Extensible Authentication Protocol. EAP is a general protocol for authentication that also supports multiple authentication methods, such as token cards, Kerberos, one-time passwords, certificates, public key authentication, and smart cards.
EAPoL
EAP over LAN. A message structure for sending EAP packets in an 802.1x framework.
EAP-FAST
Extensible Authentication Protocol-Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling. An EAP mechanism proposed by Cisco Systems that provides robust and secure authentication through the use of encrypted tunnels. Unlike PEAP or EAP-TLS, EAP-FAST does not require certificates on clients or servers.
EAP-TLS
Extensible Authentication Protocol with Transport Layer Security. EAP-TLS is one of the many EAP mechanisms for 802.1x-based authentication. It uses certificates to ensure mutual authentication between the client device and the authenticator and AAA servers.
EAP-TTLS
Extensible Authentication Protocol with Tunneled Transport Layer Security. EAP-TTLS is a proprietary EAP mechanism developed by Funk Software, Inc., (prior to their acquisition by Juniper Networks) and Certicom for 802.1x authentication. TTLS uses a combination of certificates and password challenge and response for authentication and encrypts the entire EAP session in a TLS tunnel.
encryption
Encryption is the process of changing data into a form that can be read, or decrypted, only by the intended receiver. Encryption uses a "key" to scramble the data. This can be shared via a public key infrastructure (PKI) system, or both ends of the transmission can use pre-shared keys.
ESS
Extended Service Set. Multiple basic service sets (BSS) linked by a backbone network to form a single subnetwork.
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute. The primary telecommunication standards organization in Europe.
EWC
Enhanced Wireless Consortium. An industry consortium of leading wireless industry members formed to accelerate the ratification and adoption of the upcoming 802.11n standard and to ensure interoperability between member-developed products.