Diameter : Next generations AAA protocol

Abstract: The need for AAA protocols in the world are increasing and todays most common protocols RADIUS and TACACS+, cannot cope with the fast advances in fields benefiting from the use of AAA protocols. This is why IETF has developed the protocol Diameter as a next generations AAA protocol. The objective of this thesis is to account for the work conducted with Diameter as well as to determine if it is going to become the major AAA protocol of the next generation. In this thesis, I describe what Diameter is, its close integration with the Mobile IP protocol and its other uses. As Diameter is based on RADIUS an introduction to AAA and RADIUS is given in order to comprehend where we are today and where we are going as well as to why. I also compare today’s protocols (RADIUS, TACACS+, Kerberos and COPS) against the next generations AAA protocol Diameter. From this comparison, the Mobile IP integration capabilities and an analysis of the support of the Diameter protocol I have come to the conclusion that Diameter is going to become the major AAA protocol of the next generation.