Extensible Authentication Protocol

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is an authentication framework frequently used in network and internet connections. Defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), EAP is not a specific authentication mechanism but a framework that supports multiple authentication methods.

Overview

EAP is used in various network access technologies, including IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). It provides a standard mechanism for supporting multiple authentication methods, such as token cards, smart cards, certificates, and public key encryption.

EAP Methods

EAP supports a wide range of authentication methods, including but not limited to:

• EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security)
• EAP-TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer Security)
• PEAP (Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol)
• EAP-MD5 (Message Digest 5)
• EAP-SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)
• EAP-AKA (Authentication and Key Agreement)

Each method provides different levels of security and is suitable for different types of network environments.

EAP in Wireless Networks

EAP is widely used in wireless networks, particularly in Wi-Fi networks that require strong authentication mechanisms. The IEEE 802.1X standard, which is used for port-based network access control, relies on EAP to provide secure authentication.

EAP Architecture

The EAP architecture consists of three main components:

• Supplicant: The client device that requests access to the network.
• Authenticator: The network device that controls access to the network.
• Authentication Server: The server that validates the credentials of the supplicant.

The communication between these components is typically carried out using the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) protocol.

Security Considerations

EAP provides a flexible framework for authentication, but the security of the overall system depends on the specific EAP method used. Methods like EAP-TLS and PEAP provide strong security by using certificates and encrypted tunnels, while methods like EAP-MD5 are considered less secure.

Related Pages

• IEEE 802.1X
• RADIUS
• Wi-Fi
• Transport Layer Security
• Point-to-Point Protocol

See Also

• Authentication
• Network Security
• Public Key Infrastructure