Introduction
In today's digital world, securing wireless networks has become a top priority for businesses and organizations. One of the most common methods for securing Wi-Fi networks is by using a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server with Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) encryption. This method allows for secure communication between the client device and the RADIUS server. In this article, we will walk you through the process of automatically connecting iPhones to a RADIUS server using EAP-TLS, using the Baramundi deployment solution.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure the following:
- A RADIUS server with EAP-TLS enabled
- An Active Directory domain controller
- A certificate authority (CA) to issue certificates
- Baramundi deployment solution installed
Step 1: Configure the RADIUS Server
The first step is to configure the RADIUS server to use EAP-TLS for authentication. This involves creating a client certificate and a private key for the iPhone, and then configuring the RADIUS server with the certificate and key.
Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
On the iPhone:
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -out iPhoneCertificateRequest.csr -keyout iPhoneCertificateRequest.key -subj "/CN=iPhoneName"
Replace "iPhoneName" with the name of the iPhone.
Submit the CSR to the CA
Submit the CSR to the CA to obtain a signed certificate.
Import the Certificate and Private Key to the RADIUS Server
Import the certificate and private key to the RADIUS server.
Step 2: Configure the Baramundi Deployment Solution
The next step is to configure the Baramundi deployment solution to install the certificate and private key on the iPhone.
Create a Configuration File
Create a configuration file in XML format:
iPhoneName
AppleiOS
13.3
iPhoneName
path/to/iPhoneCertificateRequest.key
password
path/to/iPhoneCertificate.p12
password
Replace "iPhoneName" with the name of the iPhone and "path/to/iPhoneCertificateRequest.key" and "path/to/iPhoneCertificate.p12" with the paths to the private key and certificate files, respectively. Replace "password" with the password used to protect the private key.
Step 3: Deploy the Configuration File
Use the Baramundi deployment solution to deploy the configuration file to the iPhone.
Step 4: Configure the iPhone
The final step is to configure the iPhone to use the RADIUS server for authentication.
Configure Wi-Fi Settings
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select the Wi-Fi network. Tap on the "i" icon next to the network name and tap on "EAP" under the "Security" section. Select "EAP-TLS" and enter the following:
- Anonymous Identity: leave blank
- Identity Certificate: import the certificate obtained from the CA
- Certificate Authority: import the certificate of the RADIUS server
Configure VPN Settings
Go to Settings > General > VPN and tap on "Add VPN Configuration". Select "L2TP" as the VPN type and enter the following:
- Server: the IP address of the RADIUS server
- Account: the username of the iPhone
- RADIUS: enable this option
- Remote ID: leave blank
In this article, we walked through the process of automatically connecting iPhones to a RADIUS server using EAP-TLS, using the Baramundi deployment solution. By following the steps outlined above, you can secure your wireless network and ensure that iPhones automatically connect to the network with strong encryption.