MAC Address Authentication

Planned for general release in the first quarter of 2000, KarlNet's ISP Base Station will have support for MAC Address authentication of wireless stations to a centralized RADIUS server. Similar functionality is currently available in our IEEE 802.11 AP product, with MAC Address control lists stored in every base. KarlNet is now extending that capability to centralize the access list in RADIUS servers, the de facto standard for ISP's worldwide for user authentication.

At radio connection time, the ISP Base Station and remote client determine whether to accept connections to each other using the System Access Pass Phrase. After this step is accomplished, the ISP Base Station queries the RADIUS server with the client station's unique hardware MAC Address to see if the station should be allowed a connection. The RADIUS server forms a reply based on the MAC address and other configuration information stored in its database, and the Base Station accepts or kills the connection depending on the reply.

Wireless station authentication by MAC Address can be used in conjunction with other authentication mechanisms, including user authentication with username and password.