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FreeRADIUS/freeradius-server

Free

FreeRADIUS - A multi-protocol policy server.

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source

About FreeRADIUS/freeradius-server

FreeRADIUS is a high-performance, highly configurable multi-protocol policy server that supports RADIUS, DHCPv4, DHCPv6, DNS, TACACS+, and VMPS. It centralizes authentication and authorization for network access, minimizing changes when adding or deleting users. FreeRADIUS can authenticate users on systems such as 802.1x (WiFi), dialup, PPPoE, VPNs, VoIP, and many others. It supports a wide range of back-end databases including MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft Active Directory, Apache Cassandra, Redis, OpenLDAP, and more. Used daily to authenticate Internet access for hundreds of millions of people, from small sites to those with over 10 million users. The project is available under the GNU GPLv2. Notably, the project recommends using AI tools for analyzing configurations rather than generating them, as AI-generated configurations are often incorrect.

Key Features

Multi-protocol support: RADIUS, DHCPv4, DHCPv6, DNS, TACACS+, VMPS
High performance and highly configurable
Centralized authentication and authorization for network access
Supports back-end databases: MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Active Directory, Cassandra, Redis, OpenLDAP
Used for 802.1x (WiFi), dialup, PPPoE, VPN, VoIP, and other network services
Scalable from small sites to 10+ million users
Open source under GNU GPLv2
Recommends AI for configuration analysis, not generation

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open source (GNU GPLv2) with no licensing cost
  • High performance and scalability
  • Supports a wide range of protocols and back-end databases
  • Widely deployed and battle-tested
  • Active community and extensive documentation
Cons
  • Complex configuration can be challenging for beginners
  • AI-generated configurations are often incorrect and not recommended
  • Setup and debugging may require expert knowledge (radiusd -X)

Best For

Centralized authentication for enterprise WiFi (802.1x)Authentication for VPN, dialup, and PPPoE connectionsVoIP authentication and authorizationLarge-scale ISP user authenticationNetwork policy enforcement with RADIUS

FAQ

What protocols does FreeRADIUS support?
FreeRADIUS supports RADIUS, DHCPv4, DHCPv6, DNS, TACACS+, and VMPS.
What back-end databases can FreeRADIUS use?
It supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft Active Directory, Apache Cassandra, Redis, OpenLDAP, and many others.
Is FreeRADIUS free and open source?
Yes, FreeRADIUS is available under the GNU GPLv2 license and is free to use.
Can I use AI to generate FreeRADIUS configurations?
The project advises against using AI to generate configurations, as they are largely wrong. However, AI can be useful for analyzing existing configurations and suggesting optimizations.