Questions: Select the correct answer. Kamal is a data center manager at an IT service company. He wants to implement the 802 × authentication framework. Which of these items correctly describes the function of an authentication server? A. to request credentials from the supplicant through the authenticator B. to check if there are any new nodes on the network C. to provide credentials to the supplicant through the authenticator D. to pass on information from the supplicant to the authenticator

The answer is A: to request credentials from the supplicant through the authenticator.

Explanation for each option: A. to request credentials from the supplicant through the authenticator - This is correct. In the 802.1X authentication framework, the authentication server (typically a RADIUS server) requests credentials from the supplicant (the device seeking access) through the authenticator (usually a network switch or wireless access point).

B. to check if there are any new nodes on the network - This is incorrect. The primary function of the authentication server is to authenticate users or devices, not to monitor the network for new nodes.

C. to provide credentials to the supplicant through the authenticator - This is incorrect. The authentication server does not provide credentials to the supplicant; instead, it verifies the credentials provided by the supplicant.

D. to pass on information from the supplicant to the authenticator - This is incorrect. The authenticator passes the credentials from the supplicant to the authentication server, not the other way around.

Summary: The correct answer is A: to request credentials from the supplicant through the authenticator. This accurately describes the role of the authentication server in the 802.1X authentication framework.