Documentation Feature Compare Releases
Hello all! https://www.freeradius.org/documentation/freeradius-server/ How difficult would it be to add some resource that could allow comparing the documentation of two releases of freeRADIUS? This is just a suggestion to perhaps try to smooth the learning curve for those who don't have extensive experience with AAA or with freeRADIUS specifically. I'm not sure (I'm not a programmer), but I believe Sphinx has some plugin that allows this comparison of release documentation. I'm making this suggestion because I believe this possibility would be particularly useful at transition points between major releases, or when adding more impactful features. Thank you in advance for your understanding! -- Douglas Fernando Fischer Engº de Controle e Automação
On Apr 6, 2026, at 6:30 AM, Douglas Fischer <fischerdouglas@gmail.com> wrote:
How difficult would it be to add some resource that could allow comparing the documentation of two releases of freeRADIUS?
To a large extent that's what "git" is for. Alternately, you could just open two browser windows. The online documentation has a version selection in the bottom left. Just pick two versions, and swap back and forth between them.
This is just a suggestion to perhaps try to smooth the learning curve for those who don't have extensive experience with AAA or with freeRADIUS specifically.
What specifically are you looking for from the comparison? For v3, there isn't really a lot of changes from version to version. It's a stable release, so we don't introduce incompatible changes. There are new features added, but they are generally minor, and are largely tweaks for corner cases. For v4, it's not released (I know...). Essentially everything has changed from v3, so there isn't a lot of point in comparing features.
I'm not sure (I'm not a programmer), but I believe Sphinx has some plugin that allows this comparison of release documentation.
The documentation system uses Antora, which doesn't have that feature. We've tried using Sphinx, and it just didn't work for us.
I'm making this suggestion because I believe this possibility would be particularly useful at transition points between major releases, or when adding more impactful features.
The v4 documentation has an "upgrade" section which lists all of the changes from v3 to v4. It also has explanations as to how to upgrade. For now, if you're not familiar with AAA or RADIUS, you should stick with v3. Alan DeKok.
Answers below. Em seg., 6 de abr. de 2026 às 11:05, Alan DeKok via Freeradius-Users < freeradius-users@lists.freeradius.org> escreveu:
On Apr 6, 2026, at 6:30 AM, Douglas Fischer <fischerdouglas@gmail.com> wrote: For now, if you're not familiar with AAA or RADIUS, you should stick with v3. Alan DeKok.
I have a reasonable understanding of AAA. With a bit more experience in the ISP FTTx+WISP scope. - Radius (Where for me, freeRadius is synonymous with Radius). - And I have some knowledge of TACACS+. I don't consider myself a programmer, but I know enough to have honest conversations with ERP/CRM/Billing Tools development teams. My main objective with this version highlighting request is in the AAA universe of ISPs and is precisely to be able to make comparisons and understand if the minor release changes are essential, recommended, or should be avoided in the scope of the network environments I serve. P.S.: I have felt cheated in some recent conversations with some software houses when discussing environment needs and tool limitations. My secondary objective is precisely in freeRadius 4.0 and TACACS+. Planning some kind of "semi-standardized" NAC response mechanism, either via TACACS+ or Radius. All via SSO. In any case, thank you in advance for your attention and effort. -- Douglas Fernando Fischer Engº de Controle e Automação
On Apr 6, 2026, at 10:46 AM, Douglas Fischer <fischerdouglas@gmail.com> wrote:
I have a reasonable understanding of AAA. With a bit more experience in the ISP FTTx+WISP scope. - Radius (Where for me, freeRadius is synonymous with Radius). - And I have some knowledge of TACACS+.
I don't consider myself a programmer, but I know enough to have honest conversations with ERP/CRM/Billing Tools development teams.
OK.
My main objective with this version highlighting request is in the AAA universe of ISPs and is precisely to be able to make comparisons and understand if the minor release changes are essential, recommended, or should be avoided in the scope of the network environments I serve. P.S.: I have felt cheated in some recent conversations with some software houses when discussing environment needs and tool limitations.
My secondary objective is precisely in freeRadius 4.0 and TACACS+. Planning some kind of "semi-standardized" NAC response mechanism, either via TACACS+ or Radius. All via SSO.
For v4, the core features are extensively documented. The RADIUS parts are extensively documented. The rest could use some more "howto" text. We're still happy to take patches and documentation updates. But we have limited resources, and we're focussed on things that are priorities for us.
In any case, thank you in advance for your attention and effort.
You're welcome. Alan DeKok.
participants (2)
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Alan DeKok -
Douglas Fischer