Portal Authentication vs. MAC Authentication
# Portal Authentication
* Used in high-mobility environments (e.g., shopping malls, hotels, and public Wi-Fi hotspots).
* Users authenticate via a web portal before gaining network access.
* Supports multiple device types (smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.).
# MAC Address Authentication
* Used for dumb devices that cannot perform interactive authentication (e.g., printers, IP phones, cameras).
* The network authenticates devices based on their MAC addresses automatically.
* Often used in enterprise LANs to ensure unattended devices get network access securely.
Reference from Huawei HCIE-Datacom Documentation:
* Huawei CloudCampus Authentication Guide - Portal and MAC Authentication
* HCIE-Datacom Training Material - Access Control Mechanisms