Configuring Access Control Lists

An ACL (Access Control List) ensures that only authorized users have access to specific resources while blocking off any unwarranted attempts to reach network resources. ACLs are used to provide traffic flow control, restrict contents of routing updates, decide which types of traffic are forwarded or blocked, and above all provide security for the network. 200 Series software supports IPv4, IPv6, and MAC ACLs. The total number of MAC and IP ACLs supported by 200 Series software is platform-specific.

You first create an IPv4-based, IPv6-based, or MAC-based rule and assign a unique ACL ID. Then, you define the rules, which can identify protocols, source and destination IP and MAC addresses, and other packet-matching criteria. Finally, you use the ID number to assign the ACL to a port or to a VLAN interface.