EAP

(Extensible Authentication Protocol) A protocol that acts as a framework and transport for other authentication protocols. EAP uses its own start and end messages but then carries any number of third-party messages between the client (supplicant) and access control node such as an access point in a wireless network. See PAP and CHAP.

EAP and LANs

EAP originated with the dial-up PPP protocol in order to support protocols beyond PAP and CHAP. For use on packet networks, EAP Over LAN (EAPOL) was created. EAPOL added new message types and allowed an Ethernet header to be prefixed onto EAP messages so they could be transmitted via Ethernet. Following are various EAP methods used mostly in wireless networks, but also in wired networks. See 802.1X, WPA and 802.11i.

EAP-TLS (EAP-Transport Layer Security)
Uses the handshake protocol in TLS, not its encryption method. Client and server authenticate each other using digital certificates. Client generates a pre-master secret key by encrypting a random number with the server's public key and sends it to the server. Both client and server use the pre-master to generate the same secret key.

EAP-TTLS (EAP-Tunneled TLS)
Like EAP-TLS above except only the server has a certificate to authenticate itself to the client first. As in EAP-TLS, a secure connection (the "tunnel") is established with secret keys, but that connection is used to continue the authentication process by authenticating the client and possibly the server again using any EAP method or legacy method such as PAP and CHAP.

PEAP (Protected EAP)
Similar to EAP-TTLS above except it does not support legacy methods. It only moves EAP frames. Windows XP natively supports PEAP.

LEAP (Light EAP, Cisco LEAP)
From Cisco, first implementation of EAP and 802.1X for wireless networks. Uses preshared keys and MS-CHAP protocol to authenticate client and server to each other. Server generates and sends session key to access point. Client computes session key independently based on data received in the CHAP challenge.

EAP-FAST
(EAP-Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling)
Enhancement to LEAP from Cisco that provides an encrypted tunnel to distribute preshared keys known as "Protected Access Credential" (PAC) keys. PAC keys may be continuously refreshed to prevent dictionary attacks. EAP-FAST is defined in Cisco's Cisco Compatible Extensions (see CCX).

EAP-SIM (GSM Cellphones)
For GSM phones that switch between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, depending on which is in range. The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) smart card in the GSM phone (see GSM) contains the secret key used for challenge/response authentication and deriving session keys for encryption.

EAP

Acronym	Definition
EAP➣Extensible Authentication Protocol (PPP)
EAP➣Employee Assistance Program
EAP➣English for Academic Purposes
EAP➣Education Abroad Program (University of California student exchange program)
EAP➣Early Access Program (software development)
EAP➣Eastern Partnership (EU initiative)
EAP➣East Asia and Pacific
EAP➣Enterprise Application Platform (software)
EAP➣Employee Assistance Programme
EAP➣Emergency Action Plan
EAP➣Economic Analysis and Policy (various organizations)
EAP➣Educational Administration and Policy (various organizations)
EAP➣Emergency Assistance Program (various locations)
EAP➣Environnement d'Apprentissage Personnel (French: Personal Learning Environment; educational software)
EAP➣Enseignement Agricole Public (French: Public Agricultural Education)
EAP➣Early Assessment Program (various schools)
EAP➣Environmental Action Plan
EAP➣Équipe d'Animation Paroissiale (French: Parish Leadership Team)
EAP➣Environment Action Programme (EU)
EAP➣Education Action Plan (various organizations)
EAP➣Electroactive Polymer
EAP➣European Appearance Package
EAP➣Ethernet Adapter Panel
EAP➣Enterprise Access Point
EAP➣Early Access Program
EAP➣Extensible Authentication Protocol
EAP➣Enterprise Architect Project
EAP➣École d'Arts Plastiques (French: School of Visual Art)
EAP➣Europe Athlétisme Promotion (French: European Athletics Promotion)
EAP➣Edgar Allan Poe (author)
EAP➣Expanded Access Program (FDA)
EAP➣Economically Active Population
EAP➣Encryption Authentication Protocol (computing)
EAP➣East Asia Program (various organizations)
EAP➣Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (US State Department)
EAP➣Elite Athlete Program (University of Sydney; Australia)
EAP➣Early Adopter Program
EAP➣Emergency Action Procedures (US DoD)
EAP➣Employees by Assigned Position (various organizations)
EAP➣Enterprise Architecture Planning
EAP➣Engineers Against Poverty
EAP➣Event Action Plan (various organizations)
EAP➣Enhanced Approval Process (Canada)
EAP➣Educational Assistance Payments (Canada)
EAP➣Emergency Assistance Project (various organizations)
EAP➣Enquête Annuelle de Production (French: Annual Production Survey; National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies)
EAP➣Education and Allied Professions (Ohio)
EAP➣Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Honduras)
EAP➣Electroacupuncture
EAP➣Environmental Audit Program (various organizations)
EAP➣Europäische Arbeiterpartei (European Workers Party)
EAP➣Expected A Posteriori
EAP➣Éditions et Applications Psychologiques (French: Publishing and Psychological Applications)
EAP➣Easy As Pie
EAP➣Electronic Authentication Partnership
EAP➣European Association of Psychotherapy
EAP➣Externally Aided Projects (India)
EAP➣Euregional Prize for Architecture (various locations)
EAP➣Equalities Action Plan (UK)
EAP➣Estate Agency Personnel (UK)
EAP➣Education Award Program (AmeriCorps)
EAP➣Emergency Assembly Point
EAP➣Elvis Aron Presley
EAP➣Emergency Assistance Personnel (various organizations)
EAP➣Électroplastie Alain Payeur (French: Alain Payeur Electroplating)
EAP➣Edema Agudo de Pulmón (Spanish: Acute Pulmonary Edema)
EAP➣Experimental Aircraft Program
EAP➣Equity Acceleration Program (mortgages)
EAP➣Expertise en Affaires Publiques (French: Expertise in Public Affairs)
EAP➣Educator Astronaut Program(US NASA)
EAP➣Editorial Advisory Panel
EAP➣Emergency Action Program
EAP➣Emotion Auto Prestige (French automobile association)
EAP➣European Academy of Paediatrics
EAP➣Enterprise Analytical Portal
EAP➣Experimental Activity Proposal
EAP➣Ecoregional Action Plan
EAP➣Evolutionary Acquisition Phase(s)
EAP➣Ethanolamineperchlorate
EAP➣Office of Environmental Assurance, Permits, and Policy
EAP➣EOSDIS Advisory Panel
EAP➣End Around Preparation
EAP➣Earth Awareness Program
EAP➣Evoked Action Potential
EAP➣Employee Action Plan