September 2004 doc.: IEEE 802.11-04/1109r0

IEEE P802.11
Input to IETF from Wireless Interworking to External Networks Ad-Hoc Group September 2004

Date: September 15th, 2004

Author: Stephen McCann
Siemens Roke Manor
Old Salisbury Lane

Romsey

SO51 0ZN

United Kingdom


Phone: +44 1794 833341
Fax: +44 1794 833434

e-Mail:

Abstract

As proposed in the liaison letter, 11-04-833r0, from IEEE 802.11 to IETF, the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Interworking with External Networks Ad Hoc Group (WIEN Ad Hoc) has performed a review of “Identity selection hints for Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)” (draft-adrangi-eap-network-discovery-03)

This document contains the proposed IEEE 802.11 response developed on behalf of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group, by the IEEE 802.11 WIEN Ad-Hoc Committee (WAHC).

The WAHC Committee is composed of the following members:

Members:

Submission page 3 Dorothy Stanley, Agere Systems

September 2004 doc.: IEEE 802.11-04/1109r0

Stephen McCann – chair Hong Cheng - secretary

Andrew Myers Eleanor Hepworth

Dorothy Stanley Sebastian Dure

Takashi Aramaki Jan Kruys

Stefan Rommer Helena Flygare

Kapil Sood Michael Mortemorro

Stefano Faccin Stephen Rayment

Yasuyoshi Kojima Bo Kvarnstrom

Hossam Afifi Naole Golmie

Juan Carlos Zuniga Kevin Karcz

Michael Bahr Haixiang He

Sabine Demel Michael Barkway

Jon Edney


From: Stuart J.Kerry, Chair IEEE 802.11 Working Group

To: Margaret Wasserman, IETF Area Director, Internet Area

CC: Bernard Aboba, Jari Arkko, EAP WG Chairs

Title: Review IETF EAP draft documents, September 2004

Purpose: Review of an IETF internet draft, relating to IEEE 802.11

Dear Margaret,

As mentioned in our earlier liaison, the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Interworking with External Networks Study Group (WIEN SG) is investigating the changes needed to the IEEE 802.11 specification to support interworking with external non-IEEE 802.11 networks.

Attached are a number of comments, regarding the document “Identity selection hints for Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)” (draft-adrangi-eap-network-discovery-03), for IETF EAP working group consideration.

The draft provides an effective solution for network identity selection at the EAP level, minimizing the impact on the existing EAP messages, with very little impact on access points and associated infrastructure. It is noted that this solution applies to EAP enabled hotspot deployments only; it does not apply to those that utilize the web based access methods, such as the WiFi Alliance Universal Access Method (UAM), mode of authentication.

The draft is a reasonable approach for a solution using EAP. IEEE 802.11 intends to investigate network identity selection solutions that occur at an earlier stage, prior to association and the subsequent use of EAP. It appears that the EAP solution can co-exist with future IEEE 802.11 link layer solutions.

Potential characteristics of the IEEE 802.11 link layer solution are:

·  It is applicable to both the UAM and IEEE 802.11i based solutions

·  An EAP exchange is not required to receive network information

·  Association attempts with invalid networks are avoided

·  Passive network selection is possible

·  Reduces the message overhead for roaming

We welcome your comments on these issues.

For EAP WG reference, ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11Ò-1999 (2003 Reaffirmation) edition as amended by IEEE Std 802.11g-2003 and IEEE Std. 802.11h-2003 is the current version of the IEEE 802.11 Standard.

Please contact Stuart J.Kerry, IEEE 802.11 Working Group Chair together with Stephen McCann, IEEE 802.11 WIEN SG chair and Dorothy Stanley, IEEE 802.11/IETF Liaison with any questions, and to discuss further IETF follow-up.

Best Regards,

Stuart J. Kerry

Contact information:

Stuart J Kerry

+1 408 474 7356

Stephen McCann

+44 1794 833341

Dorothy Stanley

+1 630 979 1572

Submission page 3 Dorothy Stanley, Agere Systems