topic Wireless authentication - what is that? in Wireless

Wireless authentication - what is that?

bbiandov — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 05:58:43 GMT

I noticed Cisco WAPs around the school and an interesting way that the iOS Wi Fi client wants to authenticate.

It actually asks for username and password as part of the Wi Fi joining procedure instead of just being an open network and later authenticate via captive portal.

What is that new thing and is it specific to Cisco WAPs?

It doesn't sound like the proprietary LEAP back in the day because both Windows 7 laptop and an iPhone seem to recognize the authentication scheme as part of the built-in client.

A typical WEP/WPA/etc network asks for just a password like so:

Re: Wireless authentication - what is that?

Scott Fella — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:43:50 GMT

If its asking for a username and password, its most likely using PEAP. If you have a splash page asking for a username and password, its a WebAuth portal.

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Wireless authentication - what is that?

bbiandov — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 01:17:53 GMT

Um I did think of that but there is the whole drama with certificates which makes it not work most of the time and this thing worked like a charm to pop the prompt. Wonder if there is somthing else out there that Cisco supports?

Re: Wireless authentication - what is that?

Scott Fella — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 03:02:59 GMT

No... That's normal and its the OS that does it. Nothing special on the Cisco stuff.

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Re: Wireless authentication - what is that?

Andrew Vlasek — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 03:06:43 GMT

Yep with PEAP you only need a server side cert. For Cisco ACS as an example. The client can then use a built in trusted root authority like say verisign. Unless you run your own CA.

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