Method and system for authenticating peer devices using EAP

摘要

A system and method for authenticating a peer device (20) onto a network using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The key lifetime associated with the keying material generated in the peer device and the authentication server (14) is communicated from the authenticator (15) to the peer device within the EAP Success message. The peer device, having been provided with the key lifetime, can anticipate the termination of its authenticated session and initiate re-authentication prior to expiry of the key lifetime.