Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is a framework for supporting various authentication methods within a network. It is used to authenticate users or devices when they connect to a network, and it is designed to be extensible, which means that it can support a wide range of authentication methods.
EAP is a layer 2 protocol, which means that it operates at the data link layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. It is often used in conjunction with other protocols, such as IEEE 802.1X, which is a network access control protocol that is used to authenticate users or devices when they connect to a network.
EAP is a flexible and extensible protocol that is used in a variety of applications, including wireless networks, virtual private networks (VPNs), and other types of networks. It is supported by many operating systems and network devices, and it is an important tool for ensuring the security and integrity of networks.
There are many different types of EAP methods, including EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security), EAP-TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer Security), and EAP-PEAP (Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol). Each method uses a different authentication mechanism, and the appropriate method is typically chosen based on the security requirements of the network and the capabilities of the client device.