Enterprise Network#

In Wireless Communication, an enterprise network refers to a wireless network infrastructure within an organization to facilitate seamless communication, data transfer, uninterrupted execution of business applications, and resource sharing among employees, and devices. Enterprise wireless networks are designed to provide reliable and secure wireless connectivity throughout the organization.

Here, a wireless station (supplicant) connects to an enterprise enabled access point. Firstly, Open System Authentication takes place with Authentication Request, Authentication Response, Association Request & Association Response. Once the Open System Authentication phase is completed, the EAP method starts.

The EAP authentication starts with the authenticator sending an EAP Request/Identity frame to the supplicant. The supplicant, on receiving the EAP Request/Identity, responds with EAP Response/Identity, response frame containing its identity information such as Username or User ID. The authenticator then forwards the EAP Response/Identity message to the authentication server (e.g., RADIUS server) for further processing. Depending on the EAP method being used and the security requirements, authentication server sends EAP request/access challenge to authenticator. The authentication server and the supplicant must agree on one EAP method to proceed with the authentication process. Based on the EAP method, EAP requests and EAP responses are sent between supplicant and authentication server until the authentication server responds with EAP-Success or EAP failure packet.

After verifying the supplicant's credentials, the authentication server sends an EAP Success message to the access point if authentication is successful. If authentication fails, the authentication server sends an EAP Failure message.