How to Set Up an 802.1x Network and Connect to It with a CEPC (Windows CE 5.0)

802.1x authentication provides authenticated access to 802.11 wireless networks and to wired Ethernet networks. 802.1x minimizes wireless network security risks by providing user and computer identification, centralized authentication, and encryption services based on the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) algorithm. 802.1x supports the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). With EAP, you can use different authentication methods, such as smart cards, and certificates. For more information about 802.1x and wireless technology, visit this Microsoft Web site for a list of links to related technical articles.

Note   To successfully complete the steps in the following procedure, you must have extensive knowledge of Windows server administration and networking.

Microsoft used Microsoft Windows 2000 Server for testing purposes. Most of the following steps refer to Windows 2000 Server-related procedures. To obtain additional information about any of these steps, see Windows 2000 Server Help.

To obtain additional information about Windows 2000 Server, visit this Microsoft Web site.

If you use a different server operating system (OS) to set up your 802.1x network, refer to the product-specific documentation.

Microsoft used Cisco** access points for the test scenarios. The access point-related procedures refer to Cisco-based hardware and software. To obtain more information about Cisco products, visit this Microsoft Web site, select the Find a Partner option, and then search for Cisco.

If you use a different access point to set up your 802.1x network, refer to the product-specific documentation.

Hardware and Software Requirements

This document makes the following assumptions:

If you encounter problems with any of the steps, refer to the Troubleshooting: Setting Up an 802.1x Network.

To track your progress in the following table, select the check box next to each step.

  Step Topic
1. Familiarize yourself with the requirements for how to set up the 802.1x networking infrastructure, and connect the different devices on your wireless network using the network topology. 802.1x Test Lab Requirements
2. Create a parent domain. Creating a Domain by Using Windows 2000 Server
3. Configure Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server/Domain Name System (DNS) and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). Configuring the DHCP Server on Windows 2000 Server
4. Configure Microsoft Active Directory for users and groups. Configuring Active Directory on Windows 2000 Server
5. Familiarize yourself with certificate infrastructure. Certificate Infrastructure for a Wireless Network
6. Install certificate services. Installing and Configuring Certificate Services on Windows 2000 Server
7. Configure certificate server templates. Configuring Certificate Server Templates on Windows 2000 Server
8. Create the Information Access Service (IAS) clients. Creating IAS Clients on Windows 2000 Server
9. Create remote access policies. Configuring Remote Access Policies on Windows 2000 Server
10. Configure a wireless access point. Configuring Wireless Access Points
11. Create a wireless run-time image and download it to your CEPC. Creating a Wireless Run-time Image for a CEPC
12. Install wireless certificates on your CEPC. Enrolling the CEPC for a Certificate
13. Test wireless connectivity on your CEPC.

Choose a topic based on the aspect of wireless connectivity you want to test. For more information, see Testing Wireless Connectivity.

Testing Wireless Connectivity in an Open Wireless Network

Testing Wireless Connectivity Using WEP Authentication

Testing Wireless Connectivity Using Certificates

Simulating Roaming

**The non-Microsoft software and hardware referenced in this document are included for illustrative purposes only.

Illustrations that use such third party software and hardware as examples are not intended to be an endorsement or recommendation of any of these products.

We provide this information only as a convenience for our customers for purposes of explaining a practical application and do not provide warranties of any kind, whether express, implied or statutory, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

See Also

How-to Topics

Last updated on Thursday, February 02, 2006

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