN ID of the isolated VLAN is assigned by AMF Security, it belongs to the isolated VLAN ID assigned by AMF Security regardless of the presence or absence of the VLAN ID of the dynamic VLAN.

Table 6: VLAN to which the wireless terminal belongs

VLAN ID given by AMF Security	VLAN ID given by the RADIUS server	VLAN to which the wireless terminal belongs
Yes	Yes	VLAN ID given by the RADIUS server
None	None	VAP VLAN ID
None	Yes	VLAN ID given by the RADIUS server
Yes	None	VLAN ID given by AMF Security

Note

The settings without VLAN ID in AMF Security are as follows:
・Set the network with VLAN ID 0 in the policy setting (isolated VLAN ID)
・Do not set the network

◼ Operation when VLAN ID 1 is assigned to TQ
The behavior when VLAN ID 1 is assigned to TQ depends on the setting of the management VLAN tag of TQ.
For details, refer to the TQ document posted on our website.

Critical mode

In the critical mode, you can select the processing of the newly connected wireless terminal in the event of a power failure such as a power failure in AMF Security.

Invalid:
All newly connected wireless terminals are denied connection because they cannot be authenticated by AMF Security.
The wireless terminal that was already connected can still communicate.

Enabled:
Allows newly connected wireless terminals without AMF Security authentication.
Normally, after successful AMF Security authentication, the authentication set in the VAP (Multi-SSID) setting security is performed. However, in this case, proceed to the authentication set in the security of the VAP (multi-SSID) setting without performing the authentication by AMF Security.
The VLAN to which the wireless terminal belongs is the VLAN determined when the authentication set in the security of the VAP (multi-SSID) setting is successful.

Supported OpenFlow Switches

List of OpenFlow Switch models supported by AMF Security can be found on the release notes of AMF Security, switches and wireless access points.
Find those documents on our website.
https://www.alliedtelesis.com

Application Integration Solutions

AMF Security can be used with other applications such as threat detection, device management and HR management in order to further enhance network administration efficiency and security.

The latest information on the services or applications which can be integrated into AMF Security system is published under the AMF-SEC Technology Partner Program. Contact our sales engineer for the Technology Partner Program.

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(C) 2023 Allied Telesis, Inc. All rights reserved.

C613-04150-00 Rev A

19 Apr 2023 14:12