Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:
According to the Forescout User Directory Plugin documentation, the two main uses of the User Directory plugin are: Verify authentication credentials (A) and Query user details (D).
Main Functions of User Directory Plugin:
According to the official documentation:
"The User Directory plugin resolves endpoint user details and performs user authentication via configured internal and external directory servers."
The plugin's two primary functions are:
Authenticate Users - Verify/validate authentication credentials
Resolve User Information - Query and retrieve user details from directory servers
Verifying Authentication Credentials:
According to the documentation:
The User Directory plugin:
Validates user credentials against configured directory servers (Active Directory, LDAP, etc.)
Performs authentication for:
Endpoint user authentication
Console login authentication
Guest user registration
RADIUS authentication
Querying User Details:
According to the documentation:
The User Directory plugin:
Resolves endpoint user information including:
User name and identity
Group membership
User properties and attributes
Department and organizational unit information
Retrieves details via LDAP queries when "Use as directory" is enabled
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Define authentication traffic - The plugin doesn't define traffic; it queries authentication servers for user information
C. Perform Radius authorization - This is the function of the RADIUS Plugin, not the User Directory plugin (though they work together)
E. Populate the Dashboard - Dashboard population is not a primary function of the User Directory plugin
User Directory vs. RADIUS Plugin:
According to the documentation:
Function
User Directory
RADIUS
Authenticate credentials
✓Yes
✓Yes (primary)
Query user details
✓Yes (primary)
✗No
802.1X authentication
✗No
✓Yes
Authorization
Partial
✓Yes (primary)
Referenced Documentation:
User Directory plugin overview
About the User Directory Plugin
Initial Setup – User Directory
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